It’s no joke that getting an MBA on top of working a full-time job is hard work, but it’s also amazing to realize just how many walks of life Sternies come from before and during their time at NYU. The Oppy is excited to kick off a column highlighting the myriad of careers that Langone students have during the daytime. From financial services to healthcare nonprofit to the arts, check out these illustrious folks below!
Alexis Lanzillotti
Fall 2021, Weeknight
Hometown: Wallkill, NY
https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexis-lanzillotti-80b01688
Educational and career background:
Bachelor of Arts – Economics and Political Science from Manhattanville College. I have worked in financial services for the past 7 years. I have worked at 3 different firms so far (2 asset managers, one research firm), and am going to be starting a new role as Client Services Manager at a sustainable asset manager in September!
Long-term career goals:
My long-term career goals are centered around ESG product strategy and client strategy within financial services, so tailoring firm offerings to clients based on the market, and diverse and evolving client needs. I chose Stern because the part-time program is so on par with the full-time program, offering many of the same benefits and classes. I am particularly interested in sustainability and ESG, and the Sustainable Business and Innovation specialization is so wide reaching, with great electives and amazing professors. I feel that this specialization coupled with the world class Finance classes and faculty put me on track to be a SME in my field, and a more well-rounded employee as I transition firms and grow into my career.
Biggest thing learned so far at Stern:
Through group work and many of the core classes, I have learned how to be a better leader, this has a lot to do with becoming a better listener which is something that has been of the utmost importance in all of my courses so far.
Ben Brooks
Fall 2021, Weeknight
Hometown: Richmond, VA
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-brooks
Educational and career background:
Homeschooled until college then received an associate in business admin and bachelors in information systems. Product management at the federal reserve.
Long-term career goals:
Long-term I see myself at the executive level in a technology function, setting the vision and managing the execution for how technology will support the company’s objectives. I picked Stern for several reasons: Prestigious program to add to my resume & experience and the part-time structure so I could continue my career development. I also wanted to move to NYC and this program gave me a compelling reason to move out of my home-town.
Biggest thing learned so far at Stern:
Business isn’t about making the right decision. It’s about making better decisions.
Suhita Goswami
Fall 2021, Weeknight
Hometown: India
Educational and career background:
Bachelor of Technology (I.T), M Sc. Computer Science (NYU Tandon), Google: Strategic Cloud Engineer
Long-term career goals:
My long-term goal is to be able to strike the balance of driving well engineered technological solutions to mass adoption in an ethical, empowered manner.
Biggest thing learned so far at Stern:
Learn how to ask the right questions to really understand the value of a solution.
Eric Osterman
Fall 2021, Accelerated two-year
Hometown: Wappingers Falls, NY
https://www.linkedin.com/in/erickosterman/
Educational and career background:
Bachelor’s in Anthropology, 9 year career in children’s mental health practicing trauma-informed care.
Long-term career goals:
Long term career goals are to find something challenging and stimulating – chose Stern both for its reputation of being strong on Quant skills which I felt I was weak in and wanted to improve, as well as its recent focus on EI/EQ – trauma work is most easily summarized in the adage “It’s not what’s wrong with you, but what happened to you” – this is essentially emotional intelligence. After the collective trauma of the pandemic, any leader will need to heavily index on EI in order to stay tuned in to their staff.
Biggest thing learned so far at Stern:
Everyone is just as bad at networking as you, so don’t think, just introduce yourself and talk to everyone.
Mary Callahan
Fall 2021, Weeknight
Hometown: Los Altos, CA
https://www.linkedin.com/in/marylesliecallahan/
Educational and career background:
BA Writing and MA in Performing Arts Administration from NYU, career as a professional dancer, actor, model and arts administrator.
Long-term career goals:
Pursue a career in programming, marketing, and leadership of a prestigious arts organization. I chose to pursue my MBA at Stern to be taken more seriously in the industry and prove that my passion for the arts does not cloud my business savvy.
Biggest thing learned so far at Stern:
Though my educational and career experience is different from my peers, I bring value to the table – new ways of thinking, connections, and processes. I love how the diversity in our program really serves us and helps us to learn and grow from each other.
Amanda Villarreal
Spring’21, Weeknight
Hometown: Austin, TX
https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandanvillarreal/
Educational and career background:
Amherst College, BA in Psychology. Career background in academia, social work, public policy and civil rights lobbying, electoral politics, and tech startup and scale-up growth before pivoting in innovation and design in big consulting.
Long-term career goals:
Executive leadership in a Fortune 500 innovation/design team and/or launching my own consultancy. I chose Stern to give me more executive leadership options down the line, as I’m currently pretty specialized; and, to not miss out on the opportunity capital that a large institution like NYU can facilitate. I also wanted to grow my network outside of my industry and college connections in NYC.
Biggest thing learned so far at Stern:
How to strategically drop balls (an essential leadership skill!)
Nikhita Pai
Spring 2022, Accelerated two-year
Queens, New York
https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikhitakpai/
Educational and career background:
New York University, class of ‘13 (B.S. in Media, Culture & Communications from Steinhardt). My career spans digital technology startups across different sectors (martech, foodtech, fashiontech) and prior to working at DoorDash where I am currently a senior program manager in the global L&D org, I was one of the founding members for a Y-Combinator backed sustainable fashion company called Riya Collective.
Long-term career goals:
Long term, I’m looking to start my own company and being a born and raised New Yorker, know that there’s no better way to do that than in NYC 🙂
Biggest thing learned so far at Stern:
Show up authentically, as your true self and learn for the sake of learning. Grades don’t matter, knowledge is what’s important. Your classmates are your biggest allies and the connections and friendships formed here will be the best and brightest of your life!
Bobby Davison
Spring 2022, Weeknight
Baldwin, NY
https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobby-davison/
Educational and career background:
Virginia Military Insititue Economics & Business 2015… 6 years active duty and still a reservist within space force… one year out on various consulting projects mostly around a strategic AI NYC based group.
Long-term career goals:
I want to be happy most of all and work with passionate people, so I lean into crafting the future with blockchain and AI focused people
Biggest thing learned so far at Stern:
If I’m being honest it was the best school I stood a chance to get into. I wanted to move back to NY and Stern’s amazing benefits for veterans make it easy to finance and attend.
Thanks to all for letting us get to know more about you, stay tuned for future installments of the Langone Student Spotlight Series!
