Alumni Q&A: Farnia Fresnel

Farnia Fresnel (ENG’98) currently serves as the president of the Lenserf Group, a business consulting firm in Philadelphia that specializes in leadership development, coaching and training. She earned her undergraduate degree in Systems Engineering from Penn Engineering in 1998, followed by an MBA from New York University. In addition to previous executive roles at Citibank and Morgan Stanley, Fresnel also served as an advisory board member at WeGlobal. In this Q&A, Fresnel recalls balancing a full-time job with her studies at Penn, overcoming her fear of public speaking, and how her research into video-on-demand adoption helped her land a job at AT&T.

Tell us about your time at Penn Engineering.

After arriving at Penn, I quickly realized that I was most interested in how people and things connect and contribute to systems, which led to my decision to major in Systems Science and Engineering. For a few years, I also balanced a near full-time job while attending classes and was an active member of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE).

Participating in the National Science Foundation and Philadelphia Region Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (NSF/LSAMP) research program allowed me to explore systems thinking beyond the classroom (I studied human factors engineering for the children’s department at the Free Library of Philadelphia). Those experiences shaped my career direction from optimizing tech and process to optimizing individual and team potential.

What was your most memorable moment at Penn?

Ironically, it came after graduation. In 2005, I volunteered to judge Penn Engineering’s Senior Design competition. Tim Carlsen, then the President of the Engineering Alumni Society (EAS), invited me to get involved, and that reconnected me with the School and its students in a deeply meaningful way. Five years later, the EAS board, who I likely would have never met otherwise, nominated me to serve as President. That moment marked another level of my leadership and reminded me of the transformational nature of being part of a welcoming community.

What is a fun fact about you?

As a child I had a lisp and avoided public speaking. Today, I coach executives and speak to global audiences. The journey from silence to voice is one that I don’t take for granted. I’ve also learned that the most powerful form of communication isn’t always verbal. A smile or demonstration of presence often says more than words ever could.

Which professor had the greatest impact on you and why?

Professor Anand Anandalingam, former Chair of the Systems Engineering department, profoundly influenced my thinking. Under his mentorship, for Senior Design, I researched video-on-demand adoption, analyzing customer behaviors and barriers to technology adoption. This was a cutting-edge topic at the time. That work landed me my first role at AT&T’s headquarters. More importantly, he taught me how to listen to the data, to the customer and to the unspoken assumptions hiding in complex systems.

What inspires you to give to Penn?

Penn expanded my perspective and altered the trajectory of my life. I give so others, especially those with high potential but limited resources, can have access to opportunity. When I was a student, there wasn’t as much support for first-gen or low-income students. Now, through several programs, Penn continues to build infrastructure that allows many more students to rise. I enjoy being part of that. Giving to Penn Engineering is a way of investing in access and the next generation of problem solvers.