A Conversation with Kendall Duffie ’19

Kendall Duffie ’19 spent her entire pre-collegiate education at OES, served as a member of the student council, played varsity tennis, and started the Portland Veteran's Project, a program designed to share the stories of local war veterans. She recently got her college degree in business and is beginning her career in management consulting.

Tell us a little bit about you:
I graduated in June 2019 after attending OES for pre-K through grade 12. I attended the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana, graduating this past spring with my BBA (Bachelor of Business Administration). Since graduating, I've moved to Chicago and started my job in consulting.

How were your college internships beneficial to you?
I had multiple internships throughout college, all of which have benefited me in my personal and professional life. Two internships stand out in particular: the one that led to my current full-time position, and my time serving as a division director for a business club at Notre Dame. Both opportunities gave me access to evolving industries and executives, strengthened my acumen, and developed my interest in business as a whole.

My internship with my current company took place between my junior and senior years and allowed me to explore the consulting industry. I really enjoyed getting to know my project team and my intern class, so when I received a return offer, it was an easy decision to come back!

As for my business club role, I was the 2022 SIBC marketing division director at Notre Dame. Student International Business Club (SIBC) is Notre Dame's largest student organization, with more than 3,000 active members. Each semester, SIBC hosts over 65 projects with corporate partners in fields including accounting, consulting, finance,  marketing, and more. As the marketing division director, I oversaw 6-8 projects each semester, coordinating among our professional partners, team leaders, and hundreds of interested students. In addition, as a member of the executive board, my role included helping to develop council-wide initiatives, including policies and proposals.

Now that you have finished college, what are you looking forward to?
To be honest, I am still figuring this part out; it is pretty crazy that in just six months, almost everything about my life has changed! I think what is next on my horizon is answering some pretty basic questions: where do I want to live long-term? Is it Chicago, somewhere totally new, or do I want to come back to Portland or Seattle? What kind of work do I enjoy? Should I get a master's degree? I don't expect to totally answer these questions anytime soon, but they have definitely been on my mind.

What is something that stands out for you in your post-OES journey?
Getting to experience Notre Dame football almost every fall weekend for four years! I didn't know much about football before I went to ND, and it was such a fun place to learn about the sport and experience all the excitement that comes with it. Come rain or shine (or snow), Notre Dame has the best fans. In four years I got to see some pretty amazing games (including multiple field-storms) and I will be forever grateful I got to experience it all as a student!

What is your favorite memory from your time at OES?
Whitewater rafting with my senior class! By that trip, we were all so ready to graduate while still enjoying our last days together as a class. I specifically remember how gorgeous (and hot) Central Oregon was, and feeling so lucky that we got to see the best of it while hiking, rafting, and camping together. What stands out most was the big hike we had the option of doing near the end of the trip; I remember everyone cheering each other on when we passed each other on the trail. 

What would your advice be to OES seniors graduating this year?
Take advantage of the benefits of having such a tight-knit community! When people ask me what going to a small school like OES was like (79 people in our graduating class), I always say that it meant we knew everything about each other. For most of us, we not only knew each other's names and faces, but we had had multiple classes together, knew each other's siblings, and had probably been to each other's houses at some point over the years. You don't realize how wonderful it is to be around people who know you and where you come from until it's no longer your day-to-day! Take time to appreciate that, for better or worse. It won't ever be exactly like that again. There is so much excitement ahead, but don't be in too much of a rush.