Career Week 2017

Workshop: Get the Facts, Get the Edge: Industry Research

12:00 pm–1:15 pm, Pulitzer World Room

Effective industry research can give the job seeker an edge over the hundreds of less informed applicants. This workshop will give you the tools to systematically search out companies and fields you’re interested in — and help you uncover hidden opportunities.

Victoria Crispo, Manager of Career and Professional Outreach, Idealist

 

Workshop: The Executive Presence

2:00 pm–3:15 pm, Pulitzer World Room

What sets you apart from everyone else? Being able to identify and leverage your talents helps you build your executive presence. This interactive workshop will help participants discover the skills that set them apart and build the confidence to achieve success.

Bradley Michelson, Director of Business Development, Idealist

 

Workshop: Recruitment and Search Firm Strategies

4:00 pm–5:15 pm, Pulitzer World Room

As any job-seeker knows, facilitating a successful search requires a special blend of experience, focus, and knowledge. This presentation is an opportunity for students to discover strategies for getting the most out of specialized recruitment services. Learn the distinctions between recruiters and headhunting firms.

Julie Staggs, Associate Client Partner, Korn Ferry

 

Keynote Address (Leadership in Today’s Evolving Workplace) and Reception

6:30 pm–8:30 pm, Low Memorial Library, Faculty Room and Rotunda

We’ve all heard leadership buzzwords such as transparency, team-building, agility, and collaboration. But how do such traits translate to a successful, effective leader? This opening session focuses on leadership and what today’s evolving business environment will require of anyone who wants to lead organizations or units.

Jason Wingard, Ph.D., Dean and Professor, Columbia University School of Professional Studies
Joanne Hannaford, Partner, Goldman Sachs, FBCS
Lisa Shalett, former Goldman Sachs Partner; current advisor to startups, angel investor, and corporate board director

Workshop: Making Great Impressions at a Career Fair

10:00 am–11:15 am, Pulitzer World Room

Everybody knows you need to make a great first impression! This program provides participants with insights and practical advice on how to best present their value to potential employers and industry professionals.

Diane Spizzirro, Director of Career Management, Columbia University School of Professional Studies

 

Workshop: Mastering Interview Styles

12:00 pm–1:15 pm, Pulitzer World Room

Did you know there are various interview styles and formats? These include behavioral, presentation, panel, and case study, and some are conducted by videoconference. In this workshop, participants will learn crucial tips on preparing for different interview scenarios.

Arlene Newman, President, Career Bound Success, Inc..; SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management)

 

Workshop: Elevator Pitch Perfect

1:30 pm–2:45 pm, Faculty House, Skyline Level (4th floor)

Executives and hiring managers often know if they want to hire an interviewee within the first few minutes of conversation. Don’t miss this opportunity to become interview pitch-perfect. In this workshop, you will learn how to convey a compelling story about your value and accomplishments — and receive immediate feedback.

Bess Brodsky, Career Management Specialist, Columbia University School of Professional Studies

 

Workshop: Developing a Professional Online Presence

3:30 pm–4:45 pm, Faculty House, Seminar Level

A personal brand lets employers know your value and an impressive social media presence is your calling card. This interactive workshop will help participants understand the need for an online social media strategy and will help you articulate your brand with confidence.

Tom Richardson, Founder and President, Convergence Sports & Media

 

Panel: Technology Trends in Financial Services

6:30 pm–8:30 pm, Faculty House, Seminar Level

Financial services faces unprecedented change due to technology, regulation and the increasing consumer demand for transparency, simplicity, and convenience. This panel of financial services industry experts will share their views on these trends and how technology influences their decision-making and reveal what financial professionals and firms need to do to gain or maintain a competitive advantage. Students focusing on technology management, insurance, data analytics and design, or communications will want to attend, as will those interested in careers in the banking industry or business finance.

Morgan Downey, CEO, Money.Net
Gary Hoberman, Executive Vice President, Co-CIO, MetLife
Tom Jessop, Technology Chief Financial Officer and Global Head of Technology Business Development, Goldman Sachs
Satya Pemmaraju, Founding Partner, CEO, Droit
Albert Wenger, Managing Partner, Union Square Ventures
Moderator: Ben McLannahan, U.S. Banking Editor, Financial Times

 

Webinar: Managing Your Career in a Startup Culture

7:00 pm–8:00 pm, Join Online >

This panel of entrepreneurs and startup leaders will provide valuable insight into the complex thrill of the startup environment. Students will gain an understanding of the risks and benefits of the startup experience and learn how to apply these skills to their own career profile.

Keren Isaacson, Senior IT Product Analyst, Medispend
Shahzad Khokhar, Founder and President, KloudSign LLC
Karina Mikucka, Director, Product and Development, New York Road Runners
Mary Palmieri, Founder and CEO, The Beauty Marketplace Inc.
Moderator: Kate Pugh, Academic Director, Columbia University

SPS Career and Opportunity Fair

10:00 am–2:00 pm, Faculty House, Presidential Level (3rd floor) and Skyline Level (4th floor)

This exciting event will bring students and industry professionals together. Participants will have the opportunity to engage with recruiters and professional associations from diverse career fields. Come dressed in your best professional attire and have your headshot taken for your LinkedIn profile!

 

Webinar: The Art of Salary Negotiation

2:30 pm–3:30 pm, Join Online >

Don’t leave money on the table! This presentation will serve as a salary-negotiation primer for both job-seekers and professionals operating within varied environments. Learn practical methods for achieving success in all types of negotiation processes, with particular emphasis on job offers. Much of this material will come as a surprise to many attendees, and will utilize a basic three-step process. It’s not as hard as you think.

Ellis Chase, Career Management Consulting, EJ Chase Consulting, Inc.

