Member Profile: Linnea Perelli-Minetti ’09

Posted on Tuesday, November 17, 2015

It’s easy for Linnea Perelli-Minetti to find connections between her time at Northwestern and her life today. A music major who later switched to political science and history, she grew curious about the corporate world after visiting a campus career fair. Taking advantage of campus recruiting opportunities and the alumni network, she embarked on a path that led her to her current role as director of operations at Orchard Platform, a financial technology startup. “I give credit to Northwestern for making it possible,” she says.

Extracurricular activities also paved the way for Perelli-Minetti’s professional success. In college she ran recruiting for her sorority, Kappa Alpha Theta. “Hundreds of women come through,” she says, “and you have to look for specific attributes that you feel represent the values of your sorority.” Those experiences gave her planning and multitasking skills that were useful in her first job after graduation at Visa, where she interviewed job candidates and juggled 35 clients at a time.

Perelli-Minetti has given to Northwestern every year since graduation, directing her support to scholarships and the Northwestern and Bienen School of Music Annual Funds.

A Connecticut native, she first got involved in alumni activities when she moved to San Francisco in 2009 to work for Visa. Now based in New York City, she says, “I try to raise awareness about how we can not only increase donations but also increase connections within the NU community.” She especially likes mentoring students who reach out to her on LinkedIn for advice about finding jobs. “That’s a great way to give back,” she says.

Helping others remember their own time on campus is a strategy Perelli-Minetti has used to promote We Will. The Campaign for Northwestern. Earlier this year she and other social media–savvy volunteers generated excitement for the Campaign in New York by posting on Twitter and Facebook, reminding alumni to talk about their favorite Northwestern memories. “Even if we had different friends and interests, we’re all still Wildcats,” she says. “We represent the University, wherever we go.”

By contributing her money, time, and tweets, Perelli-Minetti hopes to inspire other young alumni to give financially at whatever level they can. She knows younger alumni sometimes have a hard time prioritizing philanthropy, but she encourages them to remember that “donations enabled your amazing classmates to be there, for the programming to happen. There’s a ripple effect when it comes to supporting Northwestern.”

“I feel a lot of gratitude for the school and the network I’ve been given, the friends I’ve been given, the opportunities that came out of it,” Perelli-Minetti says. When speaking with other alumni, “I like to see if others feel the same way.” She encourages Wildcats to remain active however they can. “A very easy way to stay involved in the community is to go to Northwestern events, or just rally your friends for game watches,” she says. “When you keep Northwestern alive, the urge to donate is very natural.”