Class Notes

After decades in Africa working with governments on their privatization and public-private-partnership programs, my Finnish wife and I are now living in rural France. I am “giving back” to Africa by providing African professionals opportunities to receive advanced financial training from Training The Street, and also by delivering online PPP courses myself.

After a four-year tour in the Navy thanks to my ROTC scholarship, I found myself in charge of Hartford National Bank's then lagging Correspondent Banking Department. To compete, I engineered flying a plane to New Jersey, helicoptering to downtown NYC to pick up post-Fed time checks from most NYC banks, returning to Hartford for sorting, and then flying to clearing banks in upstate NY and New England for next-day funding. At no cost but our reciprocal balances to depositing banks, HNB made nice profits for years till the Fed became competitive. Guess how. HNB got ranked 13th and largest non-Fed city correspondent bank. The full story brings big smiles. Enjoy.

My wife Noel and I now spend most of our time on Hilton Head Island, SC. East Hampton property investments in the 1980s provided for a comfortable retirement in Boston and Hilton Head. I attended our 50th reunion in Morningside Heights and look forward to seeing the new location of the B School this summer. It was great seeing classmates who mostly aged with grace, dignity and wisdom. It was a grand few days of recollections. Cheers and best wishes from the Palmetto State.

I will turn 84 in Spring 2024, and it seems like yesterday that I was a brash young man entering Uris Hall with 500 strangers to begin a new stage of life. Little did I think an MBA would instill a lifelong desire to counteract destructive exploitation of the environment and unjust treatment of human beings. Within three years of my graduation this desire, enlivened by a growing spirituality, led me to the Jesuits. Thank you Columbia! I am also so thankful for my professors (especially Sam Richmond) who opened doors and created opportunities and helped me grow in confidence and maturity. Now, after fifty-five years of adventures--nationally and internationally--and a year of battling prostate cancer and a myriad of minor age-related health issues, I am leaving academia (Gonzaga University) and moving to a Jesuit retirement home outside Boston. However I plan to stay involved in people's lives and continue my writing. God bless you all. Jack Izzo, S.J., KGSJ, Operations Research, '68.

Married in 1971. Systems Manager at Citibank from 1972 to 1979. Systems Manager at Anderson Clayton from 1979 to 1983. Consulting Manager and Director at Price Waterhouse from 1984 to 1989. Consulting Director at Coopers Lybrand from 1989 to 1991. Self employed in Management consulting from 1991 until 2013. Retired in 2013. Two daughters and two grandkids, one from each daughter. Many leisure trips to Europe from 2007 to date.

This is a brief note to let my classmates know that, at 81, I am still living and well. Regrettably I have no way of knowing how many of us remain. We fortunately moved (should have done it earlier) to the great and sovereign state of Texas in 2019 from South Salem, NY in 2019, avoiding the appalling chaos of NY, but unfortunately therefore am no longer an active alumnus at the Business School. Here I am extremely active as Vice Commander, Sergeant-at-Arms, and Honor Guard of my American Legion Post, Charter Member of the Sienna Exchange Club, Finance Committee Chairman of my homeowners' association, and managing with my 83 year old wife, and our son the Albert family hedge fund, etc. We travel a lot in the Southwest area and spend time target shooting at our son's 36 acre ranch, and I remain fit mainly weight training and swimming. Maintaining cognitive sharpness, in addition to investment decisions, as a rated chess player I beat the computers on chess internet sites.

Still working. After more than three decades in the telecommunications industry, in 2015, I became a Professor of Practice at Rutgers Business School and Director of its Center for Research in Regulated Industries. During the past three years, and counting, I also became a member of the Energy Trading Analytics team whose goal is to redesign wholesale energy markets to accommodate wind and solar. In October 2023, I published a book, Humanizing the Digital Economy. As for my personal life, in 1977, I married Ellen Susanna Cahn (Sue) who graduated with a BS from Columbia’s Engineering School and later earned a PhD from the school. She is a professor at Pace University. We have six sons and eight grandchildren.

Every now and then I reflect back on my Columbia MBA experience and how it has affected my career in so many positive ways. And it’s been many long years! I am a Partner of a boutique family owned Trust company, called Chilton Trust, and rarely does a day go by without some aspect of what I learned have an impact. Continue the good work.

Still working as I approach seventy-five. Latest project, West Africa’s: newest, one of the largest and only privately owned multi-commodity bulk port. Soft opening last month. Formal, but joyful ""African"" opening (short speeches, loud music, colorful dances-PARTY) in September. Google: Senegal Minergy Port. IPO next? Regardless, the transportation (think shipping) opportunities are substantial and welcome. Entire project consumed ten years of a depreciating asset, my longevity.

Met my wife of 48 years while in the B-school. Moved to Michigan to work at Ford Motor but left and moved back east after 3 years to scale back to a smaller Fortune 100 company at the time (American Can Co.). Worked there for 20 years and decided to venture out to something riskier. Became CFO of a cosmetics startup that went bust 18 months later. Was unemployed for 6 months before joining a family-owned paint company (Spraylat Corp.) where I worked as CFO for 13 years until we sold out to PPG Industries. Retired for 3 months and then joined a private equity firm as an Operating Partner. Co-founded another paint company and finally sold it to another PE firm, losing some money in the process. Happily retired now in Wilton, CT. Proud father of two sons. Love playing pickleball, cruising, powerwalking and volunteering with emergency services in my town.

I have just finished my 5th degree, creative writing graduate school at Columbia.

Just finished moderating at the 7th annual Global Certificate Program for Securities Regulators which brought about seventy professionals from forty countries to Harvard Law School. I am Vice Chair of Executive Education at the Program for International Financial Systems who partners with IOSCO (the International Organization of Securities Commissions) in organizing this program. Being involved with young public policy and financial professionals has been a great retirement coda after a long career at State Street Corporation, where I headed public policy and government affairs. You can read more about our work at pifsinternational.org.

You can take the boy out of Columbia business school, but you can’t take Columbia business school out of the boy. Since retiring from an exciting career in Fintech, working for companies like American Express, MasterCard and Chase, consulting worldwide and starting 3 companies I am happily applying my. CBS skill set in other ways. I’m running a nonprofit BRRT.org to restore the Brandywine River in Wilmington, Delaware, am President of my condo, and a Director of old Brandywine Village, a nonprofit dedicated to economic revitalization. 70 is the new 50! So thankful for my time at the business school and glad to see how it’s continuing to grow and get even better.