 

Workshop: Solve It! Innovation Challenge

3:00 pm–6:30 pm, Faculty House, Seminar Level

Here is an opportunity for students to display and hone their problem-solving and collaboration skills. Racing the clock, teams will work together to design solutions for some of the world’s largest challenges. Join us for this special, collaborative, think-and-do session that mixes storytelling, design, and play. Facilitated by the Columbia Digital Storytelling Lab; similar sessions have been run for the World Economic Forum, UN, Samsung, IBM, and others.

Lance Weiler, Director of Experiential Learning & Applied Creativity, Columbia University

 

Online Networking Event

7:30 pm–9:00 pm, Join Online >

Here’s a chance to connect with Columbia University alumni in a relaxed atmosphere. The first place to build your professional network is through your immediate circle of friend and colleagues, and this event will offer a most enjoyable way to get started.

Webinar: Finding the Right Job Fit

10:00 am–11:00 am, Join Online >

We spend a third of our lives at work, hoping to maximize our earning potential. But working, for most of us, is about far more than making money. We need to be able to develop our talents, achieve a good work-life balance, and relate to the people with whom we work. This workshop addresses the importance of identifying the culture of a prospective opportunity, and how to judge whether it is a good fit, before accepting a position.

Julie Staggs, Associate Client Partner, Korn Ferry

 

Workshop: The Science of Style

12:00 pm–1:15 pm, Pulitzer World Room

You never have a second chance to make a first impression! Learn how to use professional style to increase your confidence in the workplace.

Raleigh Mayer, Principal, Raleigh Mayer Consulting

 

Workshop: Project Management Skills

2:00 pm–3:15 pm, Pulitzer World Room

Gain insight on developing successful project management skill, creating efficient plans, and implementing effective tracking measures. This workshop will cover all the essential elements of project management and provide practical information to not only help you save time but increase the success of your projects.

Grace Clarke McDade, Global Program Manager, Citi

 

Panel: Controlling the Conversation: Crisis Management Through Social Media

4:00 pm–6:00 pm, Faculty House, Presidential Level (3rd floor)

More than ever, organizations need to pay attention to what social media is saying about them. They also need to use these powerful platforms not only to manage their own image but to respond rapidly to emerging situations. In this important discussion, a panel of crisis communication and social media experts will share their insights about how they fulfill their role as trusted advisors to senior leadership in highly stressful circumstances. They’ll offer tips on how to handle the complexities created by these communication challenges. Anyone interested in communications, technology management, data analytics and design, or business ethics will find this panel relevant and fascinating.

Sydney Ann Neuhaus, Partner, Finsbury
Irina Manoliu, Vice President of Communications, Moët Hennessy North America
Morgan Johnston, Manager Corporate Communications, JetBlue Airways
Jake Siewert, Global Head of Corporate Communications, Goldman Sachs
Moderator: Arabella Pollack, Program Director, Columbia University

Workshop: Thriving in a Multi-Generational Workforce

10:00 am–11:15 am, Pulitzer World Room

The current workforce ranges from Baby Boomers to Generation Y, with Generation Z already starting to join and alter the workplace. This workshop helps participants identify and understand generational management trends and examines performance drivers for each group, with the goal of enhancing individual and team effectiveness.

Nancy Patota, Executive Director, Arc of Westchester Foundation

 

Workshop: Job Search Success Team

12:00 pm–1:15 pm, Pulitzer World Room

Working in small interactive groups, this hands-on workshop will help students process their Career Week experience and establish concrete goals for success.

Facilitators: Career Management Facilitators, Columbia University School of Professional Studies

 

Panel: Protecting Information: The Ethics of Cybersecurity

1:30 pm–3:30 pm, Faculty House, Presidential Level (3rd floor)

In the news and everywhere today, we see evidence of how urgent the topic of cybersecurity has become for all — from businesses, to government, to individuals. Hear a panel of experts offer insight into the challenges cybersecurity faces and the ethical issues that result. They’ll address how to implement strategies against cyber-threats without disrupting critical operations or incurring excessively high economic costs. This panel is of special interest to those studying technology management, business ethics, data analytics and design, and operational risk management.

Rich Mikelinich, Chief Information Security Officer, Yale University
Stephen Lipka, CISO, Cushman & Wakefield
Corey Hirsch, CISO, Teledyne Technologies
Moderator: Elvira Spika, Assistant Vice President for IT Internal Controls, Columbia University

Bess Brodsky

Career Management Specialist, Columbia University

Bess Brodsky is a Career Coach in the Office of Career Management and a senior sports industry professional with years of experience working in event sponsorship and promotions for companies including Madison Square Garden, ESPN, US Soccer, The New York Times, and Radio City. Bess currently works at Columbia University as Career Specialist and Lecturer for the Masters in Sports Management program advising current students and alumni, as well as President of BB Consulting, a consultancy working with private clients on career strategy.

 

Ellis Chase

Career Management Consultant, EJ Chase Consulting, Inc.

Mr. Chase has had a diversified, extensive experience in career and executive coaching, management consulting, and training in corporations, consulting companies, private practice, and colleges and universities.

He currently maintains a varied consulting practice. Corporate clients have included Deloitte, General Electric, Estee Lauder, Goldman Sachs, The Gartner Group, Purdue Pharma, Swiss Re America, ING Capital, Penguin Putnam, American Civil Liberties Union, Hess Corporation, and Citigroup.

His employment history includes several years as Managing Director at Right Management Consultants and Systems Staffing Officer with the Chase Manhattan Bank.

He was an instructor with the Center for Career, Education, and Life Planning at New York University from 1987-2006, and, since 2001, has been a retained consultant to Columbia Business School in Experienced Professionals Career Management. His work with several Columbia University colleges and graduate programs has included many years of consulting with the School for Professional Studies as well. He has appeared on CNN, CNBC, and has been a regular contributor to a wide variety of media.

His first book, In Search of the Fun-Forever Job: Career Strategies That Work, was released in April, 2013. The second, Networking, was published the following year.

Mr. Chase holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and a Masters Degree in English and Secondary Education, both from New York University.

