Jason Chen

Investment Banking Associate, William Blair

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Class of 2019
BBA in Finance

Member Of: Alpha Kappa Psi, Beta Alpha Psi, Chinese Students and Scholars Association

Where are you interning this summer?

Bank of America Merrill Lynch

What made you decide to attend Pace University/Lubin School of Business?

In short, the location, the people and the ability to do anything. Being in the center of the Big Apple, Pace University is geographically located in a very strategic location for aspiring finance students. This is super corny, but the people of Pace University is what makes it such a unique school. Everyone, from the students to faculty members embrace and promote a diverse and inclusive culture that allow everyone to be heard. The "ability to do anything" doesn't mean that you can literally do everything, but it's the endless opportunity that comes with Pace University.

Being in the center of the Big Apple, Pace University is geographically located in a very strategic location for aspiring finance students. Everyone, from the students to faculty members embrace and promote a diverse and inclusive culture that allow everyone to be heard.

What have you been working on at your internship? Has it sparked an interest in a career you hadn't already thought about?

I'm on the asset based lending team, which is a very unique group within the scope of wholesale credit. I support credit portfolio managers and work mainly on financial sponsor deals. Therefore, I was able to gain exposure to major private equities such as TPG, Apollo Global Management and Bain Capital. This internship has definitely open doors and sparked my interest in capital markets, leveraged finance, restructuring and investment banking coverage. Given the design of my summer analyst program, I'm also given the opportunity to possibly rotate into a different team when I start as a full time analyst.

How does this internship fit into the puzzle that is your Lubin experience?

To me the Lubin experience is about "Opportunitas." The internship has definitely open more doors and provide me with more "Opportunitas." The analytical and technical work that I did over the summer is directly related to the finance class that I'm taking at Pace University. It allows me to look at numbers and financial modeling not just through the academic lens but put it into real life practice.

Do you believe your internship experience has helped to prepare you for your future?

Throughout the internship, I was able to gain exposure to many different parts of the bank. Banking in the end is a people business and the ability to interact with all sorts of people is a crucial skill that was enhanced through this internship. The soft skills that I acquired during the summer will definitely better prepare me for the future.

In a few words, how do you define your #LubinLife?

Optimistic, Outperforming, Opportunitas.

Ruben Irizarry

Trust Solutions Senior Associate, PwC

Class of 2019
BBA in Public Accounting

Member Of: Beta Gamma Sigma

Meet Ruben Irizarry, a senior majoring in Public Accounting, who before enrolling in the International Field Study course to Argentina and Chile had never traveled outside of the United States. Ruben has had amazing internships including Goldman Sachs and PwC, and he says that Career Services was instrumental in helping him to land these professional opportunities. We talked to Ruben about his study abroad experience in South America and what he learned there.

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

The location the New York City campus and the resiliency and determination of our professors to ensure their students are acquiring internships and placing themselves in a favorable position to obtain a full-time job right after college, is why I chose Pace and Lubin.

Tell us a bit about your study abroad experience in South America.

My study abroad experiences in Argentina and Chile were very rewarding experiences. In both countries, we were able to observe how different businesses function similarly or differently than those of the United States. Additionally, we were able to better understand each country's reasoning for making some of their business decisions and see the motives and personalities of each professional in big name companies. My absolute favorite part of the course was visiting the Banco Central de la Repéblica Argentina (BCRA).

The food in each country was some of the best I have ever had, from the steak in Argentina to the loaded hot dogs with guacamole, onions, tomatoes, and more. I was even tempted at one point to order two steaks while eating in a restaurant!

Lastly, seeing the different struggles of each country was an eye-opening experience. It helped us further appreciate the life that we live. From the city infrastructures that we take for granted, to actually seeing the discrepancies in wages from family to family, you will definitely open your eyes and come to appreciate more and more the life that you live.