During the challenges living during and after COVID-19, the Payne family (Violet Payne '78, Tamara, Jamal, Haile) has seen our book, “The Dead Are Arising, The Life of Malcolm X”, by Les Payne and Tamara Payne has received the following accolades, especially for my husband, the late Les Payne: 2020 National Book Award in Non Fiction winner; 2021 N.A.A.C.P. Image Award Winner for Outstanding Literary Work – Biography; 2021 Pulitzer Prize for Biography. Yours truly, Violet S. Payne (CBS 1978)

After 30 plus years in the international arena with three banks, the World Bank, two US Government Agencies, one consultancy, and a tour as a US Navy officer spent the next 18 years Directing Programs at the business schools at four universities. Now retired near a beach in South Carolina.

After retiring after 35 years working for the Techint Group in the USA and Argentina I joined a few boards. I allocate a lot of time to the Cimientos Foundation that supports financially and tutors over 3000 secondary students from vulnerable segments in Argentina an Uruguay. Lots of traveling as our kids are all over the world: Berlin, Mexico City, Boston and Buenos Aires.

With Michael Chertoff, former US Secretary of Homeland Security, we published ""A Directors Artificial Intelligence Checklist"" in the journal 'Directors and Boards.'

His Investment company Spiltan founded 1986 will this year be listed on the stockmarket NGM in Stockholm. Big fan of Warren Buffett.

First, great to witness how well CBS is doing! In June I will complete my 43rd year as a Stanford Business School faculty. Last year, I published Strategy-Making and Organizational Evolution: A Managerial Agency Perspective, Cambridge UP (my 14th book), and “Strategically Managing the Business Model Portfolio Trajectory,” California Management Review, 2023 (2), which is based on my longitudinal research of the strategic evolution of Hewlett Packard. I am also completing several case studies, including Tesla, Automation Anywhere, Adobe and Uber, for a new course on the strategic management of enterprise software companies this coming spring quarter.

In 2020 my wife, Carrie, and I moved from Greenwich, Connecticut to Grosse Pointe, Michigan just outside of Detroit as our form of downsizing and to be closer to family for the next leg of our adventure. Our business is senior executive and board recruiting for media, technology, and nonprofit organizations. It is a business which keeps us talking on a daily basis with corporate leaders all over the country. Non-profit board recruiting has become half our business, which we never could have predicted, but has turned out to be a great niche. It is great to have a business we control at this time of life.

I now run a not-for-profit called New Century Education Foundation. Our software has helped many students and incarcerated individuals pass the GED or the HiSET. Since 47% of the men in incarceration struggle with dyslexia, we have been working with Michigan State to solve this problem. We have a software intervention that we are testing within incarcerated facilities making a huge difference. We get them over the fifth-grade wall, where words become multisyllabic and difficult to decode. We have tested the software with both women and men in incarceration, and with middle school and high school students, struggling with dyslexia. All of them improve. The Barbara Bush Foundation research states that over 100 million adults in the United States cannot read above a six grade level. We're working with the Barbara Bush Foundation, which has recently published an article in ProLiteracy regarding our software, written by Sarah Cacicio, the head of Barbara Bush Foundation's Adult Education program.

Jim Clash ’83, has released “Amplified,” a book of his interviews with 11 classic rockers including Ginger Baker, Roger Daltrey, Art Garfunkel, John Fogerty, Eric Burdon, etc.

Susan Freeman ’79 announces publication of her new book, Inner Switch: 7 Timeless Principles to Transform Modern Leadership, with Entrepreneur Press, with audio book coming out March 2024. The book has won two national awards, including the Goody Business Book award for social impact in the category of Personal Transformation, and the North American Book Award bronze medal. Her unique Inner Switch method™ integrates Eastern wisdom derived from more than 25 years of studying yoga and yogic philosophy with the needs of Western business leaders. Leaders learn to move from who they are not to who they truly are—allowing them to have extraordinary impact. She shares numerous techniques and practices that can be integrated into daily regimens and provides real-life experiences and client case studies. Susan is thrilled to be sharing this novel new paradigm at this stage in her life. The book is available at www.susansfreeman.com with links to your favorite online retailer.

I had a great time at CBS, graduating in 1983. It was critical step in my career, in the public sector, as a central banker, private sector, in IB, and later in academia, as a Fin professor. Columbia + NYC changed my path in a very positive way.

Co-founder, Sandstone/Jameson LLC, an advisory firm focused on tokenization of institutional quality, real-world assets (primarily real estate) in partnership with an SEC/FINRA broker/dealer/alternative exchange offering primary listings and secondary trading. Issuances include Reg. A/Reg. D and Reg. S, etc. The US-based exchange provides for cross-listings on non-US alternative exchanges.

I'm intrigued with the possibilities for change that may be offered with direct cash assistance programs and now run one, called Family Health Project. We deliver $400/month via debit card to new moms living in poverty. I'd be pleased to talk more about what we're doing with other CBS grads.

Following graduation, I worked as a research analyst at the OECD in Paris. Next, I was with UBS in investment banking for 14 years in the U.S and abroad in capital markets and corporate finance. I then co-founded an investment banking/brokerage boutique focused on the maritime and transportation sectors. Our principal clients are family-owned companies and the U.S. Government. We have specialized in raising growth capital, solving supply chain problems and providing specialty brokerage solutions, including supporting Governments with vessels for humanitarian aid. We are currently very involved in financing for the on and offshore wind sectors, including recycling.

For the last 5 years, I have been working in the front lines of climate tech with Glanris. Glanris manufactures a patented, sustainable, low-cost biochar from agricultural waste for use in water filtration, cement replacement, and as a soil amendment. Today, this ag waste is either burned in the fields or dumped in landfills, neither of which are environmentally friendly. Glanris is a carbon-negative process that reduces greenhouse gases and sequesters carbon. Our carbon credits are for sale on Puro.earth. We are targeting growth to megaton scale direct sequestration at the lowest cost of any other sequestration methodology. Biochar is the lowest cost, fastest to scale solution we have to address climate change. I'm always happy to hear from others in climate tech.

After 15 years of muted silence, enabled by doctors, educators, and yes even his parents, our son Wynston, almost 17, is one of 5 million+ non-speaking autistic / apraxic people in the US who are now showing the world that non-speaking does not mean non-verbal or illiterate or intellectually disabled! Wynston is co-starring in a new short film (releasing next month) based on his journey - entitled ""Presumed Incompetent,"" it amplifies our human obligation to always presume competency in everyone with superficially observable disability.

Danny Softness (’86) and I started our third business together in Atlanta 2 years ago. We own Strippaggio Artisan Olive Oils and Balsamic Vinegars - a premium business selling through E-commerce, wholesale & restaurants. We are loving delving into the Olive Oil world where there are inventory, production, politics, environmental, intrigue and so many other challenges - never a dull moment! The best part? We are eating very well! Every case study we did at CBS comes into play at some point with this business. If you're in Atlanta - come do a tasting with us!

