Profile of a Terrier
Left: Ken Daly with his wife Laurie and their four
“The impact we’ve made is probably greater
children.
than anything else I’ve done. If I just walk the
Below: 1988 Yearbook
floor here, you will meet, no exaggeration,
broader leadership skills. Some of us are
a dozen current St. Francis students working
better at one or the other but you really
as interns. We started that program about
need the balance of
20 years ago and many of our workers have
the two.”
come through the ranks that way, including
That balancing
our Treasurer ( Lorraine M. Lynch ’92 ,
act is perhaps the
National Grid Vice President, U.S. Treasury).”
most important reason
In addition to the internships, Daly
Mr. Daly has risen up
estimates that National Grid has hired more
the ranks at National
than 100 St. Francis graduates.
Grid. With wonderful
But Daly was not content with his relationparents and wife Laurie,
ship with his alma mater. He
(whom he calls the true
wanted more involvement and has
hero of the family,) and
now become one of the newest
“ aving taught for 18 years and having been
H
four young children,
members of the St. Francis Board
Mr. Daly says flexibility is key.
of Trustees. “This is the ultimate
a student for four years and having hired more
“Family always comes first but
step in supporting the College at
than 100 graduates, I think I’m in a unique
work is a close second especially
the highest level; to help influence
with these types of leadership
and support the institution.
position to work with academics on shaping
roles. There are some days I’d
It’s part of the continuing 25-year
programs, on informing St. Francis’ curriculum
rather be with my family but I
payback,” said Mr. Daly.
need to be at work and there are
Although one might think that
to prepare students for the future.”
some days where I should be
fundraising would be Mr. Daly’s
focusing even more on work
focus, based on his business
but I need to be with my family. You have to really prioritize.”
contacts and experience, he has other goals. “Having taught for
Mr. Daly admits that the commitment can be taxing but he points
18 years and having been a student for four years and having hired
more than 100 graduates, I think I’m in a unique position to work with out that the hard work you put in pays dividends. “You really need to
look at it as a career not a job. You need to look at it as an investment
academics on shaping programs, on informing St. Francis’ curriculum
in your future.”
to prepare students for the future.”
The commitment works both ways. Daly is thankful for the
It’s not the first time Mr. Daly has played against stereotypes.
Company’s Tuition Aid program, which enabled him to receive an
“I always say to folks — how did an English major from Brooklyn
MBA in Finance from St. John’s, an MS in Human Resources from
wind up becoming the financial controller, working in England,
NYU-PolyTech, and achieve the distinguished Chartered Financial
of a very large, global company. It’s not the obvious path.”
Analyst (CFA) designation.
Mr. Daly credits his undergraduate English degree with helping
He says you also have to enjoy what you’re doing. “I always tell folks,
him with the necessary “soft skills” in becoming a leader. “My hard
if you’re not having fun, change something. Change yourself. Change
skill is finance. I’m a numbers person, a math person. I really like
the environment. Change the job if you have to. You have to really
statistics and analytics and that’s helped me greatly in business.
enjoy what you’re doing because you do it so often.”
But the soft skills are even more important as you advance in a
company. It’s communication skills, writing skills, listening skills,
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