"The determination of our professors to ensure their students are acquiring internships and placing themselves in a favorable position to obtain a full-time job right after college, is why I chose Pace and Lubin."

How will you apply what you learned in South America to the rest of your career? What comes next?

I will be sure to take this experience wherever I go and build connections with those who have also studied abroad. Having participated in these experiences gives me a strong leg up in any opportunity I pursue on because I will better understand that there are two parts to each and every story. I hope to continue traveling to many, many more countries.

What motivates you to work hard?

Understanding that there is so much more to life. There is so much that we don't know and we continuously strive to become more knowledgeable. This enables us to better understand the world that we live in. It helps make each and every person more dynamic. What does #LubinLife mean to you?

#LubinLife means success in the simplest terms. It puts us in a better position to be able to travel the world and gain a leg up on our competition. I cannot picture another school that offers the opportunities that Pace offers.

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Jabari Chambers

Benefits Manager, Intrepid Museum
Founder, Sylvian Hyde

Class of 2018
MBA in Human Resource Management and Financial Management (dual MBA)

Member Of: Graduate Human Resources and Talent Management Club

Meet Jabari Chambers '18 from Wilmington, Delaware, who is pursuing his dual MBA in Human Resources Management and Financial Management on our New York City Campus. Jabari co-founded a menswear clothing line called Sylvian Hyde, and debuted his first collection at the 2018 New York Fashion Week.

Where are you currently working?

I currently work as a graduate assistant for Lubin's of Office Communications and External Relations and I work part-time at Battery Park City Authority as a human resources assistant. Also, I co-founded a menswear clothing line called Sylvian Hyde. On February 8, 2018, we debuted our first collection at New York Fashion Week.

Have you had any other jobs or internships in the past?

While at Pace University, I have interned at Uncharted Power and at Battery Park City Authority as a Human Resources Intern. I had great experiences at both organizations. When I interned for Uncharted Power, the duration of my internship was for 10 weeks, but the company extended my internship for two more months because of my positive spirit and work ethic. Battery Park City Authority converted my internship into a part-time position after interning for 12 weeks.

My advice to Lubin students is to network with your classmates, professors, and professionals who visit the school. When you are networking with people do not focus on getting a job; focus on developing a relationship. You never know who could be of help to you in the future.

Tell us about what served as your inspiration to create a clothing line?

At Sylvian Hyde, I focus more on operations and implementing strategies for the business, while my partner, TJ Hyde focuses on the creative side. However, the inspiration for the collection came from both of us. For our first collection, we wanted to create pieces that were unique and exciting and that we could see ourselves wearing. The collection was inspired by us wanting to "design clothes that we want to wear." Our clothing line is a fusion of our style preferences. TJ likes to wear his clothes fitted and structured. I like for my clothes to be comfortable and flowy. If I had it my way, I would wear sweat pants and a sweater or a hoodie most days.

What do you intend to do with your degree after you graduate?

With my degree I will apply the knowledge I acquired at Pace University to grow my business, Sylvian Hyde. Outside of my business, I would like to have a career in the tech or consulting industry. I am interested in human resources management and analytics. Right now I have been focused on getting certified in different analytical programs like Bloomberg Terminal and Google Analytics.

Any advice for Lubin students looking for jobs/internships?

My advice to Lubin students is to network with your classmates, professors, and professionals who visit the school. When you are networking with people do not focus on getting a job; focus on developing a relationship. You never know who could be of help to you in the future. Career Services is great, but do not solely rely on them. You have to do your own job searches on Indeed and LinkedIn sometimes. My first internship I found on my own. The second internship was through Career Services.

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Emily Tree

Associate Director, Communications Planning, Carat USA

Class of 2018
BBA in Marketing - Advertising and Integrated Marketing Communications

Member Of: President, Brand Marketing Team

Meet Emily Tree '18, an advertising and integrated marketing major who after building up her resume with impressive internships, took on the opportunity of being a part of the Brand Marketing Team. Elected President of this year's competition team, Emily led her great team to success, as they came in third place in the district's tight race to the NSAC.

