By Nina Bjurlin

Please tell us a little bit about your early life.

I was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, February 2, 1971 and moved to Atlanta, Georgia when I was very young. I lived in Atlanta for most of my early childhood and moved to Connecticut when I was in fifth grade. While living in Atlanta I learned to love the game of tennis. I played almost every day and competed in tournaments at a young age. I continued to play and compete when I moved to Connecticut. After graduating from Berkshire in 1989, I attended Tulane University and graduated in 1993 with a degree in History.

Could you talk a little bit about how you came to Berkshire as a student?

I entered Berkshire the middle of my sophomore year, in January 1987 after Winter Break. I was not happy at the current high school I attended in Connecticut and sought a change. I was attending an all-girl Catholic high school that was not ideal for me. Because boarding school had always intrigued me, my family and I chose to pursue boarding school options across New England. I chose Berkshire for many reasons. The primary reason was the way I felt when I visited the campus. It is truly one of the most beautiful schools in the Northeast. In addition, I was excited about the vast set of extra-curricular activities offered at Berkshire.

What was your first impression of the School and the people in it?

Because I was the only new girl entering the School mid-year, I was very well received. I still remember my first day on campus, worrying about who I would sit with at lunch/dinner. That problem was solved quickly as both students and teachers were very inviting and welcoming to me. My roommate Melissa Glick was very inclusive and introduced me to all her friends. I joined the squash team immediately after starting school and made instant friends with my teammates, I remember how wonderful Jennifer Roberts, one of my dorm mates, was in helping me learn the sport. Squash was a new sport for me but because of the great coach and welcoming team, I instantly fell in love with the sport.

What's the thing you learned at Berkshire that's been most useful as an adult?

Leadership. Berkshire enabled me to push myself to be a leader, as captain of the tennis team, Vice President of our Senior Class, in charge of our senior prom, and I led the effort of weekly volunteerism at the local nursing home in Sheffield. I always say leadership is never "given" to anyone, you must take advantage of opportunities to lead. Berkshire provided me the tools to take on vast and various leadership opportunities.

Who were the people you feel really helped you at Berkshire?

My advisor and tennis and squash coach Larry Valentine. He always motivated me, gave me confidence while competing in both squash and tennis tournaments. He was also tough with me, challenged me to always be better at what I did. He's a very special man.

Can you tell us about the friends you made?

I made many friends at Berkshire spanning across the girls in my dorm, Nicole Schachnovsky, Meredith Oritt, Jennifer Roberts to name a few. Also my teammates on both the squash and tennis teams (Jenn Roberts, Candi Nelms) as well as some members of the Theater group. I had a wonderful opportunity to enjoy a very diverse set of friends during my time at Berkshire. I also went to the same university as Allyson Levitt, we were roommates and sorority sisters at Tulane. I have not kept in touch well enough! I do keep up with many of my friends through social media, specifically Facebook and LinkedIn. There are a few friends I manage to see or call periodically. I had a great opportunity to spend time with Jonathan Clark and his family at my home a few years ago. I also visited with Margaret Flood and Amanda Fabian with their children here in Florida as well! It was wonderful!

When I have visited, I was amazed by the progress and investment in all the new buildings and facilities, but I do love going back to the Mountain. There is something very special about it. I have not been back too often but the few times I have I still marvel in the beauty of the campus. It is one of the loveliest locations in the country. I look forward to bringing my family to the campus so they can enjoy the beauty.

So, what are you up to these days?

I am the Vice President of the Distribution Sector in North America at IBM Corporation. I am responsible for the overall sales and client success for the top Retail, Travel and CPG clients in North America. My annual revenue responsibility is approximately $3 billion annually. I joined IBM twenty years ago, straight from college and worked in sales my entire career. I have held various leadership and management roles throughout my career. I have received several recognition awards throughout my time at IBM. In fact, while on a recognition trip for work, my "now" husband proposed to me! IBM has been a great place to have a very exciting career while balancing being a wife (married my college sweetheart) and a mother of three children (Ned 14, Nick 12, Grayson 10). I have had the privilege of living in fascinating cities throughout my career (DC, Atlanta, NYC, and New Orleans) and have now chosen to raise our family in South Florida.

Do you have any advice to share?

Don't be afraid to take risks, try new things and grow from them. Allow yourself to fail. When you fail, you learn from it and become even better!