“Don’t be afraid to say yes,” BlackRock’s Anne Ackerley tells Nichols graduates
DUDLEY, Mass. – Anne F. Ackerley, a senior advisor to the retirement business at BlackRock and previously the head of BlackRock’s U.S. Retirement Group, shared lessons from her life and career as she delivered the commencement address during the Nichols College commencement ceremony on May 3, 2025. A total of 412 students participated in the graduation ceremony held at the DCU Center in Worcester, Mass.
Ackerley received an Honorary Doctor in Business Administration degree at the ceremony. Alumnus John E. Lefebvre, Jr. ’75 MBA ’78, a retired accountant who spent 20 years as controller for Inner-Tite Corp., received an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree.
Embarking upon a new chapter of life herself, noting that she has “graduated” from her time running the retirement group for BlackRock, Ackerley provided three lessons for the graduates.
“The first lesson is an expression my mom used to say a lot when I was growing up: ‘Anne, be about your business,’” by which her mother meant: focus on what’s important.
A housewife who after becoming widowed at a young age with four children became a high school math teacher, her mother worked “tirelessly” for 35 years to support the family. She says her mother taught her to value education and to be resilient.
When Ackerley started work on Wall Street, though she loved the work, she felt she wanted to do more to help others facing financial uncertainty, as her mother once had. She jumped at the chance to work at BlackRock, where more than half the assets managed are for someone’s retirement—including for nurses, firefighters and teachers. The firm even managed her mother’s New York State teachers’ pension plan.
“My mom said ‘be about your business.’ And I’m so grateful to her that she taught me to focus on what matters. As you move into this next phase of your journey, what is your business? And what are the values that will guide you?”
For her second lesson, she discussed the importance of grit. She relayed to the graduates her story about how she had to advocate for herself in order to land an interview for what became her role as head of the retirement business.
“It was a job worth fighting for. My point is that despite how it may seem, careers don’t happen in straight lines. […] There is no elevator straight to the top,” she said.
In her final lesson, Ackerley shared how she unexpectedly became CMO at BlackRock. After several mergers, the company needed someone who understood the firm to serve in the role. Eventually she was persuaded to take it on, where she learned the power of storytelling and the importance of conveying a unified message.
“Don’t be afraid to say yes” to new challenges, she urged the graduates. “It can help broaden your horizons, forge new connections, and it may just lead to your next big opportunity.”
In his remarks, Nichols College President Bill Pieczynski expressed his admiration for the graduates’ commitment to learning and making a positive impact. He highlighted a group of faculty and students who have come together to teach financial literacy, budgeting and negotiation skills to young Kenyan entrepreneurs—alumni of an orphanage for AIDS-afflicted youth who, thanks to medical advances, are now living to a normal life expectancy.
“Nichols students are making this kind of impact on campus, in your careers, and in the lives of [others]” said Pieczynski, noting that some did so while also managing added challenges—whether it was working full time, commuting long distances or family responsibilities.
“In many ways, your time at Nichols is a dress rehearsal for what’s next,” said Pieczynski. “You are well prepared for the success that awaits you. You possess a powerful combination of ambition, resourcefulness and confidence. We have armed you with resilience to persevere during the challenges that will most certainly come.”
Accounting major Leena Basma ’25, who gave the undergraduate student address, spoke about her belief that getting an education is a privilege, a chance not afforded to her father and several other family members, including her grandmother, whom she remembers teaching the alphabet to as she had never learned to read. She recognized this as part of her journey that led her to earn her college degree.
She encouraged the graduates to reflect on their path that has led them to today’s ceremony and to approach life after graduation with confidence.
“Each one of us here today has something to be proud of—whether you were a part of the tennis or hockey team, led the radio show, were a part of the bison consulting group, or even passed a hard class. Every milestone, big or small, has guided you to this very stage that we will cross shortly. I ask you not to fear what is to come once you cross over the stage because these past few years have been preparing you for this very moment.”
In the graduate student address, Catherine Hoey ’18, who today earned a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership degree and became a “double Bison,” reflected on her experience working while earning her degree.
“The combination of my work in marketing, internal and external affairs, and the lessons learned during my undergraduate years helped me maximize my time in my master’s program. It’s funny how sometimes you’re living what you’re learning. I hope some of you can relate to that feeling, especially those of you who have spent long nights studying, only to find that the theories and concepts you’re grappling with begin to come alive in your daily experiences.”
After thanking her classmates for their support, she took the opportunity to bond with the newest Nichols alumni.
“As a graduate, I can tell you that Nichols will always have your back. I am honored to have the opportunity to speak to classes, conduct mock interviews and attend events. The best part of Nichols will always be its community.”
For more information on the event or to watch a recording of the ceremony, check out our YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9L8CuFPHcc
(Pictured: Anne Ackerley delivers the commencement address during the Nichols College 2025 commencement ceremony held on May 3 at the DCU Center in Worcester, Mass.)
About Nichols College
Nichols College has earned business accreditation from the prestigious Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International), the longest serving global accrediting body for business schools and the largest business education network connecting learners, educators, and businesses worldwide. Founded in 1815, Nichols College transforms today’s students into tomorrow’s leaders through a dynamic, career-focused business and professional education. Nichols offers real-world learning focused on professional depth – combined with vibrant living, competitive athletics, and an unmatched alumni advantage – equipping students to exceed their own expectations. To learn more about Nichols College, visit www.nichols.edu.
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