Zicklin GCMC Podcast

In this episode, Justyn speaks with Dana Zeller (https://www.linkedin.com/in/dana-zeller/), Zicklin MS Statistics alum and Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer at BHI, a global financial services firm. Dana shares her unique perspective on career planning through the lens of a financial portfolio, and her five elements within it: Start big, or start small. All that matters is that you get in the game. Don't be afraid to reset. Diversify (your experiences, your knowledge, and your network) The market is cyclical. So is your career. Enjoy the ride! Dana also shares her career journey and perspectives. The episode is moderated by Justyn Makarewycz, Deputy Director, Employer and Recruiter Relations at Baruch College's Zicklin School of Business Graduate Career Management Center (https://www.linkedin.com/in/justyndm/)

In this episode, we speak with Tony Steuer, CLU, LA, CPFFE, an internationally recognized financial fluency advocate, award-winning author, and host of The Get Ready Money Podcast. Financial fluency and planning mirrors much of what individuals experience in their career planning and progression. Think of mindset, personal preferences, emotions, and life goals. Topics in the discussion include: How goal setting can help you choose various paths that align with what you want in life Financial fluency is something people can learn at any point in life Understanding job and financial scams, and things to be on the lookout for if they come to you As the founder of The Get Ready Movement, Tony is leading a shift in how we think about money—not just as numbers, but as a tool for living a more intentional and empowered life. Through his books, podcast, curated recommendations, and expert insights, Tony helps financial professionals, educators, and individuals ask better questions, foster meaningful money conversations, and take purposeful action. He is the Chief Evangelist at Yetworth Collaborative and serves as an advisor to Insurance Nerds and Dingo Technologies. Tony's thought leadership has earned recognition as a Finalist in ThinkAdvisor's LUMINARIES Class of 2022 for Thought Leadership & Education. He has served as a Judge for the MAIA Awards and the 2023 Finder Innovation Awards, and as a longtime member of the California Department of Insurance Curriculum Board. A trusted voice in the media, Tony contributes as an expert content reviewer for Nerdwallet, Bankrate, and Forbes Advisor, and has been featured by ABC's Seven on Your Side, CNBC, Cheddar TV, The New York Times, Washington Post, Fast Company, Chicago Tribune, and Fox Business News. Tony's website is https://www.tonysteuer.com/ The episode is moderated by Justyn Makarewycz, Deputy Director, Employer and Recruiter Relations at the GCMC (https://www.linkedin.com/in/justyndm/)

In this episode, Zicklin Evening MBA '26 student Rezwan Islam (https://www.linkedin.com/in/rezwan-islam33/) talks about his summer 2024 Product Management internship in Detroit, MI with a national brand that provides digital solutions for complex transactions. Rezwan has a background in Mechanical Engineering, and started his MBA in spring 2024 to help make a functional change in his career. Topics in the discussion include: Transitioning from Engineering to Tech Being proactive in your internship Communication is key Looking at opportunities to grow outside of New York Translating past transferrable skills to his Product Management goals The Product Management Mindset Taking risks in an internship You can see a post from Rezwan's employer on National Intern Day including him at https://www.linkedin.com/posts/rocket-companies1_nationalinternday-myrocketcareer-activity-7222267167914827777-jWbe/ The episode is moderated by Justyn Makarewycz, Deputy Director, Employer and Recruiter Relations at the GCMC (https://www.linkedin.com/in/justyndm/)

In this episode, Zicklin Evening MBA '26 student Daniel Jordan (https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-jordan-djc/) to talk about his experience at Zicklin over the past year. Dan started his MBA program in fall 2023. Topics include: His personal journey to starting the MBA How to talk to strangers on an airplane His experience at the 2023 Reaching Out MBA Conference Him passing the Securities Industry Essentials Exam The episode is moderated by Justyn Makarewycz, Deputy Director, Employer and Recruiter Relations at the GCMC (https://www.linkedin.com/in/justyndm/)

In this episode, Laura Lakhwara (MBA '14 - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauralakhwara/), Technology Adoption and Customer Success Leader with Soapbox, a warehouse and fulfillment tech platform, speaks with students to remind them to be sure to keep the hiring manager's perspective in mind when they're applying and interviewing. This can help decrease frustration, while keep them more strategic in their search. Topics covered include: A behind-the-scenes look into the hiring manager's perspective How to succeed despite the market challenges How to network effectively and get a referral Using online communities to connect with individuals with similar career goals The episode is moderated by Justyn Makarewycz, Deputy Director, Employer Relations at the GCMC (https://www.linkedin.com/in/justyndm/)

