By Marcela Rodriguez Holguin

What do seminary and business school have in common?

Not enough, argued Joseph Blanco ‘92 during his recent visit to the Sheedy Family Program at the University of Notre Dame.

In a talk titled, “Things I learned in seminary that they should teach in business school,” Blanco urged students to be servant leaders, seek out spiritual mentors, and take quiet time in the morning.

“If you don’t take time, you cannot think—you can only do,” he said.

Blanco also emphasized the necessity of humility in leadership, noting that admitting when you don’t know something is essential for growth. There are times when leaders must take necessary losses and make challenging decisions, he reflected, emphasizing the importance of a strong support network to navigate challenges that arise.

Blanco’s own career journey took him from Notre Dame, where he was class president, to the military, seminary, and law school. After law school, Blanco served as vice chair of the corporate department of McKenna, Long & Aldridge LLP, before its merger with Dentons, where he became a managing partner. He then served as executive vice president and president of Crawford & Company and, finally, into his current role as President of Secretariat, a legal and risk advisory firm. Furthermore, Blanco serves on the boards of Atlanta’s Woodruff Arts Center and the Atlanta Area Council for the Boy Scouts of America.

His multifaceted experiences—from working in the armed forces to advising companies on the legalities of mergers and acquisitions—resonated deeply with students, including Maire Brennan ‘25. As an accountancy major in the Sheedy Family Program with a military family background, Brennan felt she could identify with Blanco’s story.

“I felt assured knowing that there is not one linear or 'right' path to take,” she said.

For Rebecca Baum ‘25, who is right now discerning her next steps after graduation, Blanco’s story of career pivoting and reliance on mentorship was particularly impactful.

“I enjoyed learning about his experience in graduate school as I discern whether I want to pursue a career or more school,” she said. She also took away the importance of knowing when to ask for help.

While on campus, Blanco also taught a seminar on mergers and acquisitions, where he led Sheedy students with career interests in law and finance through practical questions like, “Why pursue M&A as a growth strategy?” and “What is the role of private equity in the market?”

Blanco offered students a powerful model of how leadership and success can go hand-in-hand with discernment, resilience, and service.

Marcela Rodriguez Holguin is a junior from Houston, Texas, double majoring in Marketing and Design with a concentration in Visual Communication and a minor in Latino Studies. On campus, she is involved in advocacy and education. She is involved with the Sheedy Family Program, the Transformative Leaders Program, and Building Bridges. She is part of the Media team for the Sheedy Family Program and enjoys serving the South Bend community through volunteering with different organizations. Marcela spent her past summer working as a Program Coordinator for Alexander Hamilton Scholars, an academic non-profit that focuses on educating and empowering first-generation, low-income students.

Originally published by Scott Howland at sheedyprogram.nd.edu on November 04, 2024.