Last month, Columbia’s M.S. in Human Capital Management (HCM) program hosted its very first alumni networking event. “Our program has an expert faculty, great network partners, and a very warm and supportive community,” said program director Steve Safier, Ph.D., a sentiment clearly reflected in the event’s focus on connecting and uplifting its members.
The event, which was held in a hybrid format at The Forum in upper Manhattan, began with a discussion exploring potential career paths in HR and offering guidance to emerging professionals. The panelists, who are all industry leaders, shared their perspectives on the evolving HR field and represented various sectors: health care, technology, financial services, and entrepreneurship. Speakers included Laura Dannels, chief talent officer at Wellstar Health System and HCM adjunct lecturer; Melanie Rosenwasser, chief people officer at Dropbox and HCM associate lecturer; KimLoan Tran, vice president and head of talent management at Allstate; and Nabeel Ahmad, cofounder and managing partner of Changeforce and HCM adjunct lecturer. Dr. Safier served as moderator.
The New Face of HR
To start off the conversation, the panelists discussed the current state of the HR field and what the future holds. They all agreed, for example, that with the emergence of modern technology and AI, the field is looking ahead to some exciting changes.
In the distant past, HR was almost entirely transactional, focused on areas such as compliance and compensation, but over time it has become a strategic partner in organizations. With AI taking on many administrative tasks, HR can devote even more energy to helping achieve organizational objectives. Dr. Tran voiced a perspective shared by all: “We are thought leaders, not order takers.”
Panelists at Human Capital Management's alumni networking event (l to r): Laura Dannels, chief talent officer, Wellstar Health Systems and HCM adjunct lecturer; Nabeel Ahmad, co-founder and managing partner, changeforce.ai and HCM adjunct lecturer; Melanie Rosenwasser, chief people officer, Dropbox and HCM associate faculty; and KimLoan Tran, vice president for talent management, Allstate. Photo credit: Lucas Hoeffel.
Inspiring the Next Generation and Building Careers
As seasoned professionals, panelists shared practical advice. First, always be ready for change. In light of the transforming landscape of businesses and organizations of all types, organizations are looking for HR professionals who can change with it and lead others forward through these changes.
The most valuable professionals are the ones who, despite their expertise and experience, are always trying to learn more. Demonstrating learning agility and an eagerness to push yourself shows people that you can adapt to the changes within a business and the HR field, which is much more important than one specific skill.
And last, develop a high say/do ratio: “You say, ‘I’m going to deliver this thing to you,’ and you do it—100 percent of the time,” said Melanie Rosenwasser. “These are minor, tactical, seemingly low-value things, but what it says to a business is, ‘You can rely on me to deliver.’ ” She stressed the idea that when people learn they can count on you, even for small tasks, they’re more likely to listen to what you have to say and trust you with more important responsibilities.
HR as the “Relationship Business”
Throughout the discussion, panelists emphasized the importance of building strong relationships with coworkers, business partners, and even competitors in order to improve as professionals. To that end, the second half of the event gave attendees the opportunity to mingle and connect with fellow alumni.
Micah Biana (’23SPS) believes her time at Columbia was a crucial step in her career path, helping her form lasting mentor relationships and solidifying her passion for HR. Another alum, Annie Eugenio (’23SPS), shared, “I think the program does a really good job of giving the full scope of the different processes within HR.” Many attendees agreed that without the knowledge they gained at Columbia’s HCM program and the connections they made, they would not be in the positions they are in now.
As the event drew to a close, attendees were reluctant to leave—their passion for HR and connecting with people compelled them to continue engaging with fellow alumni. But they all left with the knowledge that this was only the first of many alumni networking events, laying the foundation for lifelong connections.
About the Program
The Columbia University M.S. in Human Capital Management program prepares graduates to be world-class HCM strategists able to address changing needs in building and motivating talented, engaged workforces in the private, public, academic, and not-for-profit sectors. The program is available part-time, full-time, on-campus, and online.
The fall 2025 application priority deadline for the M.S. in Human Capital Management program is February 15. The final deadline is June 1. Learn more about the program here.
