Passion Fuels Emerging Leader’s Desire to Make an Impact

Claire Tedesco ’15 has always been on the fast track. Her passion and infectious enthusiasm made her a leader as soon as she set foot on Hawk Hill. Now, Tedesco is a rising star in the food marketing industry as a manager at HelloFresh in New York City.

“I think that in most aspects of my life, I don't do things haphazardly. It's just one of those things that's been innate in me,” Tedesco said. “If I'm there, I'm going all in. Especially when it’s something that I love.”

Tedesco’s love for her alma mater is unwavering. She capitalized on every opportunity to be involved as a student – joining the women’s rowing team, serving as a resident assistant and becoming an orientation leader. She was accepted into the pilot class of the Dean’s Leadership Program and was a Student Senate officer for all four of her undergraduate years, leading to her eventual election as president of the Student Government Association.

“Stepping onto St. Joe's campus was the only time in my life I felt I knew exactly where I belonged with every ounce of my being,” recalls Tedesco. “People actually care about others, which is really different than what you see at a lot of other universities. I just love being a part of the St. Joe's experience and being a Hawk.”

Tedesco, who will receive the Ignatius Award at the University’s annual Leadership Awards Dinner on Thursday, Oct. 24, has continued to stay involved with her alma mater and serves on the executive committee of the National Alumni Board.

“I stay involved because I feel indebted to St. Joe's. They gave me the confidence to believe in myself and my abilities. I think St. Joe’s is the reason I've been so successful,” remarks Tedesco.

In this spirit, Tedesco actively enjoys empowering current students to get involved with the University and the communities in which they live, much as she does in her personal life. As a two-time cancer survivor, Tedesco has served as chair of Relay for Life and as program director at KiDS Need MoRE, a charity to help children with life-threatening illnesses.

“What is the impact that you want in this world?” Tedesco poses. “No one ever asked me that until I got here, to St. Joe’s. We're so much more than just our academics or a grade point average or a career. It's more about the type of person that you are and the type of person that you want to develop into. That’s something that I carry with me every single day.”