First of all, tell us a little bit about you, about the Brand Marketing Team, and how you ended up becoming the president of this year's team.

I am a Lubin senior, graduating 2018 with a BBA in Advertising and Integrated Marketing Communications and a minor in Creative Writing. I have interned at Zac Posen, LaForce Marketing Communications Agency, and Rolling Stone Magazine. Brand Marketing Team is the ultimate learning experience a business student can have at Pace. It gives students the chance to apply everything they've learned in their first three years of college to a real business challenge. Among many other things, students will learn team collaboration skills, refine their public speaking abilities, learn to handle time-sensitive tasks and build their confidence as professionals entering the work force. I became President of this year's team by the votes of my team members. In the first semester, we are given the chance to work with every person on the team and get to know each other as professionals. Before leaving for winter break we vote on who we believe will serve the team best in executive positions. I was incredibly honored to receive the nomination for President and was thrilled to serve my team as both President and a presenter in the final pitch.

Tell us a little bit about the amazing team of students you were working with.

I had the pleasure of working with a truly incredible team this year. We came from a variety of Lubin and Dyson majors and minors, and from all over the world. Some of the hardest working people I have ever met were on this team and without the collective effort and support from each member, we would not have been as successful as we were. In the final competition, one of the judges remarked that he could tell we were a “tight” team. I am very proud of the work that we've done this year.

Now that you are graduating, how do you evaluate the competition as a part of your Lubin experience as a whole?

The competition has been the greatest way to end my experience at Lubin. Working on Brand Marketing Team gave me the chance to put everything I've learned in my first three years at Pace to work, and I feel incredibly confident going into the work force after graduation.

Any advice for other Lubin students looking for opportunities like this one?

I would advise students to reach out to their professors to find out about opportunities for Lubin students. There are great clubs, teams, and classes to be a part of in Lubin and reaching out to professors is a great way to learn about how to get involved. Your Lubin experience is what you make of it, so make the most of your time here!

How did you deal with time management, balancing team, classes, and an internship, etc.?

One of the greatest challenges I faced in Brand Marketing Team was balancing the team with an 18 credit course load, an internship, babysitting, and finding time for friends, family and myself. The key to staying on top of all of this is being honest with yourself about what you can take on in a day, and stay organized throughout the process. Throughout both semesters I had an ongoing list of what I needed to get done every day which allowed me to look forward and prioritize what needed to be done now, and what could be done tomorrow. Brand Marketing Team takes a lot of time, but it's worth it. You just have to stay organized and make sure that your to-do list has at least 30 minutes blocked off to do something for yourself.

The competition has been the greatest way to end my experience at Lubin. Working on Brand Marketing Team gave me the chance to put everything I’ve learned in my first three years at Pace to work, and I feel incredibly confident going into the work force after graduation.

How do you see the ad team experience affecting the future of your career?

I see Brand Marketing Team as the experience that I look back on for years to come as what prepared me best for a successful career.

Other than this competition, what has been your favorite memory or experience here at Pace?

Besides Brand Marketing Team, my favorite experience at Pace was studying abroad at Regent's University in London. The chance to work with students from all over the world and adjust to a foreign learning environment was incredibly valuable to my college experience.

Any advice for incoming freshmen on how to get the best out of their Lubin experience?

Go out there and try everything that Pace has to offer! Lubin brings its students a ton of great opportunities, and getting involved elevates your overall college experience. And if you find yourself interested in multiple areas of study, declare a minor!

In a few words, how do you define your #LubinLife?

Hard work, unparalleled opportunities, and freeconferencecall.com!

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Virginia Dusi

Ecommerce Consultant, Freelance

Class of 2018
MS in Social Media and Mobile Marketing

Why did you choose Lubin for your MS degree?