I am happy to share that I am starting my 10th year as Managing Director at Spencer Holt Advisors, LLC. I created this boutique financial advisory firm to provide hands on operational and financial advice to fast growing founder-led companies. Over the past 9 years my clients have included several healthcare technology firms, a Dutch vegetable seed breeding company and a clean water technology firm. After many years on Wall Street I think I have finally found my niche. Drop me a note if you want to share best practices for setting up an advisory firm.

Having graduated from CBS in 1987 with a Ph.D. in monetary economics, I went back to my country, Jordan, and eventually held the following positions in Jordan: the Governor of the Central Bank, Minister of Finance, Deputy Prime Minister, and Ambassador of Jordan to the European Union in Brussels. At present I am semi retired and hold the position of President of the Board of Trustees at Al-Balqa Applied University in Jordan.

We’re back from expatriate life in Brussels, living in West Palm Beach with frequent visits to NYC and abroad. Ray is fully retired. Barbara still serves as a trustee of The American University of Paris and would love to reconnect with CBS classmates as well as fellow Francophiles.

Hi all, following my kids back East, bought a winter home in West Palm Beach, otherwise in NYC or traveling. Love to refresh old friendships. Peace and love, Scott Landress

I’m happy to share that after many years as a media and tech operating executive, I recently started a new position as Managing Director at Oaklins DeSilva+Phillips, an investment bank. I am helping Broadcasting, Streaming, Digital, and Sports Technologies companies with their growth plans through sell-side and buy-side M&A transactions. Oaklins DeSilva+Phillips is a 28 year-old middle-market investment bank based in New York City that is focused on the Marketing, Media, and Technology sectors. The firm is a part of Oaklins, the world’s largest and most successful M&A advisory organization in the mid-market, with over 850 investment banking professionals in 45 countries.

Mary (Slagle) and John Zappone - CBS 1988 are enjoying life in Denver, CO. Mary is CEO of Sundyne. We are enjoying our 3 grandchildren as well!

Moved in 2019 for a well earned pension to the islands with the best climate in the world - Canary Isles. Concentrating to tennis, golf, swimming and similar career opportunities. Come to visit and I am happy to show you around Gran Canary (the biggest island) and Las Palmas where I live :-)

After working in corporate finance after graduation (Cadbury Schweppes, Merrill Lynch) and teaching strategy and OB in NJ and IL, I retired to take care of our two kids at the start of the millennium. Now, as they graduate from college in May 2024, I'm trying to figure out whether to put back on my working togs or just chase all the dust bunnies in the corners of an emptier house!

Next January my food product development company, CuliNEX, will turn 20. Since leaving Starbucks as Director, food product development in 2005 we have steadily grown into one of the top 5 development firms in the U.S.

My wife, Andrea Rose CBS ’88, and I met at CBS during the summer session many moons ago. We are proud parents of two sons who live in Boston, one working in gene sequencing and the other in digital health. I spent six years of weekends researching and writing a non-fiction book titled Oranges to Easels. I've enjoyed giving many book talks from Boston to Atlanta to diverse audiences.

I am proud to share the news that I was recently promoted to Senior Vice President / General Manager of CurtCo Media. CurtCo - former owner of Robb Report - is now a podcast network. CurtCo's biggest shows include Solar (a sci-fi adventure starring Helen Hunt, Alan Cumming and Stephanie Beatriz) and Travel That Matters, which focuses on the best of travel.

I am pleased to announce that I have joined Lateral Link’s Bridgeline Solutions as SVP and Director of its Antitrust Dept. Bridgeline is a leading alternative legal and compliance service provider that allows corporations and law firms to meet their legal, compliance, privacy and contract needs at very low cost. The Antitrust Department advises on global antitrust compliance and staffs antitrust projects, such as document-intensive filings required by Hart Scott Rodino (both initial filings and Second Requests). Larry is particularly excited to help firms respond to the antitrust enforcement agencies’ new focus on products companies are still developing; an area of antitrust in which he has published perhaps more than anyone.

After graduating from CBS in 1990, I joined Touche Ross Management Consulting, which became Deloitte Consulting over time. I was part of the Stamford, CT and Calgary, AB offices specializing in operational improvements in the manufacturing and utility industries globally. In 2001, I had a chance to work out of the Seoul, Korea office for what I thought was a temporary assignment. UBS Investment Bank in Seoul was looking for an equity research analyst to cover utilities and small cap companies and I decided to change my career path. I stayed in equity research from 2001 to 2011 in both Seoul and Hong Kong with UBS, Lehman and BNP Paribas. 2012 brought a new challenge as I decided to join an industrial startup as a CFO which lasted until 2014. The startup brought me back to the US in California. In 2015, I went back to my passion in equities and joined William O'Neil + Co based in Los Angeles and I am currently the Global Head of Research. I have four wonderful children, the first of whom was born in New York soon after I graduated from CBS. I currently live in Irvine, CA and I invite anyone from the class of 1990 to give me a shout should you be in the area!

Skip Parker ’91 CC’82 returned to the financial services business in 1995 as the industry entered the new era of Wealth Management. After employment by Merrill, Morgan Stanley, and UBS, Skip formed an independent advisory practice in central Greenwich. I am a native who has served in town leadership positions for the last ten years.

I live in Old Westbury, New York and have two daughters. My older daughter, Jamie, is a Columbia Law School Graduate (2020) and got married in January. My younger daughter, Carly, will be attending Columbia Business School in the fall to graduate in 2026.

I work for the Enviromental Defense Fund's legal and Regulatory team, helping with the team's work of protecting our federal environmental protections (favorite projects include IRATracker.org (created with Columbia Law School's Sabin Center) and CommunityVoicesinEnergy.org. The joys of remote work allowed me to move to Windsor, VT in August 2021, where I have been enjoying the mountains and gardens and winters. We are living the clean energy future, as we put in solar panels with battery backup, heat the house with a super efficient wood stove and electric heat pumps, use our induction burner before the gas stove, and just leased an EV. Even the cat loves Vermont!

After graduating from Columbia’s Executive MBA Program in 1992, I left AT&T and started a real estate management company, TRM, with my classmate Ming Chu Hsu ‘92. Subsequently, I obtained my Ph.D. from Rutgers University in International Business and began my 26 year academic career at Baruch College, CUNY as a Professor and Executive Director of Undergraduate Programs. During that time, I created new programs in International Business and Digital Marketing and am now starting a Generative AI program. For the 2023/24 academic year, I was chosen as a Fulbright Scholar to do curriculum development/teaching in Azerbaijan; however, political circumstances in the region short circuited that plan. I live part-time in Beach Haven, NJ and Prescott, Arizona with my wife of 46 years Jeannette Bond, an attorney. My son Michael obtained his Ph.D. in Finance from Arizona State University and my daughter Kate graduated from M.I.T. in chemical engineering.