 

Victoria Crispo

Manager of Career and Professional Outreach, Idealist

Throughout Victoria Crispo's 16+ year career in resume writing, career coaching, higher education, and working with nonprofit job seekers, she's used an approach that is nurturing yet practical and driven to achievement. As Manager of Career and Professional Outreach at Idealist, she contributes to its online publication, Idealist Careers. Through the written word and also via in-person workshops and webinars, she brings relevant tips to today's social impact job seekers and career changers with sensitivity towards the challenges they face. Understanding the roles that a positive outlook and holistic self-care play in career success, she encourages job seekers with time-honored methods for improving confidence and productivity.

 

Morgan Downey

CEO, Money.Net

Morgan Downey is the CEO of Money.Net. Prior to staring Money.Net in 2014, Morgan was Global Head of commodities at Bloomberg, LP. Morgan managed development of the Bloomberg Professional terminal. At Bloomberg, Morgan used his market experience to build a suite of revolutionary, unique, and innovative products. Before Bloomberg, Morgan spent 15 years running trading desks, as manager and head trader, for banks including Citibank, Bank of America and Standard Chartered, in the U.S., UK, Australia, and Singapore. Morgan is also the author of the book Oil 101, a best-seller explaining the oil industry.

 

Joanne Hannaford

Partner, Goldman Sachs, FBCS

Joanne Hannaford is global head of the Engineering functions supporting Operations, Compliance, Legal, and HCM. She serves on the Technology Executive Leadership Group and the Firmwide Technology Risk Committee and is global co-sponsor of the Women in Technology Network.

Jo joined Goldman Sachs in 1997 in the Investment Research Division in London. Since 2001, Jo has held a number of roles across Technology in both London and New York, predominantly focusing on the build out of the firm’s global Compliance Technology and Conflicts Technology architectures. She was named managing director in 2008 and partner in 2014. In February 2016, Jo was named as an advisor to the newly formed UK Government Digital Service advisory board.

Prior to joining the firm, Jo was responsible for Global Volume Trading Technology at NatWest Markets.

 

Corey Hirsch

CISO, Teledyne Technologies

Corey Hirsch served from 2005 to 2015 as CIO of Teledyne LeCroy, a leader in Electronic Test and Measurement equipment including oscilloscopes and protocol analyzers, and has recently been promoted to CISO of Teledyne Technologies, LeCroy’s corporate parent. Teledyne is a provider of enabling technologies for industrial growth markets including aerospace and defense, deepwater oil and gas, oceanographic research, air and water quality monitoring, electronic design, factory automation and medical imaging. Hirsch co-managed the LeCroy insurance program from 2001 to 2012, earning favorable risk scores and advantageous premium structures.

Prior to joining LeCroy in 2001, Hirsch led the EMEA region of Tektronix as VP Europe through EMU phase I and II, the culmination of a 24 year career with a leading Test and Measurement firm.

With 38 years’ experience in technology design and manufacturing, and 15 years’ tenure teaching on post graduate programs in the US and UK, Hirsch is a widely recognized speaker, author, and practitioner in ERM and related fields. He has authored articles in journals such as JISSEC on ERM and information security. He developed and implemented a system for aligning risk management across a diverse enterprise, and published the methodology in a book chapter in 2008.

Hirsch earned his Masters in Business Administration at the University of Oregon and his Doctorate at Brunel University in London. He was awarded the Certified Information Security Manager certificate from ISACA in 2005.

 

Keren Isaacson

Senior IT Product Analyst, Medispend

Keren has five years of experience as an IT professional, specializing in the Life Sciences industry. She began her career in consulting, and then spent time working in a three-person data management startup. She currently leads the development effort of a suite of SaaS solutions aimed at enabling global regulatory compliance for life sciences companies, at a 35-person startup. Keren is currently completing her Masters of Science in Information and Knowledge Strategy (IKNS) at Columbia University.

 

Morgan Johnston

Manager Corporate Communications, JetBlue Airways

Morgan Johnston is the Manager of Corporate Communications for JetBlue Airways at the value carrier’s headquarters in Forest Hills, NY. He has been at JetBlue since July 2002, joining the Corporate Communications team in February 2007. Johnston is responsible for JetBlue’s social media strategy, connecting marketing, communications and support resources with customers and acts as spokesman for the company. Prior to joining JetBlue, Johnston held various roles in media production and new media applications. He earned his degree in Mass Communications from Plattsburgh State University.

 

Shahzad Khokhar

Founder and President, KloudSign LLC

Shahzad Khokhar is Founder and President, KloudSign LLC. and also runs a cloud strategy consulting business based out of New Jersey. He is a former IKNS student and was awarded the Columbia University M.S. in Information and Knowledge Strategy, recognized at the School of Professional Studies Class Day as the recipient of the Columbia University Innovation Scholarship Award for KloudSign. He has previously founded offshore technology operations for EnterpriseDB, an open source based database technology company, and served as the company's global vice president of customer service. He is a musician, a volunteer, and a technology entrepreneur.

 

Stephen Lipka

CISO, Cushman & Wakefield

Stephen E. Lipka, P.hD., CISSP is Chief Information Security Officer at Cushman & Wakefield, a $5B global commercial real estate services firm. Recipient of the NJ Technology Council 2016 CISO of the Year Award (Private Company), Steve seeks thoughtful, innovative security solutions to improve C&W’s marketplace competitiveness, reduce information risk, and optimize cost. He builds collaborative teams and challenges his team members to continue their learning and growth. Steve’s career spans 40 years in a variety of information technology roles in small and large organizations, and as an independent consultant. His industry experience includes real estate, manufacturing, marketing, DoD, and government. Steve has taught graduate and undergraduate courses at Boston University, Old Dominion University, and Bentley University. He earned his Bachelors in Physics and Masters in Electrical Engineering from the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn, and his Doctorate in Computer Science at State University of New York at Stony Brook.

