Marta O'Malley—Newman's Own Business Wizard

Marta O’Malley runs both her life and Newman’s Business/HR Office on hard work, faith, gratitude, and a daily dose of inspirational music—often Venezuelan—thoughtfully selected by her office mate. Like a wizard of her small Beacon Street office, Marta makes all kinds of critical things work here at Newman, especially in terms of its finances. As the Business Manager and HR Director, she is responsible for both funds coming in and going out—a delicate exchange that takes patience, timing, organization, and a key understanding of how educational organizations best function. In both roles, beyond managing a lot of numbers, her ability to forge connections with the people of Newman is key to her success.

Marta has always been a hard worker, securing her first job in accounting before even finishing college; during her third year of college, in Venezuela, she began working for an Italian-owned company, Organizacion Requieca-Coramat. There, like at Newman, she was responsible for the business side of things, but felt connected to the organization because of its people. And in fact when talking about any of her  jobs, Marta most celebrates the familial and cross-cultural aspects of work. At Requieca, Marta even learned Italian and how to make homemade pasta. 

Given that Marta seemed dedicated to working in business, that she was starting to feel some governmental restrictions in Venezuela, and that her father suggested she need to learn English to succeed in the business world, Marta headed to Boston in 2000. While she had traveled to the US with her family, often in connection with her doctor-dad’s medical conferences, she had mostly explored California and Florida where her Spanish served her just fine. Boston would be different. 

When her father sponsored her move, partially motivated by putting some “land in between” his daughter’s boyfriend and Marta, he probably never imagined she would still be here 25 years later. Or maybe he did, as he seems to be well aware of her capabilities, loyalties, and magnetism for happiness. Marta landed within blocks of where she works today as an English student at the Boston School of Modern Languages—located in Back Bay where Fisher College is now housed (the School then moved to Roslindale). She fell in love with Boston, reminding her of some of the European cities she had visited in years past. She loved the feeling of history, the diversity of people, and the fact that she could walk in such beautiful places—like along the Charles. Just like during her early college years, not long after enrolling as a student, Marta was working.  Hard-working and eager to be a part of the “family,” Marta was managing the school business operations within the first year. Loyal and purposeful, Marta continued to work at the School for 12 years. 

In addition to managing the business, Marta’s love for Boston would lead her to woo many more international students, especially from Venezuela, to the Boston School of Modern Languages. Along the way, at a neighborhood party where students, some host families, and neighbors congregated, she would meet her husband, Brian O’Malley. Could there be a more Boston-y name? Not long after, Brian and Marta would get married,  Brian would join Marta at the language school as an Admissions Director,  and together, they would raise two beautiful children, Maria Frances  (after the Virgin Mary and Brian’s mother) and Phillip Thomas (after her father and Brian’s father). 

Her children’s names represent how important family is to Marta but also a deep connection to her faith. In addition to seeing her children as a blessing, Marta also sees these last 25 years as the manifestation of what she describes as a vision she had while at home in Venezuela—an experience of the Mystic Flower Virgin Mary that gave her the comfort and confidence to move abroad. Marta has tremendous faith in and gratitude for Boston and now, The Newman School. 

After working for twelve years at the Boston School of Modern Languages, Marta spent six years in business consulting. Then in 2018, again guided by faith, familial connection, and a proven track record of hard work, Marta came to Newman. Or perhaps Newman came to Marta—recruited through the School’s  long-time housing coordinator, Flora Aponte. Marta had met Flora in Venezuela when Marta was just 12 years old—Flora had been recruiting students there and was connected with Marta’s family. Marta joined Newman’s team, first helping out with international student housing and soon after as the business manager. 

While Marta is key to our school’s financial and human resources operations, her journey and presence here, embodying the spirit of Newman, offers much more. Her story is aligned with the story of many of our Newman students, families, and faculty and therefore, helps Marta make warm and seamless connections to our community and extended community members. Beginning at 240 Commonwealth in 2000 and now years later at 247 Marlborough! Marta experienced her arrival to and continued life at Newman and in Boston as a blessing. She describes a fluid life “wherever I go, I feel I fit in” reflecting perfectly how we hope our students and faculty members will feel about their experience at Newman. Further, like we hope for our students and faculty, Marta loves being a part of this historic neighborhood and part of such a dynamic school and city where people are coming from every direction; where some, she supposes, may also have come, at least temporarily, to put a bit of  “land in between” where they were and where they now find themselves. 

The gratitude Marta feels toward Boston and Newman is tremendously reciprocal. We hope you find time to visit and appreciate our wonderful wizard of 237 Beacon Street! Whether for business or fun, you’ll get to feel some extra Newman love, fill your soul with a bit of Venezuelan music, and maybe even get a mid-day chocolate peanut butter cup fix!