On 20th December 2023 Martin Schueller (CBS ’93) was awarded the German Federal Cross of Merit by the German Federal President, Frank-Walter Steinmeier. It was presented by Ambassador Andreas Kindl in Athens, where Schueller lives with wife Zetta Zaka, SOA ’92, and two sons. Kindl recognized Schueller’s extraordinary efforts to advance and improve “Deutsche Schule Athen’s” (est. 1896, www.dsathen.gr) role as an important meeting place of German and Greek culture, where he served 15 years as Chairman of the Board. During his tenure, a new Kindergarten was built, the Elementary School extended and the number of students increased to 1,100, even during the long years of financial crisis in Greece.

Hiromi Shimazu ’93 presented a piece at the recent APEC leaders event among the 21 selected designers of APEC participating countries in Bangkok Nov. 2022.

Totally enjoyed my Columbia University education which set the framework for my continued success in the Equipment Trading Field. Then partnered with Lee Iacocca to build his EV Enterprise. From there, expanded my career over a three year span living in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Beijing. Then returned to the United States as I reinvented myself as an Executive Business Coach. As I continue to travel the world, Covid provided the blessing of introducing me to Hawaii where I presently reside along with my home in New York City. Have been involved in Columbia alumni events in Oahu, Hawaii as I continue to dance in the sunshine.

Authored the Amazon-best-seller ENRICH: Create Wealth in Time, Money, and Meaning in 2020 which was lauded by Forbes, Entrepreneur, and other business media. Phuket, Thailand is home. On a mission to visit every country on the planet, among other passion pursuits.

In 2021, moved from Constellation Energy to Hartree Partners where I run the electricity swaps desk for North America. Still based in DC.

Bill Manger ’95 was elected Mayor of Southampton Village in June 2023 by defeating the incumbent with 58% of the vote. This past fall, Moody's upgraded the Village to a rating of Aaa. Southampton is now using the proceeds of a $6.435 million bond to improve energy efficiency at its assets and add solar panels which will pay for itself with the energy savings over time.

After spending 20 years at Capital Group, I joined BlueOrchard, an impact investment firm owned by Schroders, in January 2023. I lead the private equity group which is mostly focused on climate adaptation and resilience. I am still based in London.

Guillermo Suescum ’95. My wife and I enjoy traveling on our sailboat @LunaCatamaran. Now in the Caribbean. Would love to see old friends if nearby.

It’s been a year since I moved from Tokyo to Atlanta, GA, as the CEO & President of Shimizu America Inc., a U.S. subsidiary of a Japanese general contractor. With my background as a Banker, my mission is to grow our General Construction business in the U.S. both organically and also through M&A. I seek advice and support from CBS community! Let me know when you come to Atlanta. (Takuya Ito ’96)

Vasu Eda ’96 has written a book (published by Penguin Random House), Get Job Ready - How to Land Your Dream Job Out of College, aimed at improving the college to job trajectory for college students. He dedicated the book to parents facing socio-economic challenges who invest in their children's education for a better future.

After spending a dozen years starting up and IPOing CyrusOne and turning it into a global data center company which was recently sold to KKR for $15 billion, I started up a new real estate venture called RecNation. We are now the largest specialized rv and boat storage company in the country with 58 locations spread across 8 states. The best part about this new company is that I also now have my children working in the company helping to grow it. It’s been a great transition from being to a ceo of a large public company to a new startup in an entirely new industry.

Janet Truncale ’97 has been named Global Chair and CEO of EY, effective July 1, 2024.

I've been excited to bring my knowledge of sales, marketing and branding to the biotech space the past few years. I'm currently the Chief Commercial Officer of Sherlock Biosciences in Watertown, MA. We are a pre-commercial post-Series B startup turning synthetic biology chemistries and CRISPR into accurate and affordable molecular diagnostic tests. Our initial product will be a first of it's kind disposable, fast and highly accurate molecular OTC STD test for chlamydia and gonorrhea. I live in the San Francisco Bay Area with my husband Andy and our two high school aged kids. Please look me up if you're heading to my way.

I am still living the good life in Rio de Janeiro and continue in my position as CFO of Mubadala Capital. My oldest son Max graduated from High School and will be studying in France starting in September.

I'm an executive coach and consultant at the intersection of sustainability/ESG and product management. I work with sustainability leaders and their teams to catapult them to the next level in greening their products and processes. Also, I am thrilled to announce that I will be teaching my new course, Digital Product Development for Sustainability, at Columbia in the fall.

For the past two years, I've been helping small and medium-sized companies (50-300 employees) with strategic HR services, such as performance management, talent development, succession planning and coaching.

After 15 years of office work in the States (I hail from Japan), I turned into an advisor specialized in 401(k) and other corporate-sponsored retirement plans. When my older son got in a high school in NYC, I found myself with plenty of time during the day, so I decided to go back to the old office work (my second gig), and I LOVE it! See how it turns out. I am looking forward to see myself in five years from now, a senior's endeavor!

Owner / Founder of Hard Truth Distilling Co. On a mission to make it a national brand. The products can be found in 20 states, The Bahamas and on 18 Royal Caribbean Ships.

Hard to believe we (Karl Mergenthaler ’98) and I have been teaching at CBS for more than a decade and still going strong! We have world leading visiting lecturers, just as Paul Johnson did for us at CBS, in Legends of Value Investing. Unrelated, I’ve co-founded Improving Alpha: Innovation in Investing, ESG & Technology, a podcast series. I interview world leading asset owners, authors and fellow professors (of course CBS). As always, things come full circle, as we were privileged to interview Russell Carson CBS ’67, who was an Executive in Residence when we were at CBS. The podcast is on all of the major streaming services for those that like to listen. On the family side, we are happily in Manhattan which continues to be a cultural, culinary and business Mecca. For those that would like to reconnect, reach out on linkedin or via email (it's on the CBS website).

For the past 20 years, John Dunham (EMBA ’99) has used his management education operating an economic consulting firm working on issues for a wide range of industries.