 

Irina Manoliu

Vice President of Communications, Moët Hennessy North America

As the Vice President of Communications at Moët Hennessy North America, Irina works across the entire portfolio of the Wine & Spirits division of LVMH, the world leader in luxury goods. Drawing on 15 years of brand management, marketing and communication experience, Irina is a senior communications and public relations executive, responsible for developing and delivering a communications and events plan that will help to achieve the company's vision and strategy. In her role, she coordinates media interaction, reputation building, crisis communications and partnerships on a corporate level.

Previously, she was the Global Communications Director for Belvedere Vodka, where she developed communication programs to increase the brand’s reach and desirability. Irina has joined Moët Hennessy in 2007, and throughout the years, she has built a track record of celebrity sponsorships and strong creative brand programming with influencers and cultural ambassadors, across brands such as Dom Pérignon, Belvedere and Moët & Chandon.

Prior to joining Moët Hennessy, Irina held marketing positions at l’Oreal in Paris and with Ian Schrager in New York.

Irina earned her MBA magna cum laude from HEC, Paris and her BBA from the International Hotel Management Institute in The Hague.

 

Raleigh Mayer

Principal, Raleigh Mayer Consulting

Raleigh Mayer, the Gravitas Guru and principal of Raleigh Mayer Consulting, helps leaders elevate presence, enhance communication, and become more sophisticated at managing their relationships and reputations. She is an advisor, coach, educator, and speaker, serving large corporations, private firms, and individual executives.

Raleigh has counseled and trained dozens of CEOs, CFOs, and CIOs, as well as thousands of business leaders from Fortune 500 companies, representing a wide variety of enterprises including financial services, technology, government, the armed forces, advertising, law, consumer products, non­profit, and public interest groups. Some of her signature presentations and seminars include “Getting to Gravitas”, “Persuasive Presentation”, “Natural Networking”, and “The Seven Ups of Successful Leadership”.

Currently a senior fellow at the Logos Institute for Crisis Management and Executive Leadership, Raleigh is also an instructor at Barnard College’s Athena Center for Women’s Leadership, and a lecturer at Harvard Business School. A frequent presenter at Columbia University’s Master in Business Administration programs, Raleigh has served as a coach for New York University’s Stern School of Business, and was an adjunct professor of marketing and management at NYU for more than 20 years.

Raleigh was recently appointed executive presence correspondent for The Glass Hammer, an online community designed for women executives in financial services, law, and business, and she is quoted regularly in executive resource articles in the Wall Street Journal.

In her previous position as vice president and spokesperson for the New York City Marathon, Raleigh provided strategic counsel on all public affairs and press matters, directed publicity for corporate sponsors, and was instrumental in the exponential growth and development of the event.

In addition, Raleigh has served as official emcee for the J.P. Morgan Chase Corporate Challenge Series, event commentator for the MSG network, and has been a featured guest on prime­time national network news shows.

She is also a contributor to The Power of Communication: Skills to Build Trust, Inspire Loyalty, and Lead Effectively by Helio Fred Garcia (FT Press, 2012) and Reputation Management: The Key to Successful Public Relations and Corporate Communication by John Doorley and Helio Fred Garcia (Routledge, 2015).

Raleigh has also had several dozen letters to the editor published, in business journals such as Crain’s and Inc. Magazine, and in almost every section of The New York Times.

Currently a board member of the Financial Women’s Association, Raleigh is also a founding member of Women in Sports and Events, a professional organization for executives in the industry.

A native New Yorker, Raleigh received a B.A. in English with a concentration in Theater Arts from Middlebury College in Vermont, and was first employed as a reporter for Park East News, a Manhattan culture monthly. She has also completed three NYC Marathons, including one sub­four hour finish, and performs in cabaret programs with the 92nd Street Y and with The Soharmoniums, New York City's not­-for-­profit women's choir representing three generations of choral singers.

 

Grace Clarke Mcdade

Global Program Manager, Citi

Grace Clarke’s role as a Project Management executive in the financial services industry includes release management, governance approval process, C level executive reporting and SDLC/Non SDLC program management. Her past roles identified the impact of asset management for client families with over 50 million dollars of investable assets. Her current focus is on audit preparedness, internal client regulatory preparation and risk mitigation.

She has been certified for over 10 years via the Project Management Professional (PMP) and is a member of the Project Management Institute. This professional distinction recognizes Ms. Clarke as a project management practitioner qualified to manage projects nationally and globally. Grace is also a Certified Compliance & Regulatory Professional (CCRP) obtained at PACE Lubin School of Business.

Over the past several years she has worked in the financial services industry most notably, gaining program management experience working on government and financial management projects. She began her career in 1990 implementing budget related projects for the City of New York Departments of Probation and Design & Construction.

Grace is currently UFSCs Eastern Region Vice President representing 5 national chapters and 4 Interest Groups. She is also on the I Dream Speaks Host Board of Global Language Project and National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) - Brooklyn Section where she is 2nd Vice President responsible for Membership.

Grace shares the honor as a recipient of the 2006-2007 Women of Great Esteem Award for her community service contribution. Grace has been recognized for her work as an advisor for financial literacy in the foster care community.

 

Ben Mclannahan

U.S. Banking Editor, Financial Times

Ben McLannahan is U.S. Banking Editor for the Financial Times, based in New York. In this role, he covers Wall Street and leads the FT’s US financial services team.

Previously, McLannahan was U.S. financial correspondent. Before that, he was a correspondent for three years in Tokyo, where he focused on capital markets and economics. Before that he covered Asia for the FT's Lex column, based in Hong Kong. He joined the Lex team in London in August 2007 from Institutional Investor magazine, where he served for two years as London correspondent. Before that he was at the Economist Group, writing for a range of publications including CFO Europe and Intelligent Life.

He graduated with a Master's degree in English from Cambridge University.

