Tech Startup Sales Exec Addresses Cum Laude Society Inductees

Allison Pickens ’03 shares career experiences in Silicon Valley during return to alma mater

Fourteen Agnes Irwin seniors were inducted into the Cum Laude Society on Monday, April 21, representing students who have pursued the most rigorous coursework during their high school years. Addressing the prestigious group was AIS alumna Allison Pickens, a marketing development director for the enterprise software startup Gainsight, based in Mountain View, California.

Pickens, a graduate of Yale University and Stanford Business School, spoke to the seniors about the importance of intellectual endeavor as one seeks her way in the world. Encouraging them to follow a passion but realize that that passion will likely change from year to year, she advised them to “follow your true north.”

“Allison was a wonderful student here at AIS,” said Edward D. Frank II, Chair of the History Department and 12th Grade Dean at Agnes Irwin. “She was, in particular, a most creative thinker. I know that our Upper School students enjoyed hearing from this relatively young alumna about her experiences working with a start-up company located in the Silicon Valley."

The Agnes Irwin School’s Chapter of the Cum Laude Society honors students who have achieved excellence in the most rigorous course of study. The Society permits school chapters to select up to 20% of the graduating class on the basis of superior scholarship. The names of those selected are kept anonymous until the induction ceremony. 

Those inducted into the Cum Laude Society this year (as shown in photo, left to right, standing) include: Grace Alburger, Justine Breuch, Karen Brown, Caroline Greco, Sara Bastian, Elizabeth Miller, Prianka Bedi, Allison Freiwald, and Annabel Lewis. Pictured left to right, sitting includes: Madeline Rosato, Larissa Wietlisbach, Jenna Roland, and Lindsay Ryan. Not pictured is Elizabeth McNamee.