Innolux Chairman and CEO (Jim Hung ’99)

Ana José Varela-González ’99 has recently joined the Advisory Boards of both Gasol Foundation and Hermes Foundation. Gasol Foundation´s goal is to eradicate childhood obesity. Hermes Foundation is dedicated to identifying, disseminating and defending the digital rights of citizens. As Member of the Advisory Board of these two non-for profit institutions, Ana José provides expertise and advice to help them achieve their mission. In addition, Ana José continues with her role as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation (OECD), a multilateral institution based in Paris whose goal is to shape policies that foster prosperity, equality, opportunity and well-being for all. Ana José became the OECD CFO in 2017 after several executive and Director positions in banking, insurance, consulting and the non-for-profit sector and has responsibility over budget, financial planning, accounting, procurement, and treasury, among others.

XRI Global is pleased to announce that Brett Laquercia has joined the company as Vice President, Business Development. The company provides linguistically comprehensive custom-datasets optimized for efficiently training neural machine translation systems and fine-tuning large language models (LLMs) for unsupported and low-resource languages. XRI Global has developed its own AI-agent and algorithm capable of learning any language using existing written material and spoken interaction with linguistic populations. Mr. Laquercia will be responsible for marketing, sales and strategic partnerships. The company helps humanitarian and development organizations, other NGOs, governments and commercial enterprises overcome communication barriers with long-tail language communities. XRI Global has been contracted to collect, develop and deliver machine translation for 50 languages in 2024 alone. A pace unthinkable before XRI Global's innovations were introduced. With 20 years of experience building language technology companies, Mr. Laquercia is a respected figure in both language education and US government language circles.

Back in business in the US after 15 years in Europe! I left NY in 2009 to be close to my aging parents in Spain so I missed working in the US for years. This week we finally launched Reinvented Moms, the English version of Mamis Digitales, the business I started in Barcelona 7 years ago. We help mothers develop new skills in order to find flexible work that enables them to be professionally fulfilled without giving up valuable time with their kids. I could not be more excited to share this news with fellow alumni. Closing the circle and ready to travel to the US for work now so I forward to meeting up with you all!

Married since 2003 with three sons: Alex (Freshman NYU Stern), Andy (Freshman at Loomis Chaffee) and Aiden (5th grader). Living in Suburb of Hartford, CT. Alex is actively looking for a summer internship in finance. Andy is in baseball spring training in FL. Aiden enjoys to be spoiled at home.

My book, Pause to Think, will be published next month, and is available on Amazon for pre-order. The book is a highly practical introduction to mental models, helping the reader learn more effectively, make better decisions, and be happier. It is written so that it is accessible to teenagers and older, and even has a bunch of cartoons, so get a copy for yourself and your kids! Thanks, and I hope everyone is doing well.

Robert Althuis '02 recently published his 2nd book titled ""Love+Truth"" (The Ethos of Being Spiritual Art) after publishing his first book ""Never Enoughitis"" (A Story About Getting What Money Can't Buy) in 2021. Love+Truth is Robert's spiritual manifesto - a progression of spiritual wisdom and philosophy interwoven with modern science. This was Robert's first fully channeled work, he's currently writing his 3rd book.

I was in 2002 teammate in the Columbia Executive Programm; Lead by Schon Beechler. It was a great experience. I hope to meet once some of the participants. Best, Rolf Brunner, Switzerland.

Jessica Vitalis’s ’03 second book, The Rabbit’s Gift, is a CCBC Best Book for Kids and Teens 2023. Her third book, Coyote Queen, is a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection, a Kirkus Best MG Book of 2023, and a Reading the West Book Award longlisted title. Her fourth book, a verse novel titled Unsinkable Cayenne, publishes October 2024.

In the last year, I've (i) gotten engaged, (ii) taken private equity funding for SolarKal, the company I am Co-Founder of, (iii) moved to California, (iv) moved in with my Fiancé, and...(v) had a new baby son. Quite a year! - Neil Sharma ’03

Andres Pinter recently made the leap from investor to entrepreneur. After a rewarding run at Ares Management, Andres launched Bullet EV Charging Solutions, an installer and maintenance provider for electric vehicle chargers. While analyzing the EV charging sector at Ares, Andres saw a white space with tremendous growth opportunity and limited competition. Bullet EV was awarded a grant from Columbia University’s Tamer Fund for Social Ventures earlier this year. Andres is learning it takes nerves of steel to launch a business and welcomes any insight or advice from fellow alumni.

Annelise Osborne’s ’03 book From Hoodies to Suits: Innovating Digital Assets for Traditional Finance releases in June. In From Hoodies to Suits: Innovating Digital Assets for Traditional Finance, finance innovation leader Annelise Osborne delivers an educational and entertaining guidebook for finance professionals, traders, asset managers, investment bankers, and corporate treasurers to apply digital asset technology to the traditional finance system. Osborne makes a compelling case for understanding, innovating, and adapting to the inevitable technology changes already in progress in finance. Available for presale now.

After years of serving as an advisor for the Tamer Center, Keith Katz (MBA ’03) finally joined a social venture in a full-time capacity. In August 2023, he joined the management team at Copia (gocopia.com), a tech company focused on reducing food waste. Copia’s technology makes it easy for food generators (restaurant chains, hotels, event venues, etc.) to donate their surplus to local nonprofits, reducing the amount of food that ends up in landfills (where it emits methane) while helping businesses tackle food insecurity in the communities where they operate.

Marisa Mackey Palmer ’04 co-founded Acton Academy Madison West, a private micro-school and learner-driven community with the mission that each child who enters its doors will find a calling and change the world. We combine elements of Montessori and Socratic methods, hands-on experiential quests and interactive technology. Our learning environment feels more like an adventure than school. We have mixed-aged classrooms and self-paced learning design. Our real world-oriented projects culminate in public exhibitions of learning. Our students are empowered to be in charge of their learning. Previously, Marisa spent ten years on Wall Street, ten years building education businesses, and five years as a finance instructor at Wisconsin School of Business where she was awarded the Dean's Educational Innovation Award. Poets & Quants magazine named her a “Favorite Business Professor of the Class of 2020.” She served on the Instructor Advisory Board to the UW-Madison Provost of Teaching and Learning.

After 10 years at Google in San Francisco and Zurich, I moved to London in 2021. I'm now working for Meta's Reality Labs division in King's Cross, building smart glasses and augmented reality technologies. I currently live in Marylebone but will be moving later this year to Queen's Park with my wife, Victoria. Alex Ferrara ’04 lives nearby and I see him occasionally for a pint.

Following five years in special situation research at Institutional Shareholder Services, I joined Longacre Square, a strategic advisory firm, as Vice-Chair of the new Corporate Governance & Shareholder Engagement practice.