Episode Notes The job search in and of itself can be daunting. Having to manage your job search while also navigating getting sponsorship can be even more so and it can become increasingly an overwhelming process that can feel stressful.  In this episode, we speak with MS Finance alum, Nikhil Mandhwani (https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikhil-mandhwani-ca-13875a1bb/), who is currently an AVP Associate at a major international bank.   Topics covered include:  Tips on how to network successfully, best practices when reaching out to new connections, and how to maintain strong relationships within your network.  Advice on how to remain optimistic in the job search and manage feelings of frustration and stress.  The importance of persistence in the job and internship search  Nikhil’s process of getting sponsorship and recommendations in your own sponsorship process. This episode is moderated by Syd Giller, Associate Director, Employer Relations at the GCMC (https://www.linkedin.com/in/sydneyrgiller/)

Oftentimes, changing careers can feel additionally confusing and frustrating because there's no one way to be able to do it. What if there was one for entering a career as a Data Engineer? In this episode, we speak with MS Information Systems, Data Analytics alum David Freitag (https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidkfreitag/), who is currently a Data Engineer at an insurance company. In addition to his work, David has developed content about various topics for individuals looking to get into this field. Most recently, he wrote an article called The Entry-Level Data Engineer Roadmap (https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/entry-level-data-engineer-roadmap-david-freitag/) as a resource on how individuals can skill up to enter into these careers. Topics covered include: Making a career change from teaching to Data Engineer Taking advantage of all the resources you can when you're a grad student Creating your own projects to put on your resume Common interview questions for Data Engineering roles The importance of finding role models who do what you want to do The episode is moderated by Justyn Makarewycz, Deputy Director, Employer Relations at the GCMC (https://www.linkedin.com/in/justyndm/)

Episode Notes The world is layered, complex, and noisy – especially when we’re talking about all forms of communication that we not only receive, but that we send out as well. In this episode, we speak Baruch College alum Ben Guttmann (BBA ’11 - https://www.linkedin.com/in/benguttmann/) about some of the elements of effective messaging and communication. Ben built, ran, and sold an award-winning marketing agency, and he teaches marketing at Baruch. He also wrote a book on messaging and communication called Simply Put, and will be out in October 2023. Topics covered include: The pluses about working at an agency The way we communicate is “biased toward complication” Using empathy and an entrepreneurial mindset to more effectively communicate 5 steps to effectively communicate 2 communications hacks to start off You can find out more about Ben’s work at https://www.benguttmann.com/. The episode is moderated by Justyn Makarewycz, Deputy Director, Employer Relations at the GCMC (https://www.linkedin.com/in/justyndm/)

Episode Notes In any career journey, there will be challenges. They can include not getting through to the people with whom you want to connect, feeling dejected overall, hearing no to an application - or sometimes hearing nothing. Responding (or not responding) to those challenges can be even more difficult. In this episode, we speak with Zicklin Full-time MBA alumna Adi Markus (MBA '16), who is currently Director of Customer Success in Tech (https://www.linkedin.com/in/adimarkus/). Adi shares what her process of "figuring it out" was, and if it was anything, it was not easy. Topics in the episode include: Making options for yourself Being OK with pivoting from your original ideas of what you want to do You may not want what you say you want It's not always a linear path. The episode is moderated by Justyn Makarewycz, Deputy Director, Employer Relations at the GCMC (https://www.linkedin.com/in/justyndm/)

Episode Notes We've all heard how life, professionally or personally, can be more rewarding if it's directed intentionally and deliberately. But is there a step-by-step model that can help us do that? In this episode, we speak with Rina Koshkina, an executive and career coach (https://www.linkedin.com/in/rinakoshkina/), whose own career spans over 25 years in various business and talent-development roles in financial services and tech. Rina walks listeners through her professional organization model called O.C.C.A.(R.), which she developed through her work with students and working professionals, and which she uses in her coaching practice. Rina shared the model in a Forbes article called "Ready For A Career Upgrade? Tidy Up Your Professional Life First" (https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescoachescouncil/2021/12/01/ready-for-a-career-upgrade-tidy-up-your-professional-life-first/?sh=42c8e4b41bfe) Another article written by Rina which was referenced in the podcast is called "What Crisis Can Teach Us About Crafting A Meaningful, Multidimensional Life" (https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescoachescouncil/2020/08/24/what-crisis-can-teach-us-about-crafting-a-meaningful-multidimensional-life/?sh=257817a17010) Topics include: Having clarity can take you to the next level of your career None of us live on an island, therefore it's important to take stock of your relationships and networks We live in a world of ambiguity, but we have agency to help ourselves get to where we want to be Change the way you connect with others to make it about them We are all multidimensional, and that's a good thing The episode is moderated by Justyn Makarewycz, Associate Director of Employer Relations at the GCMC (https://www.linkedin.com/in/justyndm/)

