Interests and passions are not as linear as they seem. For alumna Michelle Maranchello, an unexpected turn revealed itself far from the path she once imagined. What began with a love for creativity and an early career in education eventually led her into the world of private equity, where she now keeps operations organized behind the scenes.

Maranchello’s days as a high school student revolved around art. If anybody was looking for her, she was most likely in Lorraine Vasquez’s room, curating banners for events or finishing creative assignments. 

“It was just like an outlet for us to be there, even after school, where we would finish whatever drawings we wanted to,” the alumna says.

Maranchello took every opportunity to enroll in an art class, which made her known as “that one artistic student.”

“Art was my thing,” Maranchello emphasizes. “Everyone knew me for that. But it didn’t line up with the lifestyle and stability I wanted.”

Despite being deeply invested in the arts, Maranchello ultimately realized that this passion could not sustain the life she envisioned. She shifted her focus and began pursuing a career in early childhood education.

For a short period of time, Maranchello worked as a teacher. She led colorful classrooms and taught foundational skills. Even with the opportunity to work with children, she still felt there was more responsibility she could take on. That realization led her to a position at a marketing company.

“I was recruited through a hiring agency, and they were like, ‘Hey, this company is looking for an executive admin for a large team,’ and I went for it,” she exclaims.

The transition was not easy. “I had never worked on the corporate side of America. I was used to cutouts with glitter and kids,” Maranchello explains.

Her work at the marketing company strengthened her organizational skills. “I know how to run things because I was able to run a classroom,” she says.

“I was also able to support an office team, which helped prepare me for what came next.”

She was later hired at Comvest as an executive assistant. At Comvest Credit Partners, she focuses on time management, problem-solving, travel logistics, and coordinating meetings for her team. In many ways, she serves as the structure of her department, ensuring everything runs smoothly behind the scenes.

The most meaningful part of Maranchello’s role comes during high-pressure moments, especially when her team is traveling. 

“When something happens at the last minute, like a canceled flight or lost luggage, and they’re relying on me to fix it, that’s the most rewarding,” she says. 

Being proactive and thinking several steps ahead, she explained, is essential to her role.

One of the challenges she faces is not being physically present in offices located in Chicago or New York. This requires her to trust her coworkers to manage situations on-site. 

“Executive administrators must rely on each other, cover for absences, and ensure that all meetings and projects run smoothly together,” Maranchello states.

Overall, the journey has been a rewarding experience for Maranchello. She has stepped into corporate culture and flourished as a result. 

Through her experience, she encourages others to stop comparing themselves to those around them and to not worry if their timeline looks different.

“Take risks. It’s okay if your timeline is off. Ups and downs happen, but follow your instincts, take leaps, and things will fall into place,” Maranchello says.

Even with all of the moving parts, Maranchello speaks about her role with pride. She did not plan for this exact career when she was younger, but she is grateful she took the leap.