 

Bradley Michelson

Director of Business Development, Idealist

Bradley Michelson is the Director of Business Development for, a 20-year old nonprofit online platform where a couple million users connect with 25,000 active social good job, internship, & volunteer opportunities that are posted by 120,000 nonprofits around the world. He is a NYC landlord and maintains several entrepreneurial ventures in fitness and real estate. Prior to that he was the Managing Director for Triple C which designed lifestyle tech products that sold to 10,000 retailers worldwide and had co-branded partnerships with brands such as Facebook, Coach, and J Crew. Prior to that he was the Vice President of DDCLAB, a designer of high technology apparel that was purchased by New Balance Athletic under his tenure. He was a founding member of the Meatpacking District Initiative, and is currently an organizational member of Civic Hall, a NationSwell Council Member, a member of the Atlas Network, and a regular volunteer at the WIN organization.

 

Rich Mikelinich

Chief Information Security Officer, Yale University

Mr. Mikelinich joined Yale University in the capacity of Chief Information Security Officer & Chief HIPAA Security Officer on November 1, 2011. Prior to taking this role he was the Director of Information Security at Columbia University Medical Center in New York.

He earned an Executive MS degree in Technology Management from Columbia University's School of Professional Studies (2011) and he was a guest instructor in the Columbia University Department of Biomedical Informatics Healthcare IT Certificate Program where he taught HIPAA security and privacy. He also directed Information Technology and Risk Management programs at the Columbia University Medical Center and he worked in technology management at IBM and Bank One. Richard holds the following industry certifications in Information Security and Risk Management: CISSP, CCSK, CISA.

 

Karina Mikucka

Director, Product and Development, New York Road Runners

Karina Mikucka is a technology enthusiast, creator of products, and a tireless collaborator. She is a seasoned leader in the digital product space – think websites, mobile apps, new technology integrations – leading innovation, most recently, in the sports and fitness sector. She also has experience spearheading business transformation initiatives to drive profitability, innovation, and optimized operations in a collaborative and cross-functional environment.

Karina has worked with organizations of all sizes – from 5 persons consulting startup to the largest Japanese Bank. She is now working with New York Road Runners, a leader in the worlds running community, mostly known as the organizer of the New York City marathon. The company, although 50+ years old, and it’s 165 employees, embody the culture of a start-up – it’s agile, moves quickly, pivots as needed and manages to combine technology, collaboration and innovation to build runner centered products. Karina leads the Product Management team at NYRR.

 

Sydney Ann Neuhaus

Partner, Finsbury

Sydney Ann Neuhaus is a Partner at Finsbury. She has more than 25 years’ experience in developing and managing strategic communications and reputation management programs. She has worked one-on-one with CEOs, senior administrators, Board members and subject matter experts for Fortune 500 companies, professional associations, non-profit organizations, and academic institutions. She is experienced in helping C-suite clients manage sensitive or urgent situations, offering strategic counsel and tactical support in communicating with key stakeholder audiences and the media.

In addition, Sydney has extensive expertise in media and presentation skills training, coaching senior leaders of corporations and organizations to deliver their story in a compelling and authentic manner. She has also presented at various conferences about best practices in crisis communications.

Prior to Finsbury, Sydney worked at Fleishman-Hillard, receiving the John D. Graham Award for Excellence, given to individuals who best exemplify leadership and the firm’s values. Previously, Sydney headed the PR division of Harrison & Star and worked at Edelman Public Relations, where she was a member of a Silver Anvil-winning team.

Sydney was named one of PR Week’s “Champions of PR” in April 2016. She received a B.A. from Cornell University, graduating with Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa honors.

 

Arlene Newman

President, Career Bound Success, Inc.

Arlene Newman, President and Founder of Career Bound Success, Inc., provides professionals, at all levels, with skills to advance their careers. Her company provides coaching on how to find job opportunities, build resumes, define personal brands, and develop networking and salary negotiation strategies. Arlene leverages her experience and expertise to help each client shape their image and brand to take the next step in their career.

With a MBA in Human Resources and 20+ years’ experience as head of HR in several industries, Arlene knows firsthand what organizations are seeking in successful candidates. Arlene held Human Resources Director positions in the hospitality, entertainment, and fashion industries, including The Leading Hotels of the World, Television Food Network, and Jaeger Sportswear.

As Director of Human Resources for The Leading Hotels of the World, Arlene oversaw the management of the human resources function globally, throughout the company’s 24 offices in 20 countries. Arlene created and developed an internship program for 400 interns partnering with 60 local and international universities. This successful and innovative intern program included one-on-one coaching and preparing students for interviews. She assisted numerous college students in securing their first jobs with companies in the USA and Europe.

Arlene led the Leading Hotel Schools of the World initiative working with the Board of Directors and Regional Directors. She collaborated with university Presidents, Deans, and Program Directors from 11 internationally renowned hotel schools in New Zealand, India, Europe, North and South America, and provided talent acquisition through placement of graduates and interns.

In addition, she teaches classes and seminars on career topics at several major universities and is an Adjunct Professor at Baruch College, teaching Recruiting and Interviewing.

Currently, Arlene serves as an Officer on the Board of Directors and served as President (2013-2016) for the NYC Chapter of the international organization, Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM).

 

Mary Palmieri

Founder and CEO, The Beauty Marketplace Inc.

Founder and CEO of The Beauty Marketplace Inc. (www.thebeautymarketplace.com), Mary Palmieri received her undergraduate degree from The Fashion Institute of Technology followed by an extensive resumé of roles at the world's leading media companies and publications including Conde Nast, Vogue, W, Forbes, Warner Music Group and United Business Media; Mary later evolved her experience into management consulting opportunities in the healthcare and beauty industries. Entrepreneurial by nature, in 2009 Mary founded, and successfully exited, the content platform and blog - Honest Beauty LLC. Mary received a M.S. in Information and Knowledge Strategy (IKNS) from Columbia University to learn how to build a marketplace centered around people, process, and technology. In November, she was 1 of 5 Female Founders, worldwide, accepted into the Women's Startup Lab accelerator program in Silicon Valley, CA.

