By Victoria Mei, Alumna of the M.S. in Enterprise Risk Management Program, Columbia University School of Professional Studies
As a graduate of the Columbia University M.S. in Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) program, I often find myself applying concepts from the classroom in unexpected ways. Today, I work at MoonPay, where we are helping build the infrastructure for the emerging agentic economy. In my role on the marketing team, I focus on go-to-market strategy and community growth for AI-native financial infrastructure products that enable autonomous agents to transact, manage value, and participate in digital economies.
One of the most valuable lessons from the ERM program was learning how organizations identify, assess, and manage risk through structured frameworks. Courses on operational risk, governance, and regulatory environments taught me to think beyond products and consider the systems that support them. As AI agents become increasingly capable of making decisions and executing financial transactions independently, I often draw parallels between the challenges facing agentic systems today and the risk management principles I studied at Columbia. Questions around oversight, accountability, controls, and auditability remain just as relevant in the age of autonomous technology.
Beyond the classroom, one of my favorite memories at SPS was the diversity of perspectives among my classmates. The program brought together professionals from finance, insurance, technology, consulting, and government, creating an environment where every discussion offered a new way of thinking about risk. Those conversations helped me develop a broader understanding of how risk management serves as a strategic function across industries.
My Columbia ERM degree has played an important role in advancing my career. While my path ultimately led me into fintech, digital assets, and AI, the analytical framework I developed through ERM has remained invaluable. Today, I help introduce emerging financial technologies to builders, developers, and businesses while translating complex technical concepts into accessible narratives. The ability to understand both innovation and risk has given me a unique perspective as we navigate one of the most transformative technological shifts of our time.
Looking back, the ERM program provided far more than technical knowledge — it taught me how to think critically about uncertainty, evaluate complex systems, and adapt to rapidly changing environments. Those skills continue to shape my work every day, and I remain grateful to be part of the Columbia ERM alumni community.
Views and opinions expressed here are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the official position of Columbia University School of Professional Studies or Columbia University.
About the Program
The Master of Science in Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) program at Columbia University prepares graduates to inform better risk-reward decisions by providing a complete, robust, and integrated picture of both upside and downside volatility across an entire enterprise. For both the full-time and part-time options, students may take all their courses on Columbia’s New York City campus or choose the synchronous online class experience.
Learn more about the program here.
