Conversations with Leaders
Katy Knox, CGSOM '98: Success is defined by the impact you leave.
Katy Knox, President of Bank of America Private Bank and proud Boston College alum, shared her professional journey and insights with students interested in business, leadership, and making a difference.
Knox leads the division responsible for serving high-net-worth individuals and families and has built a long and varied career within Bank of America. In her opening remarks, she reflected on her early career strategy: to work across multiple areas of the bank to discover what she enjoyed, what she didn鈥檛, and how the different parts of the business interconnected. This broad experience gave her a strong operational foundation and shaped her leadership style.
More than anything, Knox emphasized the importance of relationships, both with colleagues and clients. She spoke about how trust and connection are at the core of her work, especially when it comes to helping clients align their financial strategies with their values.
One of the most rewarding parts of her job, Knox explained, is helping clients give back. Many come to her with a passion鈥攚hether it鈥檚 supporting children, advancing education, or protecting the environment鈥攂ut don鈥檛 know where to begin. Knox uses her expertise and network to connect them with trusted, impactful organizations, turning their philanthropic goals into meaningful action.
Throughout her talk, the theme of purpose was central. For Knox, true success is defined by the positive impact one can make on others, and not by titles or financial gain. Her story was a powerful reflection of Boston College鈥檚 mission of 鈥渕en and women for others,鈥� and a clear example of how those values can be lived out at the highest levels of business leadership.
Gregory Curley '26, Winston Ambassador
Terrence Moorehead '85
Terrence Moorehead '85: Do work that excites you.
Like many first-year students, Terrence Moorehead arrived at Boston College with no clear idea of what he wanted to do. Before college, he had considered careers ranging from advertising to engineering to architecture. It wasn鈥檛 until his sophomore year, after taking a business class, that he discovered management consulting 鈥� a field that would eventually shape his future. Determined to break into the industry, he set his sights on attending a top-five business school. He achieved that goal by earning his MBA from Columbia Business School and landing a role at Booz, Allen & Hamilton, a leading management consulting firm.
A connection at Columbia soon led Moorehead to Avon Cosmetics 鈥� then one of the 鈥渘ifty 50鈥� on the NYSE. During his 20+ years at Avon, the company鈥檚 revenue soared from $2.5 billion to $12 billion. He attributed much of his success to a 鈥渟ay yes to everything鈥� mindset, leading him to take on international leadership roles in Italy, Canada, and Japan. Though Japan was initially the last place he wanted to go, he stayed for five years and successfully turned around what had been one of the company鈥檚 weakest-performing branches.
After Avon, Moorehead transitioned to the fashion and beauty industries, serving as CEO of Dana Beauty and later Carlisle Etcetera. These experiences paved the way for his current role as CEO of Nature鈥檚 Sunshine, a wellness company based in Lehi, Utah. Unique in the supplement industry, Nature鈥檚 Sunshine controls every stage of its operations 鈥� from R&D to manufacturing 鈥� ensuring exceptional product quality.
Moorehead has led major transformations throughout his career, driving innovation, digital integration, and global expansion to deliver significant growth. As he wrapped up his talk, he offered advice that has guided his own journey: do work that excites you. He encouraged students to find something that makes them want to show up 30 minutes early and stay 30 minutes late. That passion, he said, has fueled his growth and helped him become the leader he is today.
Brendan Willingham '27, Winston Ambassador
Tim Morse '91
Tim Morse '91: Leaning into the unplanned.
Tim Morse offered an honest and reflective look at how career paths rarely unfold as expected. Early in his talk, he recounted a surprising twist in his own journey. After deciding to drop his finance concentration to focus solely on operations, he unexpectedly received a letter confirming him as a double major in both. Rather than undo the change, he leaned into it, and that unplanned moment shaped the course of his career. It served as a powerful reminder that some of the most defining elements of our paths are the ones we don鈥檛 anticipate.
Over the years, Morse has navigated various industries and roles, guided by a simple but impactful belief: go where you can make the biggest difference. That mindset helped him succeed in fast-paced, high-pressure environments 鈥� from GE Plastics to Yahoo! 鈥� where volatility and constant change were the norm. The skills he honed at GE, especially in managing uncertainty and leading through complexity, became critical tools in his later leadership roles. Ultimately, he found his niche in operations-focused finance, where he could combine strategic insight with practical execution.
One of Morse's most practical and resonant messages with 黑料吃瓜网 students was about mentorship. He stressed the importance of having someone in your corner who truly understands you 鈥� a mentor who can guide you toward opportunities aligned with your values and aspirations. But, he noted, those relationships rely on honesty. You have to be clear with yourself and others about where you want to go to get the support that really matters.
Morse鈥檚 story was a compelling reminder that careers are shaped not by flawless planning but by adaptability, authenticity, and the people who help us grow along the way.
Lydia Tesfai '27, Winston Ambassador