 

Nancy Patota

Executive Director, Arc of Westchester Foundation

Nancy Patota, Executive Director of Arc of Westchester Foundation, directs and coordinates fundraising and development to support Arc of Westchester programs. The Foundation drives charitable giving through individual membership, special events, and corporate and foundation funding to help bridge the gap between what it costs to provide exceptional services and what is covered by government funding.

Prior to joining the Arc of Westchester Foundation, Nancy spent 15 years at Iona College located in New Rochelle, NY, where she held a number of leadership positions in the Advancement & External Affairs Office. Most recently, she held the position of Assistant Vice President for Advancement Services, Prospect Strategy and Budget Management. In addition, Nancy is an adjunct professor for the Iona College MBA program where she teaches courses in Human Resources Management, Organizational Behavior and Training and Development.

Earlier in her career, Nancy was a true leader in the corporate world with specific experience in the retail and communications industries. Now, she brings her diverse range of skills and experience to the Foundation.

“I feel so fortunate to work with the people of Arc Westchester and the Foundation in support of the inspiring work done each day to provide opportunities for people of all ages with intellectual and developmental disabilities in our Westchester community. The more I learn about the Arc mission and the accomplishments made possible by all the stakeholders of the organization over the past 68 years, the more excited I am to use my experience and skills to lead the Arc of a Life Campaign and ensure that important mission continues.”

Nancy is a native of Westchester County, has one son, and currently resides in Rye, NY.

 

Satya Pemmaraju

Founding Partner, CEO-Droit

Prior to co-founding Droit, Satya was a Managing Director of FICC Trading at UBS. Post 2008, he was instrumental in helping create UBS’s funding desk focused on aggregating, managing and optimizing secured and unsecured derivatives funding risk across FICC trading. Satya has held various cross-asset derivatives trading roles including structured/contingent repo, Latam derivatives and structured notes. Prior to trading, Satya was a fixed income derivatives quant building pricing and risk management systems.

Satya has a Ph.D. in Mathematics from Northwestern University and a B.S. from MIT.

 

Arabella Pollack

Program Director, Columbia University

Arabella Pollack has extensive experience in consumer products, with a particular focus on building aspirational, image-driven brands through deeper understanding of the consumer. She is Founder and Principal of Greystoke Insights, which leverages the techniques and skills of consumer research to provide insight-driven solutions to business challenges. She was previously the director of consumer insights at Pernod Ricard USA, where she was responsible for ensuring that the consumer was at the heart of marketing decision-making. She managed a full spectrum of qualitative and quantitative research on brands including ABSOLUT vodka, impacting the business in areas ranging from innovation to communication strategy and portfolio management. Prior to this, she worked for leading market research vendors including The NPD Group, where she managed relationships with prestige beauty clients such as Estée Lauder, Dior, and Lancôme. Pollack has also worked with brands such as Guinness and Baileys at Diageo, the world’s leading spirits company, and has spent time as a strategy consultant with the Boston Consulting Group in their consumer and retail practice.

She holds an M.A. from Cambridge University and an M.B.A. from the Darden Business School at the University of Virginia.

Arabella Pollack is Program Director for the Master of Science in Strategic Communication program and the Executive Master of Science in Strategic Communication program at Columbia University. She teaches From Information to Insights.

 

Kate Pugh

Academic Program Director, Columbia University

Katrina (Kate) Pugh is an Academic Program Director at Columbia University's School of Professional Studies, where she leads the faculty and teaches. Kate has shifted the curriculum toward innovation and entrepreneurship. With fellow faculty member, Ralph Poole, Kate has been researching the role of knowledge practitioners in the Internet of Things workforce, particularly in information strategy, information lifecycles and analytics. Kate edited and co-authored Smarter Innovation, a 20-author book on knowledge-driven innovation (Ark Group, 2014). Her critically acclaimed book, Sharing Hidden Know-How (Jossey-Bass/Wiley, 2011), is a guide to strategic conversation for knowledge-creation.

 

Tom Richardson

Founder and President, Convergence Sports & Media

Tom Richardson is a media and marketing veteran with broad experience in management, consulting, and teaching. He is president of Convergence Sports & Media, a digital media and marketing consultancy he launched in 2004 after a corporate career in media and sports. Working with a variety of companies, from well-established properties to startup ventures, Convergence focuses on helping grow and manage businesses in a highly disrupted and increasingly complex media/marketing ecosystem. The firm's consulting and advisement work includes strategic planning, business and partnership development, marketing, sales, and resourcing. Clients have included NBC Sports, IMG, Bloomberg, WWE, and the U.S. Olympic Committee.

Prior to launching Convergence, Richardson was the GM of Sports & News at AOL, the president of digital at the National Hockey League, and the head of publishing at the National Football League. He started his career at Grey Advertising before moving into publishing at Ziff Davis.

Following his passion for education and mentorship, Richardson is an adjunct professor at New York University and Iona College. He is also the founder and CEO of Talent League, a marketplace that matches curated millennial talent with companies in sports, media and marketing.

In addition to being a frequent speaker at industry events, Richardson is also one of the organizers of NYVC Sports, which integrates New York City's entrepreneurial, enterprise, and investment communities by hosting special events for a curated network of executives — all at the intersection of the digital and sports marketplaces. He earned his B.A. in English from Hamilton College.

Richardson teaches K4580 Digital Sports Media and Marketing.

 

Lisa Shalett

former Goldman Sachs Partner; current advisor to startups, angel investor, and corporate board director

Lisa Shalett is a retired Goldman Sachs Partner, who is now an Advisor to startups, an Angel Investor, and an Independent Board Director. During her 20 year career at Goldman Sachs, she held a number of leadership roles, most recently Global Head of Brand Marketing & Digital Strategy, managing Goldman’s brand during the financial crisis. Then she promptly “failed” retirement, and spent one year at Odyssey, an explosively-growing, millennials-focused media startup, as Chief Marketing Officer and Advisor. She currently serves on two for-profit boards, Brookfield Property Partners (the publicly traded property/real asset arm of Brookfield Asset Management, and one of the largest global commercial real estate owners and operators) and PerformLine (the leading SaaS platform for marketing compliance), a number of non-profit boards, and has angel invested in several startups. She is a respected and accomplished leader, a strategic thinker, innovator, problem solver, and a committed and sought-after coach and mentor, recognized for motivating people and investing in their development and success.

