Hear from Columbia Students and Alumni

Jessica Feinstein ’07
Associate Brand Manager, Unilever
New York, N.Y.

After nearly two years with SC Johnson’s consumer products company, Jessica Feinstein knew that she wanted to pursue a career as a brand manager — and that an MBA would open doors. An associate brand development manager at Unilever, Jessica focuses on food and manages cross-functional teams that work to develop new products.

“What’s great about consumer products brand management is that it’s a lot like running your own small business,” Jessica says. “I love this entrepreneurial aspect, and I also want to launch my own business at some point.”

“At Columbia, I was in the Greenhouse Program, which is an amazing opportunity. If you want to start your own business, the program makes that possible. You are exposed to venture capitalists, investors and people who really care about your ideas and know what it takes to bring them to the next level.”

Rob Torti ’07
Turnaround Consultant, AlixPartners LLC
New York, N.Y.

Rob Torti worked as a trader, a hedge fund analyst and an investment banker before he applied to Columbia, where he thought he’d focus on private equity. Then, during his second year, he discovered turnaround consulting:

“I thought I had a lot of things figured out before business school, but the more I learned, the more I realized I didn’t know. It opened my mind. I came across the field I’m in now in Professor Rorke’s Turnaround Management class — this is an area that wouldn’t have been in my radar without Columbia. Professor Rorke also helped me make contacts in the industry.”

“With turnaround consulting, you’re tasked with saving the company and renewing it, so you’re given a lot of managerial responsibilities and C-level access. You get to focus on the macro level — both finance and operations — and you look at all aspects of a business rather than focusing on a single issue. It’s very exciting to see up close how to run a business — and how not to.”

Todd Sternberg ’07
Associate Brand Manager, Kraft Foods
East Hanover, N.J.
 
While working as a consulting manager at software maker Aprimo, Todd Sternberg realized that he wanted to transition from technology to marketing. A summer internship after his first year at the School led to a job offer from Kraft, where Todd supports the Planters NUT•rition brand.
 
“I felt really supported during my job search,” Todd says. “The second-years I met through MAC were a big help to me. I also received a lot of great advice from the staff of the Career Management Center. My advisor was my go-to person during the process — he definitely helped me make the transition to brand management.”

“As an alum, I’m doing my part to strengthen the Columbia network within Kraft and pushing hard for more Columbia people to come here. I’m also serving on my class’ reunion committee — obviously, I feel really strongly about Columbia.”

Doug Pardo ’07
Associate, Booz Allen Hamilton
New York, N.Y.

Doug Pardo served as a captain in the United States Army and directed Apache helicopter operations in Iraq and Afghanistan before he applied to Columbia. He knew that the School’s well-rounded program would complement his military background and that being in New York City would allow him to explore the consulting industry:
 
“I wanted to start out in consulting, and from a career standpoint, New York is a great place to start. The access and exposure to so many different industries is incredible. At the same time, there's a very close-knit and cohesive community on campus, which is a large part of the reason I chose Columbia. I really care about that personal aspect.”

“I really enjoyed taking an active role in the School’s student government and serving as cluster chair for my cluster. I’ve also discovered that there’s a really strong Columbia network at Booz Allen. I’ve seen how the same network I felt in school is still present — I’ve already found colleagues I can rely on as mentors.”

C. J. Steffen Meyer ’08

Raised in Germany and India and a graduate of St. Olaf College in Minnesota, C. J. Steffen Meyer worked in finance at Target for five years before pursuing his MBA in hopes of refocusing his career. When he walked into his first marketing strategy class at Columbia, he says, he found his niche.

“A big factor for me in choosing Columbia was its diversity of students and global orientation on a very personal scale,” Steffen says. “I wanted to be able to learn a lot from people who had completely different backgrounds, personal experiences and priorities. I wanted those diverse views — something that was not myopic.”

“The cluster system means that you have the same friends all year long. You’re also assigned to a learning team within your cluster that replicates the real world: you don’t get to pick your boss, your colleagues, your employees or your clients. You have to find ways to get along and work effectively with them. This was challenging at first, but we really learned how to be efficient and work together. I’ve learned so much from them — I’ve loved my learning team.”

Juliet Kennard ’07
Head of Customer Value Management
News International Newspapers Ltd.
London

Juliet Kennard was a senior strategic planner with News International Newspapers Ltd. in London when she decided to pursue her MBA. She was elected editor of the School’s student newspaper, the Bottom Line worked on a media management case study with Professor Jonathan Knee and interned at Fox News the summer after her first year at the School.

“I think the ability to be at a place where so many different activities and opportunities are offered is unique to Columbia,” Juliet says. “There are a million things to do — from club and networking activities to recruiting events and sports — and you’re encouraged to get as involved as you can. If you want it to be, it’s a 24-7 experience. In some ways, it was the busiest two years of my life, but also fantastic as well.”
 
“I also chose Columbia for its reputation in media, which is closely tied to its New York location. Even though you’re in school, you can still stay in touch with the rapidly changing industry. You have tremendous access and you work with professors who both teach and work — so they can offer real-world examples and case studies.”

de Winter Stewart ’99 
Regional Vice President, Consulting Services
Robert Half International
Los Angeles, Calif. 

After graduating from Columbia in 1999, de Winter Stewart worked as a private wealth management associate at Goldman Sachs, cofounded a film-production and new-media-content company and joined Robert Half International, where he now serves as regional vice president of consulting services.

