Worcester Business Journal

wbjournal.com | October 6, 2025 | Worcester Business Journal 13 OUTSTANDING WOMEN IN BUSINESS F O C U S Christina Andreoli Senior vice president, private banking Berkshire Bank, in Worcester Residence: Holden Education: Bachelor's degree in journalism from Newhouse School Of Public Communications at Syracuse University How are things changing for professional women? Back in the early 90s, there was a saying that women could have it all, but there were so many obstacles that made it hard for many women to truly balance everything. The biggest, and arguably one of the most normalized changes I've seen in recent years, has been the rise of flexible and hybrid work. Because of this, we tend to see more women accepting leadership positions and starting entrepreneurial ventures. PHOTO | MATT WRIGHT BY JAKE REARDON Special to WBJ "T here are many people who've been suc- cessful in particular fields," said Timothy Murray, president and CEO of the Worcester Regional Cham- ber of Commerce. "Public sector, private sector, board and volunteer work: Many people are successful in one, and fewer people are successful in two. "Christina has been successful in all three." Born in Worcester and raised in Shrewsbury, Christina Andreoli found an early role model in her mother, who raised three children while working as a nurse. She taught Andreoli the value of hard work, at work and at home. "My mom was of the generation where women were expected to have it all, both at work and at home, but that didn't leave her with a lot of free time," Andreoli said. Unlike her two siblings, who attend- ed Shrewsbury High School, Andre- oli attended the all-girls Notre Dame Academy in Worcester, which she credits with allowing her to explore who she was outside the co-ed environment pressures. Aer graduating from Syracuse Uni- versity with a bachelor's degree in jour- nalism in 1999, Andreoli took a job at her mother's employer, Worcester insurer Fallon Health. She worked in public re- lations under Richard Burke, who would later go on to become Fallon's president and CEO. From there, her journalism ex- perience led to her being recommended by Burke for a communications position under then-newly appointed Worcester city manager Michael O'Brien, starting her public sector career. "at's one of the great things about my career," Andreoli said. "Each oppor- tunity came from the last one." Starting in 2006, Andreoli worked just about every public sector job available under O'Brien, from communications and economic development to veterans' affairs and disability services. In 2014, she transitioned to the directorship of the Worcester Public Library Foundation, where she helped launch the One City, One Library initiative to open libraries in four of Worcester's most underserved elementary schools. ey were staffed by public librarians and open to the public outside of school hours, which is one of her proudest accomplishments. To do this, Andreoli said, she had to work with a wide variety of profession- als, including contractors, educators, administrators, community leaders, and librarians to get the program up and running within eight months. "When I get involved in stuff, I tend to go 100% in," Andreoli said. Aer her time at the WPL Foundation, Andreoli was recruited to be the chief of staff to Murray, who had just been ap- pointed leader of the Worcester chamber. "Christina's been one of those effective behind-the-scenes leaders on multiple fronts. She's one of the hardest-working individuals you'll ever meet," he said. As part of the Worcester chamber, Andreoli helped launch Discover Central Mass, a convention and visitors bureau aiming to increase tourism in 35 cities and towns across Central Massachusetts. "I had to work with a lot of people for the good of my community, and I'm glad it will still live on in a capacity that someone else is going to take and put their stamp on," Andreoli said. Aer almost 20 years in the public sector, Andreoli returned to the private sector aer being recruited by Bos- ton-based Berkshire Bank for her role as senior vice president of private banking, where she uses the skills she developed organizing people and working as part of a team to advance common goals. roughout her career, Andreoli has engaged in a variety of volunteer and mentorship work, which she identifies as almost as important as her professional work. She remains on the board of her alma mater, Notre Dame Academy, and additionally coaches track there, feeling that Central Massachusetts needs an all- girls school to mentor the next genera- tion of female professionals. She remains involved in her local Girl Scouts troop and engages in informal mentorship with young female professionals. "I have two daughters, and I don't want them, or anyone else entering the work- force, to face any of the opposition women of my generation faced," she said. Andreoli is an effective behind-the-scenes leader W

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