Testimonials
At Eduventures, we believe our people are our greatest asset. We encourage you to learn about the experiences of some of our employees across a variety of departments. We hope you will get a sense of their various backgrounds, the opportunities that attracted them to the company, and the different aspects of working at Eduventures that they most enjoy.
- Eric Bassett, Managing Director
- Noah M. Carp, Managing Director, Finance and Operations
- Mindy Anastasia, Program Manager and Senior Analyst
- Kristen E. Holmstrand, Director, Online Content
Employee Name: Eric Bassett
Title: Managing Director
Department: Eduventures Consulting Services
Started: June 2003; July 2009
I've been a lifelong strategy, marketing, and product development consultant. In the 1990s, I created growth strategies for major corporations in mature industries. I later worked with small New England manufacturers to reinvent their businesses in the face of difficult economic times. During the dot-com boom, I was fortunate to collaborate with well-known business school professors to help companies of all sizes reinvent themselves – either through start-up units or through large-scale organizational change. My degrees are in international relations and business, with a master's from Georgetown University and a bachelor's from Duke University.
I first joined Eduventures in 2003 to explore a passion for education. I have worked across nearly every industry – from natural resource extraction to health care to manufacturing to professional services to consumer products – and wanted to commit to one that I believe has importance beyond the next quarter's financial results. After more than three productive and exciting years at Eduventures, I left in 2006 to work for one of our clients. I re-joined Eduventures in 2009 because of my previous positive experience with the company and because there is no better place from which to observe and shape the changes impacting the education industry.
Having been with the company for a few years now, I can say with confidence that no two years are the same. During my tenure, I've been a Senior Consultant, lead Corporate Education Analyst, lead K-12 Analyst, Research Director for K-12 and Postsecondary Education, Managing Director of the Postsecondary Supplier Business, Sales Director, and now head of Eduventures Consulting Services. I have grown as an advisor to senior decision-makers, as a product-line owner and manager, and as a subject-matter expert. I've learned that higher education is a small industry with certain unique characteristics, and that it's important to take the time to get to know it – you won't become an expert overnight.
When I started at Eduventures in 2003, there were only about 15 of us in the company. Whenever a major newsworthy event occurred in the industry, the entire company would assemble in the conference room and we'd debate what it meant for the industry – then, we'd nominate an author and publish a story on it. Those days are gone and we're a lot bigger now, but that dynamic pulled us together in a way that I'll long remember.
Employee Name: Noah M. Carp
Title: Managing Director, Finance and Operations
Department: FOW (Finance, Operations, and Web Site)
Started: August 2006
I earned my M.B.A. from the Carroll School of Management at Boston College and did my undergraduate studies at Brandeis University, where I majored in economics and politics and graduated with honors. Before joining Eduventures, I managed the Customer Research group at an information technology company. In this role, I was part of the Strategic Research Group’s management team and was responsible for developing customer- and partner-facing research programs to drive corporate strategy. Prior to returning to school for my M.B.A., I served in several leadership roles within the development organization of a university.
Eduventures has allowed me to marry my passion for higher education and love of analysis in an entrepreneurial and collegial environment. When I first joined Eduventures, I worked as a senior analyst in the Industry Solutions division, covering postsecondary education to support vendor clients’ market strategies. Leveraging both my knowledge of the postsecondary education arena and my technology industry experience as a purchaser of research, I was able to draw on my unique 3600 perspective. Following Eduventures’ sale of the Industry Solutions group, I had the amazing learning opportunity to be a part of the team that managed the group’s integration into the acquiring company.
Currently serving as Director, Finance and Operations, I enjoy managing a team that takes tremendous pride in the services that we provide to employees and in the analysis and reporting that we develop for groups such as senior management and the Board of Directors. I look forward to new occasions to forge bonds across the company, to help people understand the financial metrics driving decision-making, and and to become familiar with the broader operations of the company. It is the ongoing opportunities to grow both professionally and personally, as well as the environment filled with smart, energetic, and collaborative individuals, that make Eduventures a tremendously enriching and exciting place to work.
