From the Classroom to Consulting: How My Experience Teaching Helps Me Grow the Good in Business

MyKayla Geary

There are a few moments in life that you know will change you forever as they are happening, and accepting my offer to be a PATH Rising Teacher in the Spring of 2020 was definitely one of those moments for me. At the time, I was struggling to find meaning and at a crossroads – I’d come off a stressful and tumultuous first semester adjusting to the rigor of college coursework, and as a first-generation college student, I felt forced to pursue majors and minors that didn’t resonate with my interests, but would make me a shoo-in for a “good job” when I graduated. As a freshman in college, I had reached a moment of reckoning, where I had to decide whether to continue down a path that my parents, in good faith, had prescribed for me or forge my own way, where the journey ahead was less clear.

I’d heard about the PATH opportunity through Fr. Joe Corpora, who’d been counseling me through my quarter-(?)... fifth- (?) life crisis. I’d initially been reluctant to apply because “obviously, there is no way I would want to be a teacher,” but he encouraged me to see the opportunity not as one that would lock me in a career trajectory for the next 10-20 years, but as an opportunity to, as is written in 1 Peter "use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms.” So, I did, and I loved it. So much so, that, after a summer of teaching virtually due to the pandemic, I returned for a second summer in person in the beautiful city of Tucson. 

PATH shaped me in many ways, whether it be growing in my faith through God in All Things, providing me the opportunity to put my coursework on pedagogy into practice (oh – I forgot to mention that I dropped that accounting minor and picked up an ESS major), or introducing me to lifelong friends and mentors I’d keep in touch with long after the summer, for which I am immensely grateful. Perhaps, though, the most important lesson I took away from my time with PATH is that children are powerful and resilient, and sometimes the best thing that adults can do is provide reasonable structure and get out of their way.

“Sometimes very small children in a proper environment develop a skill and exactness in their work that can only surprise us” – Maria Montessori

Following graduation, I began my career at McKinsey & Company as a consultant. Whether it was helping design an interactive workshop for senior executives to better understand their organizational culture or restructuring workflows to make the lives of frontline workers easier, I have prioritized in my work creating environments that enable greatness, whether for children or adults. Similar to the crossroads that brought me to PATH, though, I once again felt called to do something different. Something that was more authentic to and meaningful for me. So once again, I took a leap and joined McKinsey’s Institute for Economic Mobility. In my work as a Fellow with the Institute, I’ve had the incredible opportunity to collaborate with diverse groups of leaders across state governments, higher education, and the private sector to define and execute initiatives that create supportive, inclusive environments for children and adults from cradle to career. 

I don’t think there is a day that goes by that I don’t think of or reference my time as a PATH rising teacher, because so much of my conviction of why supportive and nurturing environments matter stems from seeing it firsthand in the program. PATH does not prescribe a specific outcome or career path for students; rather, it provides a foundation that supports and sustains them as they navigate the world along their individual journey. Likewise, I believe the more we can orient and align systems and environments to enable human flourishing, regardless of an individual’s socioeconomic background or career aspirations, we will be better for it. We need more business leaders who champion inclusive growth and human flourishing in every industry. So, if you are wondering whether a summer in the Arizona heat with phenomenal kiddos can help you become a better leader or businessperson, I’d say it’s a good start.

Bio: MyKayla is a Sr. Business Analyst at McKinsey & Co. and a Fellow at McKinsey’s Institute for Economic Mobility. She previously served with PATH as an ELA Rising Teacher for Cohorts 1-2 in the summers of 2020 and 2021. She graduated from Notre Dame in 2023 with a Bachelor's in Economics and Education, Schooling, and Society (ESS) (Cum Laude). Views expressed are her own.

Be Someone’s Smile: The Pursuit of PATH-iness

Luis Jimenez

What memory do you recall from middle school? Is there one specific moment that rises above the rest? What feeling does it invoke?

For some, the answer comes easily: a favorite teacher, a class project, or maybe a spark of curiosity that lit something inside. For others, it might be harder to pinpoint. However, the question is not just what we remember; it’s why. Why did that moment matter? Why did that teacher stand out?

I ask you this same question as you consider the path of teaching: why do you want to take on this responsibility? Teaching is not simply a job, it’s a vocation- one rooted in service and a commitment to the common good. Teaching is a chance to shape lives, to guide young minds, and to be a source of light in someone’s day.

If you can’t recall a defining classroom memory, let that be your motivation to create one for your students. Be the reason a student feels seen, valued, and capable. Be someone’s smile. Be the reason they are excited to learn. When you approach teaching with that mindset, everything else begins to fall into place.

When I started teaching over the summer for the ACE Summer PATH program, I had no prior classroom experience. I was nervous, unsure if I could truly make an impact. I quickly realized that teaching isn’t about perfection, it’s about patience. Every day, I walked into the classroom with a simple goal: to make my students feel welcome. I wanted them to see our classroom as a safe haven, a place where they could leave their troubles behind and focus on growing, laughing, and learning.

I still remember one student who was struggling to understand a concept. At first, I wasn’t sure how to reach him. But instead of just pushing him harder, I tried to listen. We started setting small goals together and celebrating even the tiniest wins. Over time, he began to open up and was able to piece the material to full comprehension. This reminded me that teaching is made up of moments like these- quiet, genuine breakthroughs that no test score can measure.

Through that experience, I discovered the quiet joy that comes from connecting with students. It was in the small moments such as a student grasping a difficult concept, a burst of laughter during a group activity, or a shy “thank you” at the end of class, that I felt an impact. Each of those moments reminded me that teaching is as much about listening and caring as it is about Instruction.

Patience became my most important tool. Some days were challenging, but those were often the days that taught me the most. I learned that progress isn’t always immediate, but it is always worth the wait. 

Now, fast forward almost seven years later. Those same sixth graders I once taught are now receiving their college acceptance letters or beginning their first year of college. It’s surreal to think that the same students who once filled my classroom with questions, laughter, and energy are now stepping into the next chapter of their lives. Knowing that I played even a small role in their journey, that I helped spark confidence, curiosity, or belief in themselves, is one of the most powerful feelings I’ve ever experienced.

To anyone thinking about becoming a teacher: remember that you hold the power to shape memories, to build confidence, and to spark curiosity that lasts a lifetime. The classroom is not just a place to teach but rather it is a place to inspire.

So go ahead, be someone’s smile. You never know the difference it might make!