I chose Pace because it was the only University in the city offering an MS focused on digital marketing. In fact, I wanted to get a Master's Degree to support my choice of switching from sales to digital marketing. I was looking for both solid theoretical preparation and some hands-on experience, and Lubin seemed to be the best choice for my purpose.

What was your favorite Lubin experience?

If I have to pick just one, I would say having the chance to attend exclusive events such as the Fast Company Innovation Festival at the 92Y, for which Lubin students had excusive tickets.

The skills and competencies I acquired through the MS program allowed me to succeed - and beat the competition - in the job hunting process, even with no previous experience in digital marketing.

What is your main takeaway from our MS program?

My main takeaway is that in order to succeed in today's business environment, one needs to always be willing to learn and stay informed. This is true for many industries, but especially for the digital marketing one. The completion of the MS program is the first necessary milestone in a never-ending process of self-development and refinement that will culminate with a brilliant career.

How has what you learned in the MS program influenced your career?

As I mentioned, I was in sales before and wanted to switch to digital marketing. The skills and competencies I acquired through the MS program allowed me to succeed - and beat the competition - in the job hunting process, even with no previous experience in digital marketing. Looking at the big picture, I can safely say that this MS degree allowed me to make my dream career a reality.

How do you define #LubinLife?

#LubinLife is the recipe for owning your career. The ingredients: fun, hard work, exciting events, and inspiring people. Mix everything together and.... enjoy!

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Kayla Kleinman

Social Media Manager, Bookshop.org

Class of 2018
MS in Social Media and Mobile Marketing

Why did you choose Lubin for your MS degree?

I chose Pace for my master's in science for a few reasons. I was really intrigued by the Social Media and Mobile Marketing focus, which is not a focus that's offered at a lot of schools. I knew I wanted to stay in NYC for my graduate studies. I also liked that there was some flexibility to the program, which I took advantage of. Some semesters I attended full-time, others I shifted my main focus to work outside of school and was a part-time student. The combination of those things made Lubin a good fit for me.

What was your favorite Lubin experience?

I enjoyed participating in an international field study course that traveled to Copenhagen and Stockholm to study marketing and sustainability. I didn't get to go abroad during my undergraduate experience so I was super excited to have the chance to travel as a graduate student. I absolutely loved the whole experience and the opportunity to take a course that culminated in this incredible trip.

I learned a lot about what I wanted my career to look like after I graduated. I was able to dabble in different aspects of digital marketing through the courses I took and my internship.

What is your main takeaway from our MS program?

I didn't have a background in marketing prior to starting at Lubin; my undergraduate degree was actually in theater, of all things. My main takeaway is confidence in my ability and knowledge as a digital marketer, and the knowledge that social media is ALWAYS changing.

How has what you learned in the MS program influenced your career?

Through my experience at Lubin and internship during graduate school, I learned a lot about what I wanted my career to look like after I graduated. I was able to dabble in different aspects of digital marketing through the courses I took and my internship. Through that experience, I learned that I love tackling creative tasks that let me use my passion for writing and that I also like opportunities that have a more entrepreneurial vibe.

How do you define #LubinLife?

To me, #LubinLife is making the experience your own. I'm super passionate about wellness and writing so I was always sure to bring that into the classroom to make the coursework most beneficial to me, my life outside of school, and of course my career goals after I finished school.

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Brandon Markowitz

Associate Director, Integrated Planning, iProspect

Class of 2018
MS in Social Media and Mobile Marketing

Why did you choose Lubin for your MS degree?

I chose Pace because it was one of the few places in the greater NY region to offer an MS in a marketing concentration as opposed to an MBA.

What was your favorite Lubin experience?

My favorite Lubin experience was presenting a project at Media Storm and receiving feedback from industry professionals.

Lubin has definitely given me the theoretical knowledge to make informed decisions at my job.

What is your main takeaway from our MS program?

My main takeaway is that the industry is changing so rapidly that it's important to educate yourself on best practices as frequently as possible.

