M&T Bank Women in Leadership & Business Academy

The M&T Bank Women in Leadership & Business Academy at Buffalo Academy of the Sacred Heart is a unique, comprehensive and dynamic business certificate program made possible with the support of M&T Bank. It has been created to introduce girls to a variety of career opportunities and support the entrepreneurial goals of students who wish to launch a business.

 This certificate program creates a framework of exposure and solid introduction to the business world, including a sequence of coursework, an internship, involvement in DECA, local field trips and guest speakers as well as a culminating project and SHARK-tank style competition.

To receive the certificate, students must take both Entrepreneurship and Internship as well as two of three of the following classes: Accounting (1/2 year), Practical and Business Law (1/2 year) or Desktop Publishing (1/2 year).

Membership in the DECA business club offered at SHA is strongly encouraged.

Students also participate in an immersion program, the Business Academy Summer Experiences, where they visit and learn more about local companies, many of which have a SHA connection.  Past experiences have included Manzella Marketing, The Advantage Co., M&T Bank, Waterbikes of Buffalo, Revolution Gym, Research & Design, Elm Street Bakery, Build Up Buffalo, Feed More WNY, Rupp Baase Pfalzgraf Cunningham, Moog and Pegula Sports & Entertainment. 

Business Academy Advisory Board:  Jamie Batt '97, Partner, Rupp Baase Pfalzgraf Cunningham; Matt Collard, Partner, Pratt Collard; Jennifer Demert, Buffalo Academy of the Sacred Heart; Carrie Fahey, Partner, Fahey Financial; Olivia Goldstein '07, CEO, Rephike; Jackie McGuire Gurney '86, McGuire Group; Patty Haberman '80, Patricia A. Haberman DDS; Rebecca Haslinger '96; Ted Kuzniarek, CEO, Upstate Pharmacy; Marnie Lavigne '80, CEO, Launch NY, Inc.; Joan Maira '77, HSBC Bank; Jim Manzella, CEO, Manzella Marketing; Lynne Moore, Wegmans; Jennifer Judge Murphy, CEO, Net Plus Alliance; Alex Cleary Pelc, Director, Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership, University at Buffalo; Sarah Savattieri '07, M&T Bank; Betsy Sullivan; Sarah Vescio, Director, Women's Business Center at Canisius College; Laura Zaepfel, Uniland Development Corporation