It’s often said that truly good leaders should also be good followers — a lesson PK Kriha ’91 learned early on when she followed in the footsteps of her two older sisters and chose to attend Saint Ben’s.
“They had a great experience and I looked up to them — so the choice was easy!” she recalls.
Thanks to the generosity of donors, PK received the scholarships she needed to turn that choice into reality. It was an experience that made a profound impact on her and ultimately served as a launching point for her lifelong dedication to supporting and empowering women.
“I was surrounded by incredible friends and resources at Saint Ben’s,” she says. “I learned to have confidence and persevere. I learned the importance of a strong network of friends and a ‘village’ as my CSB and SJU network has been a big part of my career success. I have also been fortunate to work with some of the best and brightest women since I began my career in 1991. Throughout my career, my gender has not interfered with my success and I am grateful that I can use my natural and God-given talents for good.”
PK currently serves as senior vice president for Employee Benefits at Marsh & McLennan Agency (MMA) in Minneapolis, where she advises on total reward strategies, wellbeing/wellness programs and more to a diverse base of corporate clients. In addition to her strategic responsibilities as a leader at MMA, PK works to attract more women to the industry and is passionate about supporting women in business through mentoring and executive coaching.
“Women have natural gifts to bring to our communities, workplaces and families – and those gifts make a difference in the world,” she explains. “I have been fortunate in my career and supporting women is a natural passion for me.”
That’s why PK is dedicated to giving to Saint Ben’s at the Presidents’ Circle level — not only because CSB is her alma mater — but because of the education Saint Ben’s provides and the environment it nurtures to empower women. The Presidents’ Circle is a generous group of donors who choose each year to support the Annual Giving Program at Saint Ben’s with $1,500 or more.
“I want to give back to other Bennies so that they can have a bright future,” she says. “I was able to attend Saint Ben’s because of the many scholarships from donors during my student years. Now it’s my turn to give back to the college and its students.”