Episode Notes There are many aspects of thinking strategically, and one of them is thinking a few steps ahead in any scenario or question you might have. In this episode, we speak with Kapil Khetan (https://www.linkedin.com/in/kapilkhetan/). Kapil works at Mizuho Bank and is also an Adjunct at New York University SPS, where he teaches courses in Quantitative Techniques, Statistics for Market Research, and Financial Management. Kapil shares how important it is for students to think a few steps ahead to help them be more strategic thinkers. Topics include: Seeing the why and not the how Having the confidence to know the impact you can make What a difference it makes to think about your customer’s customer The episode is moderated by Justyn Makarewycz, Associate Director of Employer Relations at the GCMC (https://www.linkedin.com/in/justyndm/)

Episode Notes Case competitions are an opportunity for students to work alone or together in teams to analyze a problem specific to a case study.   There are many benefits to participating in case competitions, such as   Applying the knowledge and skill sets learned in the classroom learning environment to solve complex, real-world problems and receive feedback from industry professionals Developing and improving leadership, organizational, presentation, case analysis, and teamwork skills Building your resume, boosting your confidence, and providing real-world industry exposure   In this episode, we speak with these two graduate students who participated in the 2022 Adobe Analytics Challenge, and were one of 20 teams from over 3,000 who made it to the semi-final rounds:   Letty Uy (MS Business Analytics, Data Analytics Concentration) Praveen Vungarala (MS Information Systems)   We discussed details of the Challenge, focusing mainly on how participating impacted them. Topics include:   Relying on your intuition when not having all the information Confidence gained through participating Solidifying their career choice to be in Analytics Resume boost Tips for students   The episode is moderated by Justyn Makarewycz, Associate Director of Employer Relations at the GCMC (https://www.linkedin.com/in/justyndm/)

Episode Notes In tech, Customer Success roles are a conglomerate of various functions and activities, which include Marketing, Strategic Client Relationship Management, Technical Account Management, Sales, Training, Implementation, Sounding Board, and much more. When interviewing for these roles, candidates need to be prepared for different interview scenarios and questions, but all with a common focus: helping customers succeed and stay on. In this discussion, these Baruch alumni talk about interviewing for Customer Success roles, what hiring managers look for in candidates, and other thoughts: Tim Aaron (MBA '21), Customer Success Manager at Optimove https://www.linkedin.com/in/timothy-aaron/ Bobby Koch (MBA ’20), Customer Success Manager at Adobe https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertekoch/ The episode is moderated by Justyn Makarewycz, Associate Director of Employer Relations at the GCMC (https://www.linkedin.com/in/justyndm/)

Episode Notes In this episode, we speak with Zicklin MBA alum Eric Pliner (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericpliner/), CEO of YSC Consulting, a global leadership strategy services consulting firm, about decision making, leadership and his recently published book, Difficult Decisions: How Leaders Make the Right Call with Insight, Integrity, and Empathy (https://www.ysc.com/difficult-decisions-book/).   Eric shares details about his career journey and background, the work he does, as well as discussing topics including:   How values, morals, ethics, and stakeholder expectations impact decision making How the “personal” is a real part of our work life The difference between a role and a job How reflecting on the things that shape and drive you personally has impact on others ... and more The episode is hosted by Justyn Makarewycz, Associate Director of Employer Relations at the GCMC (https://www.linkedin.com/in/justyndm/)

Episode Notes In this episode, we speak with Zicklin MS Finance student Suhail Mohammed to talk about his experience interviewing for and working in Finance roles in Private Equity, Investment Management and FinTech. Suhail discusses with us: A few interview questions that candidates should be ready for in a Finance interview What most interviewers want to know from those questions Why it's important to always be curious ... and more The episode is hosted by Justyn Makarewycz, Associate Director of Employer Relations at the GCMC (https://www.linkedin.com/in/justyndm/). To connect with the GCMC, email us at to schedule an appointment. Thank you for listening!

Episode Notes Thy Bui (https://www.linkedin.com/in/buianthy1412) is a student in the MS Business Analytics, Data Analytics program, and works as a Supply Chain Analyst for a manufacturer. In her role, she works with multiple teams and personalities on a daily basis.   In this episode, Thy shares how she builds relationships with the teams she interacts with, which can be especially helpful to those starting out.   The episode is hosted by Justyn Makarewycz, Associate Director of Employer Relations at the GCMC (https://www.linkedin.com/in/justyndm/). To connect with the GCMC, email us at zicklin.gcmc@baruch.cuny.edu to schedule an appointment. Thank you for listening!