At Goldman Sachs, Lisa held senior leadership roles in 5 divisions and 2 regions, led revenue-producing and revenue- supporting businesses, managed global P&Ls and important client relationships across multiple cultures and geographies, and helped transform the way Goldman communicates with its key stakeholders. She began in 1995 as an Associate in Japanese Equities Sales, leveraging her expertise in Japanese language and business, and spent 11 years in the Equities Division, where she became a Partner and Head of International Equities, and worked in NY and in Tokyo. In January 2006, as the regulatory environment was intensifying, Lisa was tapped to become the Chief Operating Officer of Global Compliance, Legal and Internal Audit, to bring revenue-business leadership experience to control functions that were now the new growth areas of the firm. In March 2010, as the financial crisis loomed, she was then asked by senior leadership to take on the role of Global Head of Brand Marketing & Digital Strategy in the Executive Office. During this unprecedented period in the firm’s history, she served as a change agent, and led the strategic development of Goldman’s first (and award-winning) corporate image advertising campaign, managed proprietary brand and reputation research, and developed and drove digital strategy, including the launch of Goldman’s social media presence, content marketing, thought leadership efforts, and the redesign of the firm’s website, to create greater transparency and improve understanding of the firm. Lisa helped forge strong media industry partnerships and worked closely with entrepreneurs.

Amidst the disruption and innovation within the media industry created by the rise of digital media channels and platforms, Lisa developed a passion for working with startups in media and tech. She left Goldman in 2015 to spend more time advising high-growth companies on business models, strategy, marketing, and talent. She joined the executive team of Odyssey, a millennials-focused social content platform that crowdsources diverse perspectives from millennial influencers in their local communities, and helps brands trying to resonate with this audience, working for its 28-year-old CEO as CMO and then Advisor, from June 2015 through June 2016, which gave her firsthand experience of working in a high-growth startup. Currently Lisa works formally with several startups (Qineqt, Trustify, BetterUp) and informally with many, as a strategic advisor, coach and sounding board, and drives connectivity between the startup world and large organizations around innovation.

Lisa is passionate about mentorship, and committed to initiatives that emphasize leadership development, diversity, innovation, and to using her business background to help entrepreneurs and non-profit organizations succeed. She serves on the Advisory Board of Duke University’s Fuqua/Coach K Center on Leadership & Ethics, the Steering Committee of the Kellogg School’s Center for Executive Women, and the board of W.O.M.E.N. in America, which brings senior women executives together to mentor high potential women leaders. She is an International Selection Panelist for Endeavor, a non-profit that identifies and mentors High-Impact Entrepreneurs in developing markets. She is a frequent speaker and panelist, and has participated in the Fortune Most Powerful Women Summit.

Lisa earned her MBA from Harvard Business School, and BA, summa cum laude, in East Asian Studies (Japan) from Harvard University. She lives in New York with her husband and two sons.

 

Jake Siewert

Global Head of Corporate Communications

Jake is global head of Corporate Communications. He joined Goldman Sachs as a managing director in 2012 and was named partner in 2014.

Prior to joining the firm, Jake served as counselor to the US Treasury secretary from 2009 to 2011, during which time he advised the secretary and also acted as his liaison to the business community. From 2001 to 2009, Jake worked at Alcoa, where he last served as vice president for Business Development, overseeing global mergers and acquisitions and focusing on growth in China and emerging economies. He joined Alcoa as head of global communications and public strategy, and later oversaw the company’s global environment, health and safety efforts for several years.

From 1993 to 2001, Jake held several positions in the Clinton administration, including serving as White House press secretary, the US government’s principal spokesperson on foreign and domestic policy. He also served as deputy White House press secretary and as a special assistant to the president for economic affairs, working at the National Economic Council. Jake began his career in Washington in 1991 as communications director for the Democratic Governors Association.

Jake graduated summa cum laude from Yale University in 1986 with a degree in the humanities. He also attended the law school of the University of California at Berkeley.

 

Elvira Spika

Assistant Vice President for IT Internal Controls, Columbia University

Elvira Spika is the Assistant Vice President for IT Internal Controls at Columbia University. In this role, she is responsible for effective and efficient design and deployment of controls across systems, infrastructure, and organizational processes, and in accordance with best practices, regulatory requirements, and audit recommendations. In addition, she serves as the IT liaison with internal and external auditors and provides oversight of IT Service Management (ITSM) governance.

Previously, Spika was the Assistant Vice President for Enterprise Systems, the role in which she was responsible for leading Financial, Human Resources, Student, and Business Intelligence Systems of the University. Prior to her roles in academics, Spika was a management consultant with major consulting companies, including Andersen Consulting (currently Accenture), PricewaterhouseCoopers, and IBM, focusing on large Enterprise Resource Management systems transformations within telecommunications, utilities and government sectors.

Spika holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Columbia University and a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology from Northwestern State University. She is a Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), Certified in Risk and Information Systems Controls (CRISC) and Certified in Governance of Enterprise IT (CGEIT) (achieving the second highest score in North America). She also holds Project Management Professional (PMP) and ITIL certifications.

 

Diane Spizzirro

Director of Career Management, Columbia University School of Professional Studies

Diane Spizzirro, LMHC, NCC, is the Director of Career Management at Columbia University, School of Professional Studies. She is a seasoned Career Management with experience in higher education, corporate training and development as well as private practice. She has a strong business background having been in the Insurance and Risk Management fields and successfully transitioned her career into counseling. She holds a M.S. in Career Development and a B.A. in Business. She is a Nationally Certified Counselor, a New York State Licensed Mental Health Counselor, and Executive Career Development Coach. She is a certified trainer of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator MBTI and Strengthsquest.

