President of an industry-leading photonic technology company, Thorlabs, Jennifer Cable ’03 rounded out the school’s Alumni Roundtable series on Thursday, April 24, opening up about how unsure she had once felt about her professional journey. Looking back on her career now, she explained the reasons why she wouldn’t have had it any other way.

The event supplemented Blair’s Alumni Roundtables, a series that brings graduates from a wide range of industries back to campus to share their professional and life experiences with current students. 

“Once I’d graduated from Blair, I saw some of my peers knowing exactly what they were after, whether that was studying law or medicine, but I wasn’t so sure. I think many people, in fact, aren’t sure and it is okay to figure things out as you go,” she said after introducing herself.

After graduating from Blair, Ms. Cable went on to attend Vassar College for her undergraduate degree and earned her master’s from Columbia University before dedicating herself to a career in health and science. 

“My time at Vassar was great because it was a small liberal arts college, which afforded me the opportunities to pick and choose topics that I wanted to study. Many times, someone or a college curriculum may tell a student to study certain topics, but they may not be applicable in the future. Yet, if you learn the fundamentals–how to think, how to write, listen, and argue–then you will never have wasted your time learning those skills.”

Following graduate school, Ms. Cable spent several years running Strategic Initiatives for Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey. Upon leaving that role in 2015, Ms. Cable joined Thorlabs, a photonics company started by her father, where she has served ever since. 

“Being president today means that I am the senior most leader of the company. My dad founded the company and is my boss. He started the company in our family garage when I was three years old with one milling machine. Thorlabs was built on this idea to make historically manual-intensive labor more efficient while specializing in innovative technology.”

Headquartered just a short drive from Blair Academy, Thorlabs is a cornerstone of Newton, New Jersey. Ms. Cable could not resist offering the community a glimpse into the innovative work that her company is doing. She encouraged students not only to lean on her, but others around them, emphasizing the lasting value in making connections with lifelong friends and mentors.

“You may not know the direction your career will take, and that’s okay,” she told students. “A circuitous path can still be a successful path. The important thing is to be resilient, look for opportunities and help others who come up before you as I am sure other people will help you.” Additional visits with experts in their fields will be scheduled at the beginning of next year through the Alumni Roundtables program, offering more opportunities for students to engage with Blair graduates. These events will continue to provide students with insights into a wide range of careers and professional paths, fostering meaningful connections between current students and Blair’s accomplished alumni network.