As one of the most accomplished student-athletes in Wesleyan women's lacrosse history, Izzy Weintraub '26 has spent four years anchoring one of the nation's top defenses. An All-American goalkeeper and the 2026 IWLCA Division III Goalkeeper of the Year, she built her success on preparation, resilience, and a commitment to those around her. Those same qualities now shape the way she approaches academics, leadership, and her professional career.

Studying Psychology and Science & Technology Studies, Weintraub says athletics and academics have always reinforced one another. "I didn't realize it then, but every year playing this sport has shaped me into the person I am today," she says. "It has shown me the power of hard work and commitment."

Perhaps her biggest takeaway from Wesleyan women's lacrosse has been the importance of culture. Being part of a team that values accountability, trust, and continuous improvement has set the standard for what she hopes to find in every workplace. "It has shown me the importance of building relationships with people and connecting with them in different ways,"  she says. "I also learned to value the process and all the small steps that need to be taken to achieve big goals while being surrounded by people who support you and challenge you to get better."

That mindset translated naturally into her internship with New York Life, where she worked in Talent Management. Rather than following a traditional HR path, Weintraub analyzed employee engagement data, conducted theme analysis on company-wide surveys, and helped build custom GPTs to improve internal processes. One of her favorite projects involved analyzing employee engagement surveys, where she noticed surprising parallels between successful organizations and successful athletic teams. She says, "a lot of the themes surrounding individual and enterprise success were very similar to conversations we have in lacrosse team meetings because performance, culture, and engagement all influence one another." Her work with AI also gave her a new perspective on the technology's role in the workplace. "There are many use cases for AI, as long as people have the knowledge to use it as a tool and not a replacement for their work," she explains. She also talked about how "it encouraged people to think more creatively about how they present ideas and engage others enhancing the possibilities in the workplace." 

Weintraub's Psychology background has shaped the way she approaches data. To her, numbers are only meaningful when they help explain the people behind them. "Data is much more than a number," she says. "It sets the scene and tells a story." She believes effective data storytelling is about inspiring action, using evidence to highlight opportunities for improvement while celebrating successes along the way.

As the last line of defense on the lacrosse field, Weintraub has also developed a leadership style rooted in consistency and preparation. She says how it is her goal "to lead from the back. No matter what's happening in front of me, it's my responsibility to remain steady and positive so my teammates always have someone they can look to." That confidence stems from preparation rather than pressure. To get herself in the right headspace she says "before every game, I tell myself, 'You are prepared. You have seen a million shots, and you know how to save the ball'" and her performance is reflective of that. 

The same philosophy now guides her beyond athletics, helping her approach new challenges with confidence built through consistent effort. Outside of the classroom and the field, Weintraub has coached young goalies, served as a teaching assistant, and worked as a medical assistant. Despite the variety of those roles, they all share one common thread: helping others grow. Weintraub says "my goal when I am in those roles is to develop young lacrosse goalies, help students reach their academic goals, and see patients leave the office healed with a smile on their face. It is such an incredible thing to be part of someone's success journey," she says. Looking ahead, Weintraub is less focused on a specific job title than on the impact she hopes to make. "I want to make an impact on the people I'm working with and leave the organization better than I found it" just like she did at Wesleyan.

Whether standing in front of the net, analyzing employee engagement, or mentoring others, Weintraub has built her success on the same foundation: preparation, trust, and a genuine investment in helping people reach their potential. It's a mindset that has defined her time at Wesleyan, and one she will carry into whatever comes next.