How has what you learned in the MS program influenced your career?

My undergrad degree is in English, so Lubin has definitely given me the theoretical knowledge to make informed decisions at my job.

How do you define #LubinLife?

When I think of #LubinLife, I think of work life balance - learning to manage both, with the understanding that hard work will lead to success.

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Ashley Southard London

Social Media Manager, Kichler Lighting

Class of 2018
MS in Social Media and Mobile Marketing

Why did you choose Lubin for your MS degree?

I chose Pace because of the program's focus on social media and the mix of on campus and online classes. I also loved the opportunity to learn outside the classroom from real world experts in the field.

What was your favorite Lubin experience?

Definitely the travel course I took in 2017. We went to Copenhagen and Stockholm and learned about sustainability as it relates to marketing. I have the travel bug so this trip was not only a great chance to see two places I've never been to, but the sessions and company visits we did while abroad were also enlightening. Most of the companies we visited are pioneers in what they do and their innovation showed. I still take inspiration from these visits during my day-to-day work life.

I loved the opportunity to learn outside the classroom from real world experts in the field.

What is your main takeaway from our MS program?

I think my main takeaways are how to understand who you are marketing to, how to use data/analytics to fuel or backup your decisions and to always ask, 'why?'

How has what you learned in the MS program influenced your career?

Pace gave me the motivation and confidence to go after the digital marketing career that I wanted.

How do you define #LubinLife?

Being in the heart of NYC is one of the biggest benefits of being a student at Pace. For me, #LubinLife is all about taking the knowledge that I learned through the program and applying that to the real world, both in and out of the classroom.

Brianna Dunkers-Brown

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Senior Research Analyst, CNN

Class of 2017

BBA in Marketing—Advertising and Integrated Marketing Communications

Member Of: Student Government Association, Beta Gamma Sigma, National Business Honor Society, Future Business Leaders of America

Brianna Dunkers-Brown '17 from Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania is a marketing major with a minor in psychology on our New York City campus. Brianna is very involved in student government—she is currently the Executive Vice President of the Student Government Association (SGA). Brianna has been interning at NBCUniversal for two semesters and has this to say about her experience: "The question students go to college to answer is 'What do I want to do with the rest of my life?' My internship at NBC Universal helped me answer that question. I have been searching for that answer for a while so to have this internship be able to answer that for me is tremendous!"

Where are you currently interning? Have you had any other internships previously?

I am currently doing my second internship at NBCUniversal. Last semester (Fall 2015), I was an ad sales client solutions intern. This semester (Spring 2016), I am a market intelligence intern. Previously I was a PR intern at Magic Bullet Media and a social media intern at Keeper of the Brand Marketing Agency.

What have you been working on at your internship? Has it sparked an interest in a career/area of study you hadn't already thought about? Or has it confirmed that you are on the right path?

My responsibilities as a market intelligence intern run the gamut, but for the most part, I create company overviews and one-pagers and work on one-off requests for various departments. Currently, I'm gathering data and doing research on best practices for targeting the LGBTQA market. This requires a specific profile of the LGBTQA consumer and a detailed description of their buying behavior. I always suspected that I would like figuring out why people do what they do, and I thought it would be interesting to apply that knowledge to marketing. However, even with that suspicion, I enjoy this work much more than I could've imagined. This discovery has been huge for me as a career in market intelligence is the path that I have decided to take after graduation next year.

I always suspected that I would like figuring out why people do what they do, and I thought it would be interesting to apply that knowledge to marketing. However, even with that suspicion, I enjoy this work much more than I could've imagined. This discovery has been huge for me as a career in market intelligence is the path that I have decided to take after graduation next year.

Do you believe your internship experience has helped to prepare you for your future?

