Learning Through Leadership: Alumnae Open Doors for Baldwin Seniors

One of the most valuable aspects of the Baldwin experience is the strength of its alumnae network. This year, two Baldwin graduates welcomed senior students into their workplaces through the Senior Externship Program, providing firsthand exposure to careers in human resources (HR), healthcare design, construction, and project management. Their mentorship offered not only practical experience, but also a glimpse into the leadership, curiosity, and confidence that define Baldwin women.

 

For Kate Ma ’26, an externship with Amelia Gale ’04, Director of Human Resources at Philly’s Best Steak, provided an opportunity to better understand the many facets of business and discover the role HR plays in an organization. During her time there, Kate was immersed in a wide range of responsibilities, from employee relations and legal compliance to onboarding and employee engagement. She also worked on a project reviewing departmental standard operating procedures and researching ways to improve the employee life cycle.

 

Amelia’s own path to Human Resources was unexpected. “Originally I planned to be a teacher, but while waiting for my certification in New York I fell into recruiting,” she explained. “From there, I was able to pivot into a role in corporate Human Resources and my career took off.” She credits her success to understanding both business needs and employee perspectives, noting that HR professionals often work behind the scenes to help organizations achieve their goals.

 

As Director of HR, Amelia oversees everything from recruiting and onboarding to employee relations, training, benefits, and compensation. Yet, she says the most rewarding part of her work is watching employees grow. “It’s always great to be the cheerleader for the employees and then watch their success.” At the same time, she acknowledges that HR requires constant adaptability. “The HR department always has to be flexible and able to pivot at any given time.”

 

Amelia believes Baldwin played a significant role in preparing her for leadership. “Baldwin instilled ambition and drive in me and taught me the value of hard work,” she said. “I’ve never been afraid to ask questions, to push back, and to speak my mind.” She also credits her all-girls education with helping her develop the confidence to “assert myself, ask questions, disrupt the status quo, and think critically.”

 

When asked why she chose to host a student for an externship, Amelia’s answer was simple: “Any opportunity to give back to the Baldwin community is special to me.” She hoped Kate would gain a realistic understanding of the profession, adding, “We did not sugar coat anything for Kate. She saw the good, the bad, and the ugly.” Most importantly, Amelia wanted to model a leadership philosophy centered on empathy. “I believe in leading with empathy, not ego.”

 

Kate found the experience transformative. “My externship turned out to be very helpful for my future career plans by introducing me to the HR function,” she said. “At Philly’s Best Steak, Amelia showed me everything from interviews and legal processes to employee well-being activities.” Kate was particularly appreciative of Amelia’s mentorship, noting, “I felt incredibly welcomed by Amelia because she was so enthusiastic to explain everything to me.” She left with a deeper understanding of leadership and organizational culture, observing that “a good HR department is proactive rather than reactive” and that “leading was just as much about listening as it is communicating.”

 

Tavi Phinisee ’26  spent her externship with Gabi Garcia-Decena ’10, Lead Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) Project Manager for Penn Medicine at Pennsylvania Hospital. The experience exposed her to healthcare construction projects, design meetings, and the collaborative process that brings complex medical facilities to life. She observed interactions among architects, engineers, contractors, and healthcare professionals while gaining insight into the planning and management behind large-scale projects.

 

Gabi’s own career began with an externship remarkably similar to the one she now offers Baldwin students. She started at the architecture and engineering firm Ballinger, where she focused on healthcare planning and worked alongside clinical teams to design spaces that support patient care and staff workflows. “I enjoyed learning and working with clinical teams at each of the hospitals, developing their floor plans to match their workflows and producing quality buildings,” she said.

 

Today, her role at Penn Medicine varies from day to day. “Usually, I spend time on Teams video calls, walking with the design and the clinical user groups, working on administrative project tasks, or putting out the ‘fire of the moment,’” she explained. Her work emphasizes collaboration, particularly through the IPD model, which brings architects, engineers, builders, and project managers together early in the design process to improve outcomes.

 

A passionate advocate for staff wellness, Gabi has also focused on how physical environments can support mental health. She described designing “Respite or Quiet Rooms” where healthcare workers can pause, recharge, and practice self-care. “Mental and physical well-being must be at the forefront because I personally have seen and felt the results when it is not,” she said.

 

Like Amelia, Gabi credits Baldwin with fostering confidence and curiosity. “I was encouraged to ask questions and to be bold while doing so,” she said. “I did not need to know everything, but I did need to be curious.” That curiosity remains the quality she most hopes Tavi will continue to develop. “Tavi is a smart, inquisitive, and motivated young woman,” Gabi said. “I would love for her to continue to develop her curiosity as one of her many strengths.”

 

For Tavi, the externship provided valuable professional skills and a memorable lesson in workplace culture. “During the externship, I honed my people and conversational skills to better budget and plan out future projects,” she said. Beyond the technical experience, she was struck by the sense of community she observed at Penn Medicine. “Everyone was treated like they matter,” she reflected. “I was recognized not just as the intern from Baldwin, but the girl who has a bright future in medicine at Drexel and a deep love for the arts.” Her biggest takeaway? “We mattered, and to me, that was beautiful.”

 

Through the generosity of alumnae like Amelia Gale and Gabi Garcia-Decena, Baldwin students gain more than workplace exposure — they gain mentors, role models, and a clearer vision of the possibilities ahead. These externships demonstrate the enduring power of the Baldwin network and the willingness of alumnae to invest in the next generation of leaders.