Age 39 Place of Birth Binghamton, N.Y. Where you live Boston, MA First Job Front desk at the Binghamton Tennis Center. What it taught me If you enjoy what you do, it doesn't always seem like work. Status Married Family My husband, Riccardo Fantini Three things people would be surprised to know about me 1. I was named after my great-grandmother, Bridget O'Malley Hester, who is from Louisburgh, Mayo. 2. I met my Italian husband in Dublin while we were studying at Trinity College. 3. During Six Nations, I root for Ireland and my husband roots for Italy. Best advice you could give someone starting out Find a mentor early on in your career. Learning from a seasoned professional whom you respect and trust will open your eyes and can broaden your horizons.
Bridget Hester is a Leadership Giving Officer in MIT's Philanthropic division where she focuses on individual fundraising for Institute-wide initiatives. Prior to joining MIT, Hester served as the Regional Director at The American Ireland Fund in Boston where she oversaw fundraising and development for the New England region. While at the AIF, much of her efforts were concentrated on raising funds for integrated schooling in Northern Ireland. Hester began her career in financial services with Putnam Investments where she spent a number of years working in consultant relations and marketing before moving onto the start-up, WorldStreet Corporation, managing their strategic account with Deutsche Bank. Hester is active in the Irish-American business community and sits on the boards of BIBA and The Irish Pastoral Center. She holds a B.S. from Colby-Sawyer College and received her M.B.A from Trinity College in Dublin. Bridget and her husband Riccardo Fantini currently reside in Boston, Massachusetts.
