February Alumni Career Profile

Name:  Lisa A. Ryan                                                                                         

Class Year: 1992

Major: Mathematics

Current Employer: Manulife Financial

Describe your career path since graduation.

I started in an entry level operations position, and then capitalized on my educational background to move into a position with Human Resources. Since then, I have held varied positions with Human Resources.

 

What is your current position and how long have you been with your employer? 

Director, Recruiting and Staffing.  I started with North American Life right out of college, which was subsequently bought by Manulife in 1996.

 

Describe the main responsibilities of your position. 

I have accountability for hiring for all positions across the United States. In addition, I am starting up a Talent Management department which will develop and manage programs for retaining and developing talent in the organization.

 What do you enjoy most about your job? 

I would say that problem - solving is the best part of my job. I love to take on a challenge and look for creative solutions which satisfy all stakeholders.

 

What do you find most challenging about your job? 

Balancing work and family is challenging in any role.

 

Describe your typical work week.  (How many hours you work, your work environment, etc.) 

I work 50 hours a week in the office, and probably spend another 5 to 10 at home with reading and research.

 

What job search methods did you use to obtain your current position?  

This was actually a job switch within my organization, where another employee and I switched jobs as a result of our merger with John Hancock.

 

What advice could you give to students interested in your field? 

From an educational perspective, the variety of backgrounds of Human Resources Professionals is vast. I think that getting business experience either before or during your career as an Human Resources professional is extremely important.

Last Modified: February 8, 2005