Meet Our April Alumna Spotlight: Meghan Lally

Our April Alumna Spotlight features Meghan Lally! Read more to hear what she has been doing since she graduated in 2018!

Name: Meghan Lally

Theta Member Class: 2014

Graduation Year: 2018

Major/Degree: Journalism

Hometown: Overland Park, KS

Where do you live now? New York City, NY

Where do you work right now? What have you been up to since graduation?

I work at FGS Global, a strategic advisory firm, which focuses primarily on communications. Since graduation, I have jumped all around the country, but I initially worked for D Magazine as an associate editor, writing about the weddings and homes of Dallas. It was very much the fulfillment of a dream, but COVID layoffs hit, and I was left without a post in March 2020. I soon pivoted and went back to school in Fall of 2020, pursuing my MBA at Notre Dame. I graduated last May, in 2022, and I moved to New York in June. Safe to say, I’m very glad to (hopefully) be static for a second and have the opportunity to put down some roots in the very best place.

What’s your favorite thing about your job?

The incredible, inspirational people I get to watch and learn from every day. FGS is really a conglomeration of individuals from every path you could imagine. I work closely with former investment bankers, lawyers, journalists, campaign managers … even an actress! The list could go on. Everyone brings an incredibly unique perspective, allowing us to provide our clients with fulsome counsel, guiding their efforts to effectively share their stories with stakeholders.

What’s your favorite thing about the city you live in?

That I can fully relax. You can ask my member class, but I’m not exactly soft spoken, and much of my life have felt the need to lessen myself to fit the status quo. Cliché as it may be, New York provides the space and encouragement to be fully me and fully alive – I couldn’t be more grateful. It also doesn’t hurt that there’s a jazz club on every block, baristas who know your name (and order!) and friends from every phase of life just around the corner.

What are you passionate about?

Faith, family, friends, health and wellness, fashion, the arts – so much! But I’m also constantly searching for new passions that I can grow and develop to dedicate the next chapters of my life to. I’d be curious to know if other recent graduates feel the same way, but since graduating from Notre Dame, I’ve been reminded that finding ways to pursue your passions outside of a university isn’t as easy as during school when clubs and organizations abound. Either way, I know that with a little patience, perseverance and pondering, we will all find our niches in these adult chapters.

What do you do in your free time?

I love just exploring New York. I sometimes still can’t believe the iconic attractions of NYC are right in my backyard. After work each day I try to engage in some sort of exercise, whether running around the reservoir at Central Park or trying boutique fitness studios in my neighborhood. Then on the weekends, I take time to get to know the food, drink, shopping and music scene. (And always looking for recs!)

Do you have any other future career or life goals?

While I hope to one day have a family (and dare I say, raise my kids in Manhattan?), I hope to continue exploring exactly where my professional skill set and personal passions overlap – I think that’s where true fulfillment lies.

What do you miss most about Mizzou?

The ambience. To me, Mizzou’s campus, and Columbia as a whole, felt like a hug. I have learned that’s an incredibly special sensation you can seldom find anywhere else. It’s home!

What do you miss most about Theta?

The constant – and very special – community. As I mentioned above, in adulthood, it’s harder to find a niche from a passion perspective, but along with that, it’s also harder to find a large community of people who match your values, work ethic and ambitions. While I’ve been blessed with incredible adult friends through various avenues, I’m not sure I’ll ever find a readily available, quality community the way Theta so seamlessly provided. As I’ve moved through these last few chapters, it has caused me to pause to be even more grateful for my girls at 603.

What impact has Theta left on you?

Theta left me with the desire to continuously improve and find people who will further my pursuit to continuously level up. When I went through recruitment, I knew I wanted a house that left me a better person when I graduated than when I arrived. It didn’t take long to figure out Theta was this place. There is something so unique about the way Theta effortlessly brought together encouraging women who at the same time held you accountable and pushed you to be the best version of yourself. While my Theta girls are always just a call away (and in some cases a subway ride!), in the chapters following undergrad, I knew I needed to seek jobs, hobbies, cities and even a graduate school, that would continue providing me with friends, peers and mentors that wouldn’t allow me to settle for anything less than my best.

Do you have a specific favorite Theta memory?

Oh goodness, they are truly countless. Some of the best were just the times living in house when we would spontaneously gather in a room and laugh ‘til all hours of the night. But, of course, the one that comes to the forefront of my mind is when we won RAMS Rock It in 2018. Leading up to my freshman year, I believe we had won Rock It every year since its inception?! Well, as an avid dancer, when I went through recruitment, I knew I was born to be a Theta dancer, and I was ready to continue the legacy. But then, when we lost Rock It my freshman, sophomore and junior years it was humbling. With senior year upon us and one last shot, my girl, Kendall MacDonald, and I led the charge. We knew we simply had no choice but to bring the title back. Our theme was Lady Gaga, and from the blonde wigs on our head, to our dancing feet, we gave it our all. I’ll never forget the moment they announced we had done it. (See photo for reference) I was so grateful the hard work my girls and I had put in paid off, but more than anything, I was so grateful to have the opportunity to do something for Theta as I prepared to depart, when Theta had done so much for me.