Alumni Spotlight
The support, teamwork and leadership development Sarah Stewart Beerbower ‘06 experienced at College of Saint Mary (CSM) prepared her for a successful career nurturing and expanding memberships for trade associations.
“My family has always been there for me and are incredibly loving and supportive. Some people aren't that lucky, and they don't have a good 'village' supporting their lives. They also don't necessarily have friends and family who are encouraging them to succeed and ‘bloom’ to be the best versions of themselves. But I saw that type of loving, support on campus,” Beerbower said. “Everyone had so much faith in each other to succeed and achieve regardless of whatever challenges were outside the walls of CSM. People talk about being a leader or a follower, but I learned we all need to be a little bit more of a cheerleader for those around us too.”
Starting out at a large, public state university, Beerbower hoped to explore areas of study until she found a major that suited her. But after an internship with former Senator Chuck Hagel in Washington, D.C. and becoming involved in political campaigns, she decided to take time off from school during election season.
When it was time to return to campus, she knew the school was no longer the right fit. Beerbower knew she wanted to study business and leadership and needed classes that were compatible with her full-time work schedule.
Some friends who had attended CSM encouraged her to explore the undergraduate business program, which offers concentrations in areas like business analytics, digital marketing, business administration and marketing management.
“It was a perfect fit. I loved the format, the instructors, the case study emphasis and the ability to be able to balance work and school at the same time,” Beerbower said.
The business program also requires students to shadow business professionals, complete two internships and develop a business plan for the final project.
“I really did love the curriculum. We worked a lot in teams, which is exactly how my workday is now. We did our courses in modules so we could intensely focus on each area of learning,” Beerbower said. “At the end of the program, our teams were paired with a local small business to create a holistic business plan, which brought all our learning into one capstone. I've used that format throughout my career since.”
She also received the compassionate support that she needed during her college experience.
“The amount of support I received from instructors and classmates was incredible,” she said, adding that some of her favorite memories are experiences with the women in her program. “Everyone was in a similar situation trying to work and complete school. Which meant we were all very driven, focused and incredibly supportive of each other with everything going on outside of the classroom.”
After receiving a Bachelor of Science in Business from CSM, Beerbower went on to lead member engagement at well-known trade associations, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Enterprise Wireless Alliance, the National Association of Chemical Distributors and the Direct Marketing Association.
She is currently the senior vice president of member relations at American Clean Power Association (ACP), which advocates for renewable energy companies, in Washington, D.C. Beerbower is also a member of CHIEF: Executive Women’s Leadership Network.
“The challenges of balancing full-time school, full-time work and a personal life taught me discipline, time management and perseverance,” she said. “Balancing everything really strengthened my ability to prioritize and stay focused, key skills for any leader. It's a time I look back on to this day if I start to feel overwhelmed. If I could do that in my 20's, I can take on whatever the future holds.”