Paul Orlando ’04 recently wrote a book on how timing impacts a business' success. His book is titled Why Now: How Good Timing Makes Great Products. The book draws upon what Paul learned building and operating four startup accelerators around the world, nine years of teaching entrepreneurship at the University of Southern California, and from a lot of research. You'll find Why Now to be actionable as you evaluate potential product launches or investments. Paul is married to CBS ’05 alum Susan Mauriello Orlando. They have four children and live in Altadena, CA.

Alan Stein ’05 is approaching his 4th year as an entrepreneur, leading Kadima Careers as its CEO. Kadima accelerates careers by helping ambitious professionals land more interviews, offers, and earn more money at the world's best companies. If you ever need help in your career, reach out to him on LinkedIn or at kadimacareers.com.

Didem Un Ates recently became a Senior Operating Advisor to help Goldman Sachs Asset Management portfolio companies on AI/ Generative AI and became a Board member at the tinyML Foundation.

After nearly 20 interesting, challenging and rewarding years at J.P. Morgan Private Bank, I recently took up a new challenge and am now working at Bridgewater, running wealth management solutions for APAC. I’m still based in Singapore but travel to HK and other parts of Asia and the Middle East frequently, and look forward to seeing some of my old 2005 batch mates as well as new friends from Columbia who happen to be in the region.

After 8 years in Seattle and 2+ in Germany (Berlin), we've relocated to the NYC area where I now lead the advertising business for Twitch, Audio, and Podcasts at Amazon. Looking forward to attending more CBS events in person and re-connecting with classmates near and far.

Jonathan Jacoby ’06 was appointed CEO of GoodWeave International on September 1, 2023. Founded by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Kailash Satyarthi, and previously led by Schwab Social Entrepreneurship Awardee Nina Smith, GoodWeave is a leading nonprofit organization working to end child and forced labor in supply chains in India and beyond. Jacoby was previously a grant-maker at Open Society Foundations and team leader at Oxfam advancing business respect for human rights. He co-founded the Investor Alliance for Human Rights, which marshals $14 trillion in ESG investor influence. Siddharth Kara ’01, the author of “Cobalt Red,” currently serves on GoodWeave's board.

The SETI Institute announced the addition of Elizebeth Varghese CBS ’07 to its Board of Trustees. Elizebeth Varghese is a distinguished figure in emerging technologies, known for her work in artificial intelligence, blockchain, and robotics. She holds leader¬ship positions in prominent organizations such as the Columbia Business School Women’s Circle and plays a pivotal role as Co-Chair of the Entrepreneurship, Innovation & Technology committee. Varghese has earned acclaim as a “Space Philosopher,” blending her technological insights with crucial considerations for economic, diplomatic, and ethical standards in space exploration. Her profes¬sional portfolio includes serving as the lead Partner/Principal for Deloitte’s Space Economy Acceleration Practice and spearheading Workforce Strategies for Finance and Technology Talent. The SETI Institute established in 1984 is a renowned non-profit entity dedicated to exploring and understanding life and intelligence in the universe. It conducts multi-disciplinary research in collaboration industry, academic and government partners including NASA and the National Science Foundation.

Doug Randall ’08 and myself continue to run ISCO Spirits out of Rhode Island. We now distribute our handcrafted, sustainably sourced spirits in 5 states and counting, and are about to release our second ocean inspired spirit after our previous hit, a vodka distilled with oysters called Ostreida! If anyone is passing through Rhode Island please stop by our tasting room and say hello, or we'll catch you at our growing list of accounts in NYC! (you can find Ostreida martinis at both Crave Fishbar locations in Manhattan should you wish to try the spirit!) Cheers! Manya and Doug

Alex Haugh ’07 joined Societe Generale in equity derivatives sales 1 year ago, after 15+ years at Barclays in a similar role. Alex is still based in NYC and welcomes reconnecting with old classmates.

Sandy Eapen (CBS ‘07/ SIPA ’08) serves as a Fractional CSO (Sustainability Officer) and Sustainability/ESG Advisor through Eapen Impact (eapenimpact.com), which she launched in Jan 2023 after leaving her role as Head of ESG & Sustainability at Coupa Software. Sandy helps companies assess, develop, and implement corporate-wide sustainability strategies, which drive more impact and business and stakeholder value. She also serves as the Success Coach for the Sustainability Leadership Exec Ed Program at the McCombs Business School at The University of Texas at Austin. In addition, in Jan 2024, she joined the Board of a domestic violence nonprofit, AFSSA (Asian Family Support Services of Austin) and launched the Sustainability Alumni Network for The University of Texas at Austin as its founding President. Sandy is a member of the CBS Climate Practitioners’ Network and sits on the leadership team of the CBS Austin Alumni Chapter.

I’ve had the pleasure, since graduation, of helping found the digital health industry. We didn’t know what to call it back in the day and now it’s the fastest growing part of healthcare. My first company, Welldoc, launched the world‘s first digital therapy (FDA cleared software that is prescribed by doctors, like a drug, to help patients manage a disease). Often serving as an advisor to the FDA, NIH, and several start-ups; BCG then recruited me as a Partner to establish their digital health expertise and advise Fortune 500 companies of their role in this rapidly emerging market. Today, as president of AmalgamRx, we help millions of patients and providers make better decisions in their electronic medical records (EMR) and mobile devices. With equity investments from CVS Health, several Pharma companies, and even Columbia alums we operate on four continents to demonstrate digital health at scale while meaningfully transforming healthcare and patient outcomes.

I work for a company called MiTek which is based in St. Louis, Missouri and has made a point to give back to local communities. It is my pleasure to introduce you to ""The House That She Built"" project. This project is a children's book that aims to generate awareness of the skilled trades to the largest underrepresented community in home building. The revenue generated by the sale of the book is used to support workforce development initiatives in home building. The goal is to change the perception of career-based bias by getting in front of the youngest learners before that bias forms and to shift the mindset that one path is better than another by getting in front of parents and teachers.The She Built Foundation is a newly established nonprofit organization. The foundation, founded by Mollie Elkman, author of The House That She Built, is dedicated to inspiring girls from a young age to explore careers in the building and construction industry. “We are taking action in response to the growing labor crisis facing the entire construction industry,” says Elkman. “While there certainly are solutions further down the pipeline, we recognize the need to engage girls at a young age and plant the seeds of curiosity and excitement. By creating a pipeline of talent through education, representation, and community engagement, we can future-proof the industry and ensure it reflects the diverse communities it serves.”

Managing Director, Head of China Real Estate with Global Banking at UBS Tintak Cho ‘11

Abigail Buckwalter, EMBA ’12, was promoted to Chief Executive Officer of Nestlé Health Science US in October 2023, leading a team of 6,000 strong, diverse, and dedicated people. The mission of Nestlé Health Science is to empower healthier lives through nutrition and deliver innovative solutions that positively impacts the lives of consumers and patients worldwide.

