Achieving in Business
From intern to chief financial officer, Ursula Hurley ’04 has advanced into a pivotal role in accounting, strategic initiatives, planning, and investor relationships at JetBlue over the past two decades.
Fairfield University has been both a critical starting point and a guiding force throughout Hurley’s professional trajectory. She began her career in aviation after returning from a semester abroad in Florence, Italy. Eager to secure a summer internship before her senior year, she went on Fairfield University’s job board and found a posting for a position with JetBlue. Her summer of 2003 internship was the start of an impeccable professional journey. In addition to the valuable experience, free flights were another notable benefit. Given her passion for travel, from that point on, she was “hooked.”
Hurley was hired full-time after she graduated and was appointed chief financial officer (CFO) of JetBlue in 2021, following positions as the head of treasury and investor relations and as treasurer, overseeing the corporation’s $13 billion balance sheet. She was instrumental in supporting the organization through the inevitable financial turbulence caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Drawing on her Fairfield education, Hurley’s professional impact spans well beyond the noteworthy progression of her roles and responsibilities. She is committed to ongoing professional development, maintaining consistency, and embracing continuous learning as she relentlessly pursues excellence in her industry.
Hurley appreciates the many ways in which Fairfield prepared her for success, including fostering essential relationships and providing a well-rounded, relevant curriculum, which she finds to be an authentic, perpetual focus of the University. She views the emphasis on “connection” as a core contributing factor in developing the whole person, which she described as “critical to success in the business world.” As an alumna, she takes pride in expanding her alumni network and continuously recognizes the impact of Jesuit values among fellow Stags. Today, some of her closest friends are those she met through Fairfield.
“Fairfield helped instill the balance between a professional career, giving back to the community, and building a family,” she said. “I think that sets students up for success post-graduation as they navigate the real world.”
With an increasingly competitive workforce, Hurley appreciates the importance of early engagement and student involvement, which is something she sees among Fairfield students. She recalled recently attending a networking event on campus in which first-years were actively participating, just a few weeks into their fall semester.
