McManus has achieved a rare level of prominence in the fast-changing world of finance and investment banking. Her professional contributions to Goldman Sachs have been recognized within the company and beyond, and she remains involved civically as a trustee of the New Jersey Conservation Foundation and a trustee of the Delbarton School.
After graduating from Cornell, McManus worked for the International Financial Institution group at Citibank. Following that, she worked for prestigious groups such as Salomon Brothers and Merrill Lynch & Co. before taking a three-year hiatus to spend time with her family. She then rejoined the investment and finance world at Goldman Sachs in 1998. She contributed to the restructuring of the Private Wealth Management unit in terms of operating, investment and client reporting guidelines.
In the time she has outside of her work and with her young family, McManus finds time to serve on the New Jersey Conservation Foundation board of Trustees and volunteer at the St. Benedict's Preparatory School where her husband is employed. There, she works with disadvantaged intercity youth, most of whom receive full scholarships to attend the school. However, the bulk of her volunteer time has been dedicated to serving her alma mater.
McManus has been exemplary in her service to Cornell, frequently volunteering her time to assist alumni affairs and development efforts by participating in reunion campaign and major gift committees. As a member of the Undergraduate Business Program Advisory Council, she has help shape the development of the relatively young program at Cornell and given her time as a keynote speaker and panelist for events. The Undergraduate Business Program in the Department of Applied Economics and Management (AEM) is now ranked fourth in the nation as an accredited business program. McManus gladly served on the Cornell University Council from 2003 to 2007 and continues to embrace new opportunities to serve Cornell.
Five years ago, the AEM Business Advisory Council proposed developing a Diversity Program for undergraduate business. McManus agreed to co-chair a committee that would focus on recruiting and mentoring women and minority students. McManus wastes no time in rolling up her sleeves to get things accomplished. She offered her corporate headquarters and gracious staff for the AEM Advisory Council meeting in New York City and she played a lead role in drafting the AEM position on leadership and diversity.
As a member of the committee she not only gave advice and valuable insights, but also contributed the seed money that allowed commencement of the initial programming. This included events such as the S.U.M.M.I.T. Welcome Reception for Students of Color, the Professional Women's Forum, and the Diversified Business Forum.
In 2006, McManus personally arranged for student from St. Benedict's, an inner city high school in Newark, to come to Cornell and spend a few days visiting the campus. She paid all expenses for the trip.
Often a speaker for classes and welcome receptions for incoming students, McManus gives sensitive encouragement, humorous and inspirational stories, and advice. She is very involved in her community and has trouble saying 'no' when asked to help. A few years ago she kept 150 new students in rapt attention with her own personal story, self-effacing and humorous but packed with inspiration. McManus revealed to the new freshman that she is not one to take the easy road to success—braving 21 credits for many semesters.
McManus lives in Far Hills, N.J., with her husband, Richard Hand. They have 4 children.