The Accounting Leader

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Aida Kolar

DGS Tax Staff, EY

Class of 2022
BBA/MBA in Public Accounting

Member Of: Women in Corporate America, Business Honors program advisory board, Beta Alpha Psi, Pforzheimer honors college

Aida is a student whom most of her peers on the New York City campus know. Through her involvement in various student organizations, her participation in multiple panels and events, and her work on campus as a student assistant to Lubin’s Undergraduate Advisement Office, Aida has built an outstanding resume that landed her a coveted accounting internship this semester (Spring 2021). We talked to this Queens (New York) native and EY scholarship awardee about how she has leveraged her relationships with alumni to bring career advancement opportunities to other students on campus.

Why did you choose Pace University and the Lubin School of Business?

Pace University and the Lubin School of Business stood out to me exceptionally during my college search. The school is not only close to my home, but Pace’s location in the most fantastic city in the world provides students with outstanding opportunities. The Lubin School of Business was one of the only schools that provided a unique combined degree program in accounting. Its student success stories really sealed the decision for me. I knew from the get-go that getting a master’s was something that I wanted to do, and Lubin’s program allowed me to do just that. Studying at a university like Pace with the opportunities that I could take advantage of at Lubin was an experience I did not want to miss out on.

The Lubin School of Business was one of the only schools that provided a unique combined degree program in accounting. Its student success stories really sealed the decision for me. I knew from the get-go that getting a master’s was something that I wanted to do, and Lubin’s program allowed me to do just that.

You are very involved on campus as a student leader. What have those experiences been like and how are they helping you in your career?

My involvement as a student leader has really made my college experience complete. Being involved with student organizations has allowed me to build an on-campus community comprised of students with similar interests. Most of my memorable experiences come from being a student leader, visiting NASDAQ Headquarters, and meeting Pace alumni at different Lubin events. I have developed communication and leadership skills; I have also established a network that has led me to career opportunities and prepared me for a career after college.

As president of Women in Corporate America (WICA), you brought Pace students the opportunity to participate in a Leadership Certificate Program. What was that experience like?

This past Fall semester, WICA hosted its first virtual Leadership Certificate Program in partnership with Pace alumna, Deidre Koppelman ’87, CEO and founder, PEAR Core Solutions -- a Human Resource Consulting organization. I met Deidre a year ago at a Lubin alumni event. I began working with her immediately by hosting her as a guest speaker for WICA events such as the Women’s Empowerment Conference. Together, we came up with the idea of a certificate program that would provide a personalized experience for 20 Pace students and put it into action this past Fall. The students learned how to analyze their professional personalities and career aspirations using specific tools; they also studied topics such as empathy and active listening, communication, drama triangles, and more. Participating students learned how to utilize particular resources based on their personalities, careers they are interested in, and their goals. Further, they received personalized results and created a toolbox of resources to use in their individual successes.

What other resources available at Pace and within New York City have you been taking advantage of as a Lubin student?

Career Services has provided me with many on-campus opportunities and possibilities of career advancement outside of campus. Being in New York City we can take advantage of an endless list of activities. Career Services has done a phenomenal job collaborating with external organizations and providing students the chance to participate in some fantastic events. I had the privilege of attending a diversity and inclusion conference at the NY Stock Exchange and working with Harvard Business School and NYU Stern on women’s empowerment conferences because of this.

What does the Spring 2021 semester look like for you? What are you looking forward to the most?

I am really looking forward to this semester (Spring 2021). As a Public Accounting combined degree student, I have been invited to participate in the Winter Co-Op Internship Program. This program essentially allows me to work full-time for the first half of the semester, during busy season, and then return in mid-March to resume my studies for the semester. In January I joined Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PwC) as a Real Estate Tax intern on their Financial Services Core Market Team.

Do you have any advice for other Lubin students looking to get involved on campus?

Do not be afraid to try a little bit of everything. Getting involved is really just about finding what you enjoy and have a passion for. You may find this with the first club you get involved with or your first job, or it may take a few tries altogether. But, once you find the things you want to get involved with, you will truly build the college journey and experience you desire. You never know who you will meet, what things you will experience, or what opportunities will come from your involvement.

What does #LubinLife mean to you?

When I think about #LubinLife, the first thing that comes to mind is the Game of Life. The Lubin culture, much like the game, is about taking chances and landing opportunities. Everyone’s journey at Lubin is so different and so unique. The people and opportunities at Lubin are the tools that we utilize to establish our own journeys. Lubin has introduced me to so many inspiring people, including classmates, alumni, professionals, etc., but it has also given me so many opportunities to pave my own college path and career afterward.