Although each day introduces memorable moments, what stands out most to me is Eduventures’ commitment to education. Spending time reading to preschoolers as part of the JumpStart program has been a rewarding way, year after year, to help these youngsters equip themselves with the skills for successful education. I have thoroughly enjoyed serving alongside my colleagues and seeing them passionately read stories such as Corduroy and The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Moments like these make me proud of the corporate culture and values that Eduventures lives every day.
Employee Name: Mindy Anastasia
Title: Program Manager and Senior Analyst
Department: Schools of Education Learning Collaborative
Started: July 2006
Before I came to Eduventures, I worked in the Boston Public Schools, helping students prepare and apply for college. I also assisted students and their families with the financial aid process, which can be daunting for many parents. We began working with students in elementary school, and followed them through to high school graduation and beyond. Preparing for college begins earlier then a lot of us realize. In my work for Eduventures' Schools of Education Learning Collaborative, I support Deans and schools of education leaders in their efforts to prepare the best possible educators for our nation's schools. It is very powerful to be a part of that.
I first joined Eduventures mostly because Richard Garrett seemed like an interesting guy to work with. And, he was! I knew I could learn from him. The analysts I met with while interviewing were intelligent and forward-looking. The work seemed like a challenge--I knew I would gain new skills. I always try to surround myself with people who are smarter than I am. That's the only way to improve. I wanted to work in an environment where I could learn as much from my peers as from my supervisors, and I saw an opportunity to do that here.
It's not difficult to be challenged in an analyst position at Eduventures. The nature of the job constantly challenges you to consider and examine new ideas and different initiatives. Our role is to help university leaders implement promising, efficient, and effective strategies, and there is always something new around the corner to explore with our clients. We're constantly monitoring innovations. People look to us to provide guidance about what the future might hold.
My advice for new staff members is to get to know other employees. Go out for drinks. Take a long lunch once in awhile. Enjoy your job and have fun with the people you work with. Particularly as an analyst, it's easy to fall into a pattern of working independently, but having fun with your co-workers makes for a supportive and healthy working environment. If it wasn't for building relationships with co-workers, I would never have met my husband-to-be! In fact, my favorite Eduventures memory is when my co-worker introduced me to her brother-in-law. Soon, that co-worker will be my sister-in-law. Where would I be without Eduventures? Not getting married to the best guy in the world, I’ll tell ya that!
Employee Name: Kristen E. Holmstrand
Title: Director, Online Content
Department: FOW (Finance, Operations, and Web Site)
Started: December 1999
I am a magna cum laude graduate of Wellesley College, where I majored in religion (with a focus on the religions of India). Most of my work experience before Eduventures was in publishing, where I held positions in editorial, marketing, and Web development. I was referred to Eduventures by a good friend who was also an employee of the company. I was attracted to the excitement and enthusiasm that everyone I interviewed with had for Eduventures and its future. I wanted to be a part of a young, dynamic, exciting company that had loads of potential and a powerful mission of improving education.
My role here at Eduventures has changed dramatically since joining the company in 1999 as a Web site manager, and has allowed me to be a part of three very different functions: IT, our Web site, and editing. My job requires drawing on my varied skills and interests, and has evolved to take advantage of my professional background. I focus on how best to deliver these services to the rest of the company and on how our IT and Web site teams can support Eduventures’ continued growth and success.
I admire and respect my colleagues at Eduventures – on the teams I manage, in my department, and at the company overall. Everyone is extremely intelligent, talented, and passionate about what they do, but also very fun and friendly. One of my favorite memories is from a few years ago, when during a very stressful and busy time, the entire company went out for dinner and drinks to unwind and relax. It gave us a chance to be silly and have a whole lot of fun, to connect with each other in new ways outside of the office, and to reinforce the sense of family that Eduventures generates. I also greatly enjoy our summer community service projects, where we’ve gone as a company to several Boston preschools to paint classrooms, organize libraries, and make literacy kits for children.
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