Veru Narula (EMBA’12, SEAS ‘03) came to Columbia as an undergraduate engineer with a talent for painting, and returned to Columbia Business school to figure out how to become a full time artist. This past February, Veru’s art landed on the Moon! It was embossed on a disk as part of the NASA Odysseus mission, and carried on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, the 1st US led mission to the Moon in over 52 years! Congratulations Veru and keep shooting for the stars!

Charon Darris ’13 is the new Executive Director of the Reading Team, a 23-year-old, Harlem-based, youth literacy organization.

Life has been kind. Trident Capital Investments was born in my mind back when I was at CBS. I am delighted to share that it is now a reality. I feel privileged to have founded Trident, an India fund, based on Buffett-Munger’s investment philosophy (very original, I know!). These last few years have been loads of hard work, steep learning curve but I get to live my dream! Forever grateful to CBS! If anyone wants to talk about investing, about India or about throwing away a thriving career for pursuing your dreams then find me on LinkedIn. Would love to chat!

David Milch ’14 married Claire Stern (Barnard College 2012 and CJS 2013) on March 16, 2016 in New York City.

Darius Ameri and his husband, Trevor Cochrane, welcomed a baby boy named Hunter Henry Cochrane–Ameri on September 27, 2023. They are living in San Francisco and Darius is working for Google, where he completed his MBA internship, in marketing.

Still charging ahead full-time with Nolan Walsh ’15 where we're trying to build Thursday into the 3rd most popular day of the week. We hit our 10 year anniversary this year and could not have gotten here without the generous support from our classmates and everyone at CBS!

Pat Stahl ’15 was selected as one of Broadcast Technologies top 20 leaders for the 2nd year running by Radio + Television Business Report

I have been Chief Executive Officer of Sunstone BDC Limited from 2015 to February 2024 and also held the following Directorships: Director, Skyeway Aviation Handling Company PLC(SAHCO PLC); Director, Hope Payment Service Bank Limited; Chairman, Garden Court Investments Limited. I was District Governor of Lions Clubs International District 404A1 for 2022/2024.

I am happy to announce the birth of my (first) daughter, Isadora Felicidad Beaufils, born on Jan 18th 2024 (2.94kg, 51cm). Mom and baby are in great shape and we are all filled with love. Alfonso Beaufils '16

Michael Schlotterbeck (2016) recently made partner at Deloitte Consulting where he helped create a new market offering in the realm of Industry 4.0. He initiated a project that became the Smart Factory by Deloitte, which is a 60,000 sq. ft. R&D, demonstration, and EcoSystem space.

Amit Dua joined Thermo Fisher Scientific in January 2024 as Global Director of Market Development for the Bioproduction Cell Culture and Cell Therapy business.

I’d like to share the beautiful news of the birth of my first daughter Isadora Felicidad Beaufils on January 18th 2024. Her and her mommy are doing great. Alfonso Beaufils ‘16

Following on from my very fruitful engagement with CBS, I have continued my learning journey, specially in the area of Digital Transformation and Marketing. It's been very effective, evolving my approach to organisational excellence by coupling my management experience with the ground-breaking work done by Prof. David Rogers on ""DX"". I have been working with a selection of Family-owned Business C-suites and Startups in ASEAN and India, injecting core marketing competencies into their processes and getting them to be digital-ready in terms of thinking, structure, and data strategy. It’s really been about keeping your nose on the grindstone of business fundamentals, while keeping an eye on the forever changing digital horizon.

Joined the Board of InsuretechConnect, world's largest Insurance Conference, in Feb 2024. Launched world's 1st Catastrophic Cyber Risk Estimation framework - Arora CATCyber Gauge - for Cat Bond buyers, Hedge Funds & Investors.

In March 2024, Science Inc. will announce the promotion of Priscilla Guevara from Head of Investor Relations to General Partner. Priscilla brings over two decades of experience in Wall Street institutions such as SMBC, Neuberger Berman, Moore Capital, ZX Ventures, and others. In her new role, Priscilla will spearhead investment decisions in entertainment, sports, CPG, and beyond, and drive strategic partnerships across global markets, making her a key figure in shaping the future of Science Inc.

Extremely grateful for CBS alum + experience that led to the following — stayed in New York City a few years, settled in suburbs New Jersey since COVID, raising two kids with my wife (also CBS alum!), worked for a S&P 100 company after graduation, and recently pivoted to becoming CFO of a small PE owned retail data company.

Yvonne Fung, a Strategic Customer Success Leader at Miro and proud alumna of Columbia Business School, recently shared her insights at the Customer Success Festival, hosted by the Customer Success Collective on March 21. Leading a roundtable titled ""Beyond the Numbers: Building and Sustaining Monthly Active User Momentum,"" Yvonne explored the nuances of engaging users beyond statistics. Her discussion shed light on practical strategies to enhance user activity and loyalty for businesses. This session underscored the importance of meaningful user engagement in today’s digital landscape and highlighted Yvonne's contribution to advancing the SaaS world with thoughtful, user-centric methodologies.

Bill Irvine ’18 cofounded Kara Water, which makes water and beverages from air. They just announced their affordable countertop air-to-water dispenser which makes coffee too. They’re running a successful crowdfunding campaign, raising over $400,000 from more than 400 investors.

On Apr 1, 2024 my wife Apurva and I welcome a baby girl to our family at Mumbai, India

Andrew Lin ’18 shares his journey: ""In February 2024, I transitioned from Himalaya Capital to Inatai Foundation as Portfolio Manager, driven by a commitment to Washington State's greater good. Armed with what I have learned voraciously from the legendary investor Mr. Li Lu, I manage the capital for impactful philanthropy. One more update about my translation side project - two and a half years ago, I completed the Chinese translation of 'Competition Demystified' by Professor Bruce Greenwald. The Chinese edition has sold over 36,000 copies, earning acclaim as one of China's top investment books.""

Since graduating from CBS, I've moved to the opposite side of the country. Working at two well-known credit investment firms in LA helped me identify a growing opportunity to better incorporate environmental and social factors into investing. In July 2023, we launched Keenly, a B2B SaaS platform that simplifies sustainability reporting for middle-market companies, helping them meet investor and regulatory requirements more effectively. We are currently piloting our product with several enterprises and are excited about the future!

Peter Kozodoy ’19 moved to Puerto Rico in 2021 and founded a private equity firm, Skylark Ventures. He also runs Quantum Digital Assets, a crypto hedge fund, with classmate Ryan Spagnolo ’19.

