Jessica Lieberman Quinn W'94, C'94

What did you study at Penn and when did you graduate?

 I graduated in 1994 with a dual degree – a B.A. in History from the College of Arts & Sciences, and a B.S with a concentration in Finance from Wharton.

 What were you involved in at Penn?

 I was mostly focused on my studies and my jobs.  I worked in the work-study office and then as a research assistant for one of the finance professors at Wharton – a macroeconomist with an ongoing research project related to durable goods.  I was also in Sigma Delta Tau.

What was your most memorable experience at Penn?

 It is hard to identify just one thing.  I truly value the friendships I made, the people I met, and the network I developed. Years after graduation, I can say that the people I met at Penn are people who have helped me throughout my life, whether professionally or personally, and they are everywhere - I found them in graduate school, in my neighborhood, as parents in my children’s schools, in my workplace.

Looking back, what advice would you give to your younger self as an undergraduate?

At Penn, I worked really hard. In retrospect, it is important to take a breath and recognize that it all turns out just fine, and that “fine” can be defined in many ways. Between the ages of 17 and 22, the whole world is about academic success and, for many, securing a job after graduation. Wharton does an excellent job of providing a variety of tools, resources and opportunities to help students kick-off their career journey.  What I’ve learned is that there is even more opportunity out there than what the career office can help you to access.  When you start your career, keep your eyes open.  There is so much out there - look at the bigger picture, be aware, and be ready to seize opportunities as they come.

Where do you work now and where are you based?

I am the Corporate Controller of American Express Company, reporting to the CFO, and based in New York City. My organization is ~1,500 colleagues strong and spread across the globe, with a large footprint in India. As Controller, I am responsible for end-to-end financial capture, accounting, and reporting – including our SEC filings and regulatory and statutory reporting in all countries where we do business.  More broadly speaking, we’re on a constant transformation journey in my organization.  We remain laser-focused on constantly improving and automating our processes and the way we manage and use data and report our results.  We must always be prepared for changes across our industry or the reporting landscape, such as changing regulatory requirements or the emergence of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) reporting. 

What were some of your earlier roles?

After graduating, I was an investment banker for 5 years before completing my MBA at the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan.  After earning my MBA, I joined American Express, where I’ve now been for over 21 years.  For most of my time with American Express, I’ve been in what is called “decision support finance,” as part of our business unit CFO teams and our corporate planning and analysis function – serving as VP/CFO of our Global Merchant and Network Services business, SVP of Corporate Planning & Analysis, and most recently as SVP/CFO of our Global Commercial Services business.

What advice do you have for our members as they begin to explore internship and career opportunities?

There is a world full of career options and opportunities out there.  When you graduate, it’s hard to immediately know what the right career path is for you.  Take the time to get a broad view – when you’re just out of school, almost any opportunity is an opportunity to learn and build touchpoints to even more opportunities. There is no single “right job” or “perfect career path.”  Each of us has to find our own way while understanding that there’s always an option to pivot and make a change. Think about what will keep you going … what will keep you intellectually stimulated, who will help you continue to learn and drive you forward, what environment will you thrive in, can you manage your work and personal life in a way that is satisfying?  These are critically important questions you need to be constantly asking yourself as you navigate your career journey, right from the beginning.

What has been the biggest challenge of your career? 

Creating a way to manage everything in your career with everything in your personal life can be tremendously challenging. Figuring out where to set your boundaries is extremely important. I used to travel to the UK ten times a year, with trips to other countries as well. Before starting a family, this was great for both my professional and personal growth. Once I had a family, though, this level of travel became difficult to maintain. I am fortunate to work for a company that offers many opportunities, and I was able to switch to roles that required less travel, which was important in allowing me to dedicate more time to my family.  At the same time, I had to establish a support system in my personal life - mainly childcare - that would allow me to manage my professional commitments.  In lots of countries, there are social structures that provide great support to working women. This is less so in the U.S. today, but we are making progress and there are some companies with very friendly policies for parents, including American Express.

How do you balance your work and personal life?

I wake up every morning before the rest of my family so that I can exercise. During COVID, getting outside for long walks did wonders for me – this could literally change the tone of my day.  I’m grateful that my company gives generous vacation time – and I make sure to use all of it. I’m able to take the time to spend with my children, to go to the doctor, to refresh and reset when needed. When the world is not closed off during a pandemic, I also love to travel with my family.

Anything else you would like to share?

I know this blog is very much for a Wharton audience, but for the CAS students among you, the Professional Women’s Alliance is a wonderful resource that you can tap into through the alumni relations office. The members – all of whom are women who have degrees from CAS and are currently business professionals – can not only provide career guidance, but also unique insights specific to women seeking a career in the business space.