As the education director at Mathnasium, Melissa Loupeda uses her passion for math equity and her consulting experience to empower young learners. With a background in public policy and education advocacy, she is dedicating her career to addressing systemic inequities in STEM education.

In this spotlight, Melissa shares her journey from Stanford University to Oliver Wyman and beyond, highlighting the skills she gained and the impact she aims to make in the lives of students.

Tell us about your career before you joined Oliver Wyman.

I completed my undergraduate degree at Stanford University, majoring in public policy. During my time there, I developed a passion for “math equity” — the initiative to encourage young women and students of color to engage in math education and remain on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) tracks.

How did that passion for STEM come about?

STEM subjects often come with rigid perceptions about how students learn, leading to the misconception that one must simply be a “math person” to succeed. This mindset can be particularly damaging to underrepresented students, who may feel discouraged and filter out of these academic tracks entirely.

To make a difference, I began tutoring in the Palo Alto area with an after-school STEM organization and online through Juni Learning. I later collaborated with a professor at Stanford’s Graduate School of Education to understand and address math inequities in higher education. It quickly became my mission to advocate for the educational rights of youth, particularly those who may be left behind by the traditional school system.

Tell us more about that time for you.

During my studies, I completed five internships, not only in education but across the legal field. One of my most formative experiences was serving as an AmeriCorps member in 2020, supporting the San Mateo Family Law Facilitator’s Office. Prior to this, I interned at the San Francisco District Attorney's Office, where I learned about legal initiatives intended to help young people facing difficult circumstances.

At the family law office, I was able to apply and expand upon these insights, directly supporting self-representing litigants. Perhaps most uniquely, I had the opportunity to combine my interests in education, law and self-advocacy at a non-profit in New York. There, I developed and executed a curriculum teaching young women about leadership and running for office. Our students formed “campaign teams” and for 10 weeks, prepared issue statements, campaign speeches and funding proposals — it was fantastic!

What brought you to Oliver Wyman?

At first glance Oliver Wyman might seem like an unexpected choice. However, as I shape my career a recurring question arises: Should I aim for direct, localized impact or higher-level initiatives that can impact a broader group of people?

This tension was present throughout college and continues to challenge me. I feel there’s no single answer. Consulting emerged as an appealing avenue for driving far-reaching initiatives, sharping my analytical skills, and learning quickly. With concentrated experience in the non-profit and local government sectors, I was excited to work with major businesses, influence the direction of multi-million-dollar deals, and create meaningful change in a new way.

How would you describe your time at Oliver Wyman?

I spent two impactful years in the Boston office, primarily focusing on financial services. What I loved most about my time at Oliver Wyman was the advising and mentorship culture. I found it incredibly rewarding to mentor younger consultants, guiding them on how to think clearly and manage their workloads without succumbing to overwhelm.

Which skills did you learn at Oliver Wyman that you’re still applying?

I really honed my corporate communication skills by writing and receiving feedback on many “end-of-day summaries” for principals and partners. Today, my manager entrusts me with much of our wider professional communications. Additionally, I need to communicate updates on students' progress to busy parents succinctly and clearly.

Another aspect has been my growing comfort with Excel. Managing a team of 14 instructors reqiores organization, and Excel has become an essential tool in my working life, which I did not anticipate at all.

What was the next step for you in your career?

Many of my projects at Oliver Wyman involved large clients, and the implementation of our strategies had a longer time horizon. I found myself eager for immediate impact. When you're teaching a third grader how to do multiplication, there’s a very clear impact today.

When I received the offer to join Mathnasium as the education director, I was so excited. While it may seem like a departure from my previous role, this position aligns with my desire to shape my career in a way that directly influences students' lives. I look forward to a career where my high-level impact is informed by what I’ve seen on the ground and vice versa.

What advice would you give to current colleagues at Oliver Wyman?

I recommend carving out time in your daily routine for regular self-reflection. Consulting is a fast-paced environment, and it’s easy to become laser-focused on meeting deadlines. After completing a project, take a moment to assess how things went — consider what worked well and what could have been improved.

This reflective practice allows you to gain perspective amidst the daily hustle. Also, seek mentorship outside of consulting. Engaging with professionals from diverse fields and backgrounds can broaden your horizons and enrich your understanding of different perspectives and values.

This page was originally published on March 11, 2025.