Student and Alumni Stories

Jessica Feinstein ’07
Associate Brand Manager, Unilever
New York, NY

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.”

Michael O’Rorke ’06
New York, NY

Training for Teamwork

Osifo Akhuemonkhan ’11
Abuja, Nigeria

Diverse Interests, Holistic Education

Doug Pardo ’07
Associate, Booz & Co.
New York, NY

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. 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.”

Venk Varadan ’08
Associate Director, UBS
New York, NY

Learning through Leadership

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

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.”

Jordan Roth ’10
President, Jujamcyn Theaters
New York, NY

Applying Skills across Industries

Swan Sit ’07
Consultant, Bain & Company
New York, NY

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 event 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.”

Judie Zbeda ’11
New York, NY

Global Immersion

Jennifer Randle ’06
Associate, Booz & Co.
New York, NY

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.”

Jessica Harrison ’11
New York, NY

The Flexibility of Social Enterprise

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!”