Episode Notes Having an understanding of yourself, who you are as a person, and what you bring to the table are some of the most important elements of a person's career journey - especially when changing careers. In this podcast, Michelle Pope, a Senior Brand Manager at Colgate-Palmolive, speaks about what she’s learned from her interactions with career changers, and thoughts she has developed to help career changers navigate the process, including: Why knowing yourself is important in your career Understanding what is important to you, and what type of job you want to switch into How to actively and passively information gather Letting your authenticity stand out How to formulate questions and thinking on the spot when networking, information sessions, and other situations Working past the frustration of job searching The episode is hosted by Justyn Makarewycz, Associate Director of Employer Relations at the GCMC (https://www.linkedin.com/in/justyndm/). To connect with the GCMC, email us at zicklin.gcmc@baruch.cuny.edu to schedule an appointment. Thank you for listening!

Episode Notes Many people at some time in their life have thought about changing careers. In fact, in a 2019 Indeed survey, 65% of respondents who had not yet switched careers said that they either thought about or previously considered doing so.   Making a career switch happen in reality, however, is not always easy.   In this episode, Zicklin Evening MBA student Adiel Schmidt shares her story of how she made a career switch from Accounting into Marketing Analytics, including:   How she landed in Accounting and then Marketing Analytics Zicklin classes that helped direct her interests How she focused on the transferrable skills that would help her switch careers Frustrations she faced in getting that first break Lessons she learned from it all The episode is hosted by Justyn Makarewycz, Associate Director of Employer Relations at the GCMC (https://www.linkedin.com/in/justyndm/). To connect with the GCMC, email us at zicklin.gcmc@baruch.cuny.edu to schedule an appointment. Thank you for listening!

Episode Notes What does someone in a Customer Success role do at a tech company? Customer Success departments are on the rise, as tech companies look to take a more proactive approach to relationship and account management. Customer Success professionals are often the intermediary between sales and the customer, ensuring customer needs are continuously met by the company. In this podcast, MBA alum Bobby Koch (MBA '20) speaks with a group of students about his role as a Customer Success Manager at Adobe, as well as other topics including: The importance of being customer-facing How building relationships is a key to success in life and work Empathy is the path to uncovering real problems The episode is hosted by Justyn Makarewycz, Associate Director of Employer Relations at the GCMC (https://www.linkedin.com/in/justyndm/). To connect with the GCMC, email us at zicklin.gcmc@baruch.cuny.edu to schedule an appointment. Thank you for listening!

This episode features Zicklin BBA and MBA alum Art Malkov (https://www.linkedin.com/in/digitalbrand/), Chief Digital Officer at BlockchainDriven. BlockchainDriven is a team of industry leading experts advising public and private companies, governments and nonprofits with blockchain implementations. This episode was a live recording from June 24, 2020 with Art and students, speaking on: Blockchain 101 and non-crypto use cases Non-developer skill sets companies look for in roles that use Blockchain Career growth in roles that use Blockchain Art's Bio: Art Malkov was one of the early pioneers of the blockchain digital space and has been working full time at BlockchainDriven since 2016. He is a founder of BlockchainNYC, largest blockchain community in NYC. Art is a digital advisor and mentor for Columbia-IBM blockchain accelerator companies. He was the managing director and visionary of BlockchainWeekend, a 50+ blockchain events initiative in collaboration with NYCEDC that took place this November 2019 in NYC. Art has been featured in Business Insider, Forbes, New York Times, Huffington Post, Crain's New York, Bitcoinist and a range of other publications and conferences. " The following is a list of resources discussed on the podcast: www.BlockchainNYC.org is the largest blockchain group in NYC for knowledge-sharing, networking and community. The group is set up as a MeetUp. 2020 Project Management Blockchain Career Guide [In-depth Analysis]: https://www.blockdriven.com/blog/project-management-blockchain-career Deloitte's 2020 Global Blockchain Survey: https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/topics/understanding-blockchain-potential/global-blockchain-survey.html Art mentioned being an Advisor at Columbia - IBM Lab to Market Blockchain Accelerator, specifically working on Nirvana Labs (AI & Blockchain Solutions for the Healthcare Industry): https://nirvanalabs.org/ The episode is hosted by Justyn Makarewycz, Associate Director of Employer Relations at the GCMC (https://www.linkedin.com/in/justyndm/). To connect with the GCMC, email us at zicklin.gcmc@baruch.cuny.edu to schedule an appointment. Thank you for listening!