Nicole Wilson

After completing her business degree in December, Nicole Wilson ’24 stepped right into her first job as a business development associate for RENEW Energy Partners, a Boston-based decarbonization firm that helps building owners fund major energy efficiency upgrades.

“I’m excited to be working with such an innovative company that is committed to driving the transition to a more sustainable future,” says Wilson, who works with sales and marketing teams to build strategic relationships and develop expansion strategies.

While her finance and management studies in the Manning School of Business have prepared her for the role, Wilson gained something else at UML: a passion for nonprofits. Almost every Wednesday during her senior year, she volunteered at Girls Inc. of Greater Lowell, introducing young girls to business concepts such as financial literacy, marketing and entrepreneurship.

“Seeing the dedication of the people that work there and learning about the nonprofit world really opened my eyes,” the Westford, Massachusetts, native says. “I realized that’s the kind of place where I would thrive — a place that fuels your fire and drives your soul.”

After volunteering for several months with Khadija Mir, a fellow member of the Joy Tong Women in Business (JTWIB) student organization, Wilson helped organize a Girls Inc. fundraiser where Chancellor Julie Chen was honored. Wilson spoke with the organization’s executive director, Bopha Malone, and several board members about establishing a more formal mentorship program with JTWIB members.

“So many people at UMass Lowell do so much for us. What can we do to give back to those who don’t have that mentorship?” asks Wilson, who served as JTWIB’s director of community service. “And who better than us to give back to the community while teaching them things we already know? There’s no better way to strengthen our knowledge than by teaching it.”

In addition to mentoring, JTWIB members started a pen pal program with Girls Inc. participants and held a backpack sale that raised $2,000 for the nonprofit.

A transfer student from Middlesex Community College, Wilson served as president of the Beta Gamma Sigma international business honor society. She also landed a professional co-op as a merchandising allocation analyst at TJX Companies during her junior year.

“It’s unbelievable how fast everything went. One day you’re walking in here, and all of a sudden you’re graduating,” says Wilson, who plans to stay involved with nonprofit work as a volunteer. She has already joined Tomorrow's Women TODAY, a nonprofit focused on connecting women leaders from the public and private sectors.

“I am fortunate to have had the opportunity to support the young women of Girls Inc., encouraging them to pursue higher education and careers in fields where women are traditionally underrepresented,” Wilson says. “These experiences have profoundly shaped who I am today.”