“Columbia Business School’s brand equity gives me instant credibility,” de Winter says.  “My credentials help give me access to corporate CEOs and CFOs, who are always willing to talk to me because they trust I am qualified to give them insight. From a business-development standpoint, this is an incredible asset.”

“I’ve also tapped into the network both professionally and personally. When I was traveling in Buenos Aires a few years ago, I used the alumni Web site to get in touch with several local alums, who served as a resource for me. It’s great knowing that Columbia Business School alumni around the world are so easy to connect with and so willing to help each other.”

Swan Sit ’07
Consultant
Bain & Company, Inc.

Swan Sit worked as a brand manager at Newell Rubbermaid and cofounded her own marketing and advertising agency before she applied to Columbia. She thought she would pursue a career in retail luxury goods or private wealth management but discovered consulting through a Columbia Women in Business she attended “on a whim.”

“One of the reasons I chose Columbia is its entrepreneurial spirit — it permeates the classroom, all the clubs and activities, recruiting on campus and the social culture of the School itself,” Swan says. “There are incredible opportunities to grow as a leader, both inside and outside the classroom.”

“Students are really able to take responsibility for change on campus. If you have an idea, the administration, faculty and staff are so open and collaborative that there’s a good chance that your idea will become a reality. Sometimes with big programs you lose that ability to have a voice, but at Columbia you’re encouraged to speak up and get as involved as possible.”
 
“I felt so strongly about the impact the student clubs and Career Management Center. had on my job search that I ran for the Graduate Business Association’s vice president of clubs and careers position so I could give back and support their efforts during my second year. The staff is phenomenal — they really take the time to get to know you personally and help you tailor a plan for a career search.”

Omar Lababidi ’07
Investment Relations Manager, Starcomms
Lagos, Nigeria

Born in Colorado, Omar Lababidi grew up in Nigeria, went to high school in Egypt and attended college in Washington, D.C. When he applied to Columbia, he was marketing director for Starcomms, the largest code-division multiple access operator in sub-Saharan Africa. After he graduated, Omar became Starcomms’s investment relations manager.

“Before school, I felt I knew just about everything about the business world, but that misconception was corrected in short order — for which I’m grateful,” Omar says. “The world is both bigger and smaller to me now: I recognize the scale, complexity and speed of global business, yet I understand how common activity interlinks global economies; for example, accounting issues that I thought only existed in United States have turned out to be quite common in Nigeria. Broadly, I feel I can track the flow of business from New York to Lagos to Cairo to Bangkok. "
 
“Columbia enabled me to get the financial exposure I needed to broaden my skill set and move into a different area of interest. Marketing comes more naturally to me, but I enjoy the analytical challenge of finance. I knew I needed to be comfortable with numbers to be successful in business.”

Jennifer Randle ’06
Associate
Booz Allen Hamilton
New York, N.Y.

Jennifer Randle was a regional program director with Jumpstart for Young Children, a national nonprofit, when she applied to Columbia. She fell in love with the School, she says, during a prospective students day hosted by the Black Business Students Association (BBSA):

“When I visited Columbia, I knew immediately that I wanted to go there,” Jen says. “I loved the sense of community — the students really seemed to own their programs and organizations. I also chose Columbia to get validation on my quantitative side. Coming from a nontraditional background, I wanted a degree that would support my résumé and show that I can be analytical and rigorous.”

“During my second year, I served as president of the BBSA. The organization supports black prospective and current students and helps them do well and get the jobs they want. I was the beneficiary of all that support, so it was really important to me to make it continue for people in the future. I still get involved regularly and help members who are interested in consulting.”

Miranda Chen ’08

Miranda Chen worked in the School’s Alumni Relations Office for four years before she decided to earn her MBA at Columbia. During her first year, she fit two internships into her busy schedule — one at Kaleidoscope, a digital media firm specializing in branded entertainment, and another at iVillage, the Web site for women owned by NBC.

“I’m in love with New York! It’s been amazing to feel so connected to the business world and to industry professionals while I’m in school,” Miranda says. “It’s the best of both worlds. There are so many opportunities at school and in the city. The fact that I can meet with someone at People magazine at 10 a.m. and then go to class an hour later on a regular basis is pretty cool.”

“I’ve found that business school is about pushing yourself academically, professionally and socially. You find out after only a year and a half that you’re far more capable than you ever imagined. And it’s amazing to realize one day that you just ‘get’ the business world — the Wall Street Journal makes more sense, and so does a Dunkin’ Donuts opening in Barcelona.”

Omer Jaffer ’07
Manager, Commodities & Equipment Division
AJCL Trading
Karachi, Pakistan

During college, when Omer Jaffer was a triple major at the University of Pennsylvania, he interned at companies in Germany, France and Pakistan. After earning his MBA, Omer returned to Pakistan to work for AJCL Trading, a project-management consultancy and trading firm founded by his family.

“Coming from a background where business is characterized by personal relationships and informal associations,” Omer says, “I felt that business school would give me skills in finance, accounting and operations that would help me expand and diversify the family business in the future.”
 
“The friendships I formed at Columbia and the maturity I gained from interacting with leaders, experts and rising stars in so many different industries made going to business school truly worthwhile. I recall chatting with professors who were closely involved with the financing of several large infrastructure projects we see worldwide today — Mozal and the Polish highways, to name but a few.

“I also had friends who brought their insights from a variety of high-profile real-world projects to the classroom. And I met CEOs and leaders of global companies and tapped into their knowledge of business situations. Great experiences to learn from for the future!”