Paul, ’00 and Maura Thompson, ’01, MBA ’03, are utilizing their La Salle educations overseas.

Two Explorers’ time at 20th and Olney set them up to find success overseas together.

Paul, ’00 and Maura Thompson, ’01, MBA ’03, met after their graduations at an alumni happy hour event. Since then, the couple have seen their careers take them around the world.

A member of the J.P. Morgan Chase team since graduating from La Salle, Paul is a managing director and was recently named the head of Singapore and Southeast Asia for J.P. Morgan Private Bank. Maura is the co-founder and publisher of Sassy Media Group, an online platform creating local content in Hong Kong and Singapore.

Paul and Maura had very different motivations in enrolling at the University. Paul, who is Canadian, spent most of his teenage years in Mahwah, N.J. He had heard of La Salle because of its athletics and decided it was a place he could be successful studying business administration with a focus in marketing. Maura was drawn in by the track and cross-country teams as a student-athlete. While she ultimately entered undeclared, she chose sociology with a minor in business because she enjoyed the classes.

The Thompsons are grateful for their La Salle journeys because of the doors it opened for them. Paul remembers getting the chance to share his resume at a networking event where J.P. Morgan Chase attended. He was later called for an interview. The rest is history.

“I think about what the business school prepared myself and my fellow graduates for and how it set an incredible foundation,” he said. “I am grateful for my experience at La Salle’s School of Business.”

As the head of Singapore and Southeast Asia for J.P. Morgan Private Bank, Paul oversees multiple diverse markets. Working in private wealth, he makes sure the organization is working with the right clients and growing the overall franchise is top priority for him.

Prior to this role, Paul was based in Hong Kong. When he and Maura originally moved to Asia, they thought it would be a brief hiatus. Now with two kids, successful careers, and a network of friends, it’s their home.

“It’s been such a great experience for us,” Paul said.

Maura launched her publishing company in 2009. Prior to moving overseas, she worked in the pharmaceutical industry. When they moved, she took time for yoga teaching and volunteering. After building a foundation in a new country, she started the business with two friends. Now, Sassy Media Group operates Sassy and Sassy Mama, both resources for people in Hong Kong and Singapore to find lifestyle content on ways to enjoy the cities.

While the couple are half a world away, they find ways to support La Salle. The Thompsons donated to the University’s arena renovation because of the lasting impact being an Explorer has had on them. For Maura, it’s especially close to her heart because of her time as a college athlete and working with track Coach Charles Torpey who passed in 2011.

“That’s also when we decided to give back, honoring Coach Torpey and recognizing the opportunities La Salle has helped prepare us for,” Paul said.

Maura said the pair have carried a lot of values from La Salle with them throughout their lives. Receiving a practical education that has allowed them to excel is something they’re forever grateful for.

“A lot of people who went to La Salle have the hard work and tenacity in them,” Maura said.

-Meg Ryan