Natalie Saroufim’s title at MathWorks - “Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Program Manager” - suggests that she’s more involved than most of us in our MetroWest businesses and communities.
She’s familiar with the region’s philanthropic geography and continuously connects with a host of non-profits and businesses as she works to fulfill the company’s social mission, which includes advancing STEM education, fostering staff volunteerism, and supporting the local community.
In doing all of this, Natalie models what LMW grads do: continue to learn about their civic environments and - through networking, collaboration, and leadership - make them better.
Natalie operates in the corporate philanthropy space, with a focus on STEM education. MathWorks and its staff members impact the educational community through partnerships with science museums around the world, including the Boston Museum of Science, the Discovery Museum in Acton, Science Museum London, and museums in France, Germany, and Australia.
She manages staff who work with local schools in STEM disciplines, and coordinates staff volunteer activities - over 40 staff volunteering events are taking place in May/June. MathWorks is also involved in local events like the Tour de Natick, the Natick 4
th
of July parade, and Natick Days. Other programs include granting scholarships to students aiming to study STEM disciplines, and supporting community outreach initiatives for underserved populations.
Before MathWorks, Natalie - approaching a decade at the company - was once a waitress in her father’s restaurant, and held Marketing and Accounting co-ops at Staples and Ernst & Young. In her spare time, she volunteers on trips to Guatemala and Ecuador with Medical Missions for Children (MMFC).
She was recruited into the Leadership Academy by the late Betsy Pielocik, a 2010 alumna from Bose, whom she met at the MetroWest Corporate Givers Group. “Betsy mentored me early in my CSR career.”
Now, Natalie recruits and manages MathWorks volunteers across global offices, and oversees efforts in local communities worldwide, including MetroWest. She is always running into fellow LMW grads who represent other MetroWest organizations, and this LMW alumni network allows her to advance collaboration with the them.
Natalie sums up her LMW experience:
“I’ve been involved in other leadership training courses, but there’s nothing like the Leadership Academy. I left the program feeling
I made real connections with my classmates, and strengthened my own leadership capacity. The experience also helped me to identify the needs in MetroWest communities, and understand how people from non-profit, business, and municipal sectors can come together to address issues.”
Thank you to Bob Schecter (2004), writer and principal at
Bartleby Sciveners
f
or this Alumni Spotlight.