Diane formerly served as the Director of Career Development at the College of New Rochelle where she is an adjunct professor teaching graduate classes in counseling and career development. Diane is the current President of the New York Mental Health Counseling Association, an active member of the National Career Development Association and National Association of College and Employers.

Diane is most in her element when she is facilitating a dynamic and engaging career development program, which helps participants to gain insight on how to move forward! She has developed and facilitated numerous career training programs for individuals and diverse groups.

 

Julie Staggs

Associate Client Partner, Korn Ferry

Ms. Staggs is a skilled facilitator and speaker whose specialties include individual and team leadership assessment and development, organizational change and culture, strategic planning, competency modeling, meeting facilitation, diversity, executive communications, and executive coaching.

She has worked with both private and public sector organizations in a variety of industries including consumer goods and services, higher education, healthcare, telecommunications, energy, technology, and associations. She has a particular expertise in working with higher education institutions in talent management and with student programs.

Ms. Staggs focuses on working with high-potential executives who are striving for greater impact and want to expand their ability to influence the success of their organization. Her approach to development and coaching is practical, collaborative, and action-oriented, focusing on helping clients address immediate issues, while acquiring new tools and skills that will enable them to lead effectively through any situation.

Previously, she consulted for Fortune 100 companies in the areas of corporate training, leadership development, innovation, and strategic planning. Her consulting at Corporate Executive Board focused on innovation, strategy, and talent management with organizations across industries. In addition she taught in the Corporate Leadership Council’s (CLC) Leadership Academies in both combined member programs and custom programs for HR, Finance, and IT leaders.

Ms. Staggs’ combination of experience provides a broad perspective for each project. These combined areas of expertise enable her to develop and deliver differentiating solutions for organizations. Earlier in Ms. Staggs’ career she worked with Adecco as a permanent placement specialist in Washington, DC, with a focus on placing recent college graduates.

Ms. Staggs received her bachelor’s degree from Converse College in music theory and religion where she now serves as a Trustee. Her executive master’s of business administration degree, with a concentration in leadership is from University of Georgia and she is currently completing her dissertation for her doctorate of education in higher education management at the University of Georgia’s Institute for Higher Education.

 

Lance Weiler

Director of Experiential Learning & Applied Creativity, Columbia University

Lance is one of the top thought leaders and experience designers helping to bring storytelling into the 21st Century. An alumni of the Sundance Screenwriting lab, he was named by WIRED magazine as “one of 25 people helping to re-invent entertainment and change the face of Hollywood.” His creative entrepreneur skills provide him with a well-rounded understanding of how to bridge the gap between technology and entertainment. Since 2011, he has sat on two World Economic steering committees – one on the Future of Content Creation and the second on New Visions for Education. As the Director of Experiential Learning and Applied Creativity at Columbia University, Lance is exploring the future of work and learning by harnessing story, play and design. He is also a Founding Member and Director of Columbia’s Digital Storytelling Lab. In 2012, he co-founded Connected Sparks, a toy and storytelling company focused on story-lead education. Lyka’s Adventure, the company’s first interactive storyworld, recently inked an 8-book deal with Penguin and will be released in the United States in 2016.

 

Albert Wenger

Managing Partner, Union Square Ventures

Albert Wenger is a partner at Union Square Ventures. Before joining USV, Albert was the president of del.icio.us through the company’s sale to Yahoo and an angel investor (Etsy, Tumblr). He previously founded or co-founded several companies, including a management consulting firm and an early hosted data analytics company. Albert graduated from Harvard College in economics and computer science and holds a Ph.D. in Information Technology from MIT.

 

Jason Wingard, Ph.D.

Dean and Professor, Columbia University School of Professional Studies

Jason Wingard, Ph.D., is a leading academic in the areas of leadership development, professional learning, and human capital management. He currently serves as Dean and Professor of the School of Professional Studies at Columbia University. In this role, he is responsible for the academic research and programming, and operational strategy and performance, for the School’s undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs and related centers and institutes. He is also currently President and CEO of the Education Board, Inc., a boutique management consulting firm specializing in executive coaching, training, and strategic planning.

Prior to Columbia, Dr. Wingard served as the Chief Learning Officer at Goldman Sachs, a multinational investment bank, where he led the strategy and implementation of thought leadership and management development solutions for the firm's global workforce and clients.

Previously, he served as Vice Dean of the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, where he led Executive Education and oversaw one of the world's largest providers of leadership development for corporate managers and executives. He also served as Senior Vice President of Regional Markets at ePals, Inc. and President & CEO of the ePals Foundation. ePals, Inc. is the world’s leading provider of school-safe collaborative learning products.

Prior to joining ePals, Dr. Wingard was Executive Director of the Stanford Educational Leadership Institute (SELI) at Stanford University where he led the engagement of executive coaching, education, and research for school superintendents and district leaders in the largest urban centers across the United States. He has also served in a variety of cross-functional executive roles for organizations including the Aspen Institute, the Vanguard Group, and Silicon Graphics, Inc. (SGI).

Dr. Wingard has published widely on the topic of professional education and leadership, including his most recent books Learning to Succeed: Reinventing Corporate Education in a World of Unrelenting Change (2015); and Learning for Life: How Continuous Education Will Keep Us Competitive in the Global Knowledge Economy (2016).

He currently serves on the Board of Directors for Touchstone Education, Inc., the Zoeza Institute, and the Education Board Foundation. He is also co-founder of, and Senior Advisor to, the Philadelphia Youth Sports Collaborative.

Dr. Wingard holds a BA in Sociology (Organizational Behavior & Social Psychology), with honors, from Stanford University where he was a member of the varsity football and track teams. He also holds a MA in Education from Emory University, an EdM in Technology in Education from Harvard University, and a PhD in Education, Culture, and Society (Corporate Education) from the University of Pennsylvania.

He enjoys listening to classic jazz and spending time with his wife and their five children in Chestnut Hill, Pennsylvania.