The Global Banking Program of Columbia Business School has provided me a great Alumni platform to leverage and enhance my professional development. The digital transformation and fintech specific learning obtained through this program has been by far the most practical learning I have undertaken. This program equipped me to excel in my professional journey and lead me to be recognised amongst the Middle East's 10 most influential Chief Commerical Officer's to watch as per Insights Success. The Columbia alumni network is extremely powerful and I look forward to my on-going engagement with the best minds of the world.

Thrilled to announce the launch of our groundbreaking digital App (Sahel) powered by Bahrain Commercial Facilities Company , revolutionizing the way people access financial services! Proud to have played a pivotal role in bringing this innovation to life, especially as it's the first in the Kingdom of Bahrain to offer instant approval on Mastercard Credit cards online applications and instant issuance of the virtual credit cards. I applied the knowledge and skills that I gained from CBS to bring this innovation to life.

Caitlin Melchior recently transitioned to a marketing role at Ontra, where she serves as Senior Director of Industry Strategy. Ontra is an AI-powered legal tech platform for private equity firms and asset managers.

Thrilling career shift! Transitioned from consulting to CFO role at a Patagonia biotech startup. Double the joy at home - proud dad of two beautiful girls since graduation! (Francisco Montt ’20, Chile)

Dr. Justin A. Ratcliffe is the Chief Medical Officer at Sorin Medical, P.C - the leading cardiovascular practice in New York City. The organization embraces new technology in healthcare - lead by the AI driven Sorin Heart Scan - in order to improve access, quality, and cost for all patients.

Satnam Singh ’20 was also appointed the Global Chief Marketing Technology Officer for CBRE, a Fortune 126 company, with revenues of $32B annually. This is in addition to his current role serving as Chief Digital & Technology Officer for Advisory Services, leading digital, technology, data, and AI.

After my graduation in 2021, I took the risks in entrepreneurial journey and endured intense 2 years as I built my startup, resulting in my full-time job search in Thailand. In 2024, my accomplishment allowed me to become a full-time entrepreneur. Thanks to great experience during my time at CBS in New York that is like the inner voice to overcome the startup challenges.

Since graduating from Columbia Business School in May 2022, my journey has been a testament to my knack for business and strategic thinking. Back in Chile, I'm managing a distressed private equity real estate fund, learning daily about the crucial role finance plays in driving the country's economic growth. Additionally, I remained committed to story telling, founding Cordyceps Content, my vehicle to have an impact on the world through the arts. This dedication led to the exciting opportunity of premiering our latest film, shot during my MBA in Bolivia, at the renowned Tribeca Film Festival in New York City this June. Embracing challenges, I'm constantly pushing boundaries in both finance and the arts.

I am thrilled to announce that I have recently been appointed as Managing Director - RBC US Technology Strategy Head. In this role, I will be responsible for driving technology strategy initiatives to support RBC's operations in the United States. Additionally, I lead the technology division for private banking and wealth management tech and solutions at CNB ( subsidiary of RBC). This role presents an exciting opportunity to contribute to the growth and success of RBC in these key areas. I am grateful for the support and encouragement I have received from the Columbia Business School community throughout my journey, and I look forward to sharing my experiences and insights with you all in the future.

With a lot of effort, we weathered the last post-pandemic years, and managed to maintain the real estate business until now. This first quarter of 2024, the first homes of a project of more than 40 units were delivered, with an annualized sale of more than 7 million dollars in the Engineering and Construction business unit.

Have embarked on the second chapter of my career wherein amidst my first break I am exploring new areas of learning, independent board roles in diverse companies and working on my new venture's blueprint.

Valerie Sinha ’22, After 25 years of experience as L&D Head, Valerie launched www.internpark.com in Nov’23. At InternPark our mission is to nurture India’s young talent. We create a two-way link between India’s young and the corporate world through internships and mentoring. We work with entry level, mid-level and mid-senior level talent. We help talent get entry into the corporate world through internships and get guidance at mid-career and senior-career stages through mentoring. We also offer GenConnect - a program designed to bridge the gap between Gen Z and their managers. I am applying all my learning of Entrepreneurship and Digital Transformation in building the InternPark platform.

Zineb founded DabaDoc, a disruptive health tech company democratizing access to healthcare in Africa. DabaDoc expanded to multiple countries since launching in Morocco in 2014 and raised capital from publicly listed corporates – Orange Telecom and AXA. DabaDoc was selected by the World Economic Forum as a Technology Pioneer in 2019. Zineb has been selected as one of the 45 most influential women in Digital Transformation across the African continent in 2022 by CIO Africa. She has been featured in the book the “Digital Champions of Africa 2023” among nine other disruptors. She is an Endeavor Entrepreneur as well as an activist in the Moroccan and international business communities. She is also a member of the Middle East Institute, a US think-tank providing expert policy analysis, educational and professional development services in the MENA region. She has been mentoring health tech start-ups and serves as a strategic advisor to small to mid-size cap pharma companies. Zineb began her career at Goldman Sachs in New York City. She is an alumnus of Baruch College, HEC Montreal and Columbia University class of 2022.

Alicia Davis ’22 was accepted into Techstars for her beauty tech hardware company, SOTRO. Standing for “Salon On The Road”, SOTRO is engineering travel and storage-friendly hair care tools that bring the power of salon-grade solutions anywhere, empowering those with curly hair to comprehensively manage their hair care needs on their own and grow the healthy hair of their dreams.

Dawn Kissi ’23, has been appointed Chair of the Young Professionals Committee of Global Kida, a 5013(c) NYC-based nonprofit focused on youth education and civic engagement.

I moved over to the other side of the table from founder to VC. I joined Kalaari Capital, an early stage VC firm based in India, as Venture Partner in February 2024. Reach out to me to exchange notes on startups, investing and more!

I have partnered with the Color Our Town series to illustrate coloring books and note cards for hotels and gift shops including the Four Seasons in Philadelphia and The Greenwich Hotel in Tribeca.

I spent the last summer post-graduation in my home-country India and vividly experienced the growth in this fastest growing, next $10T economy. India is clearly at the cusp of a generational change! Hence, after seven years of investing in Indian businesses, I am excited to launch my boutique fund Dhamma Investments, named after Buddha's teachings on 'righteous living'. The long-only fund will invest in Indian public markets, with a private equity style due diligence. Just like Mr. Buffett, my aim is to create inter-generational wealth for my partners by compounding at mid-high teens for decades. I’m partnering with niche businesses that are leaders in their respective fields and creating new adjacencies for growth on their path from ‘good to great’. Personally, it's always a joy to serve the Columbia community! If I could help anyone in their wealth generation journey, please don’t hesitate to reach out.