Yes I do. My supervisor does a great job of giving me autonomy and letting me have control over the projects she assigns me while subtly guiding me throughout the process. This way, when I finish a project, I feel a sense of accomplishment because I know I did the work, but I also learned a lot about the right way to put together analyst reports, company overviews, one-pagers, etc. This type of mentorship has prepared me for my career because I have work to show future employers. It has also taught me a lot of hard skills that are useful for a career in research. I am familiar with over 10 new research databases and I know how to access the information and compile it in a way that tells a compelling story for the client.

Any advice for other Lubin students looking for internships?

My advice to Lubin students looking for internships is to not count yourself out of any opportunity. If you feel a bit under-qualified for a position, apply anyway. They may just take a chance on you based on your past experiences and your ability to sell yourself during the interview. Internships with steep learning curves such as these are usually quite challenging but have the potential to be incredibly rewarding. Pay attention to what your supervisors respond well to and do more of that. At your internship your primary goal is to impress the people you work for, so take their feedback seriously and show them that you're getting better every day. Put your game-face on and don't let 'em see you sweat. Have the attitude that you will succeed and you'll be surprised with how often you actually do. When you do this you'll earn the respect of your supervisors and peers.

Shahzaib Khan

AVP, Citi

Class of 2017
BBA/MBA in Public Accounting

Member Of: Beta Alpha Psi, Lambda Sigma Honor Society, Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society

Shahzaib Khan '17 from Brooklyn, New York, is a public accounting major on our NYC campus. Shahzaib is a member of Beta Alpha Psi (where he won 3rd Place Best Practice Regional Competition), Lambda Sigma Honor Society and Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society.

Shahzaib says that the best thing about his internship is that he's learning something new everyday. He encourages other students to take this time in their college-lives to shine! We think that's pretty sage advice from a college junior.

Where are you interning this fall?

I am interning at Nasdaq, Inc. in their Tax Department. I have previously interned at AXA Advisors LLC, Deutsche Bank and Deloitte LLP.

What have you been working on at your internship? Has it sparked an interest in a career/area of study you hadn't already thought about? Or has it confirmed that you are on the right path?

At Nasdaq I have been analyzing and assisting in the preparation of federal, state and local corporate income taxes for most of Nasdaq's domestic and international entities. I also received the opportunity to assist in the preparation of financial statement tax provisions and the reconciliations of liability and expense accounts. On the other hand, the best part is I am being exposed to many tax forms and understanding their importance. I feel that from the support of my supervisor and my tax team I am growing professionally and personally every day. Most definitely this has helped me realized that I am on the right path and ready to tackle any challenges the future holds for me.

Do you believe your internship experience has helped to prepare you for your future?

My internship at Nasdaq, Inc. has definitely prepared me for the future. By working with many tax professionals in my department I have developed more skills and have learned what it takes to be successful. I have learned that to be successful, not only hard work is required, but building a passion for what you are doing is what will make you succeed even more. At the same time you should always be energetic and have a positive attitude no matter what situation you are in.

My internship at Nasdaq has definitely prepared me for the future. By working with many tax professionals in my department I have developed more skills and have learned what it takes to be successful.

Any advice for other Lubin students looking for internships?

My advice would be to absolutely join a business organization. I am currently a part of Beta Alpa Psi, an academic Honor Society for Accounting, Finance and Information Technology students. The benefits are huge, and so are the networking opportunities! You receive the opportunity to meet different recruiters every week, from top firms such as Goldman Sachs, Deloitte, Pwc… you name it. Beta Alpha Psi also gives you the opportunity to compete in case competitions, where you get to shine and present in front of recruiters. This is what makes recruiters remember you and is also a resume booster! Also I suggest starting internships early rather than waiting till junior year. This will help build your resume and show recruiters that not only have you been working hard in school, but that you are eager to learn even more by interning. No job is too big or too small, you will always be learning at the end of the day. No matter what internship you do, you will always learn and that is the most important thing. Especially if you have a passion for something which isn't related to your major, go for it! But also remember to stay focused on your major as well. This is your time to shine!