1. Building Global Bridges

Building Global Bridges

By Emily Innes
September 16, 2025

"I'm absolutely convinced that all my classmates from the Class of 1998 are leading, in one way or another, lives of consequence."

~ Victoria Pavlova Entwistle '98

For Victoria Pavlova Entwistle '98, receiving an education from Washington and Lee University goes beyond being prepared for a successful career - it means being shaped by an environment that both challenges and inspires and emerging uniquely equipped to lead a life of consequence.

"Washington and Lee is a quintessential example of how things should be done in the liberal arts," Entwistle said. "It has remained true to its mission to educate responsible citizens, and it provides a haven for students to immerse themselves in academia and build community."

W&L's commitment to the liberal arts and producing thoughtful, well-rounded alumni means that each graduate is equipped to create a positive impact in the world, which, for Entwistle, simply means making a difference for people around you and in your community.

"A lot of societies measure one's success based on how much money people make, but the impact of our actions on others is equally important," she said. "I'm absolutely convinced that all my classmates from the Class of 1998 are leading, in one way or another, lives of consequence."

Entwistle began her undergraduate career in her home country of Bulgaria, at the recently established American University in Bulgaria (AUBG). Having grown up during the end of communism in Bulgaria, she "knew very little about the outside world in the West." She met a faculty member at AUBG whose husband taught at W&L, and Entwistle had the opportunity to visit, falling in love with W&L's campus, faculty and students. She returned a few months later as a transfer student, immersing herself in the encouraging environment of W&L and Lexington. She immediately felt at home.

"I can't overemphasize how important the university was for me," Entwistle said. "It's the combination of the small size of Lexington and W&L with the potential of how we were being taught and the power of the alumni network that created an absolutely perfect environment for me. You can find your potential at W&L, and it gave me the confidence that I was capable of doing something at a global scale."

After graduating with a degree in accounting and business administration, Entwistle took a job as an analyst in the investment banking division of JPMorgan before moving to a position at Credit Suisse, beginning a decades-long career in financial services. In 2012, she started her own company and began advising universities in the United Kingdom on investment strategies for their spin-off portfolio companies. She is currently London-based and works for a single family office where she oversees an endowment-style portfolio.

Her work rekindled Entwistle's love for institutions of higher education, which she sees as representing "hope and progress." During this period, she also reconnected with AUBG and became a member of its board of trustees. For several years, she chaired the university's endowment investment committee, and she currently serves as the board's deputy chair.

While remaining in the financial sector, Entwistle's career has taken many shapes, particularly after the first 13 years at JPMorgan and Credit Suisse. She is grateful for the variety of experiences she has had and encourages W&L students not to be daunted by the possibility of career shifts or following a nonlinear career path.

"As young professionals, we think that our careers will always be very predictable," Entwistle said. "I've had many incarnations, and I would recommend it to everyone because it keeps you growing and learning."

Entwistle has maintained a strong relationship with W&L throughout her career, connecting with students and alumni in London and participating as a guest speaker in finance classes at the Williams School of Commerce, Economics and Politics. W&L has also played a central role in how Entwistle approaches her work, particularly her involvement with AUBG and helping the Bulgarian university maintain its impact in Eastern Europe. She believes both universities could benefit through increased collaboration, including student exchange programs and that AUBG could learn from how W&L has managed to remain a small university while building its national and international presence.

"What's really commendable is that W&L has not been tempted to grow too much, but it leaves a sizable footprint in its alumni network and reputation," she said. "If anything, I would like for the American University in Bulgaria to be similar, because we are a very small university with only one graduate program - similar to W&L only having its law school - and we are very much dedicated to developing responsible citizens who are capable of dealing with the challenges of the 21st century. I say citizens, not leaders, because every person can make a big difference where they end up. And I believe that the W&L community does exactly that and is something to be emulated."