Northwestern Intersections: Recent Episodes
Northwestern Alumni Association
Listen in as alumni share stories about how their careers have evolved and how key intersections of experience, opportunity, and alumni connections have propelled them to where they are today. Find out what these alumni have done right and wrong and what they’ve learned at each intersection along the way.
This special episode of Northwestern Intersections features highlights from a discussion with Andrew Alexander '96 MD; Lawrence Lenke '86 MD ('14 P); Sandra Schorr '76 MD; and Nicholas J. Volpe '21 MD, '21 MBA, captured during their recent class reunions at the Feinberg School of Medicine Alumni Weekend. In this conversation, the alumni reflect on their time at Northwestern, share insights from their careers in medicine, and offer advice for current and prospective students.
Check out a live recording of the Northwestern Intersections podcast exploring career pathways in entertainment and media with three Los Angeles–based alumni: pioneering sportswriter Helene Elliott '77, popular sports content creator Andrew Fenichel '21, and executive producer and "godmother of reality TV" Toni Gallagher '87. This episode was recorded live at The London West Hollywood at Beverly Hills.
After DJ-hosting a 17-hour Beatles radio marathon as seniors at Northwestern, Castleman and Podrazik published All Together Now, the first complete Beatles discography book. They continued their pop-culture collaboration through several editions of Watching TV, a season-by-season history of American television. In this episode, discover how two lifelong friends forged careers in law and media while staying connected to Northwestern, the Beatles, and more.
Since earning an engineering degree at Northwestern, Miller has built a diverse career spanning food engineering, consulting, and financial services, and served on several nonprofit and company boards. In this episode, Miller shares insights from his career journey and offers advice for jobseekers.
Gasteyer arrived at Northwestern to become an opera singer, but her path took a delightfully different turn. In this episode, she reflects on her multifaceted career, from joining the cast of Saturday Night Live to starring in the Broadway staple Wicked, along with countless other standout roles in film and television.
Throughout 2025, 20 alumni shared their stories in the Northwestern Intersections podcast. Enjoy some highlights from the year in this special episode.
This fall, four distinguished alumni received the Northwestern Alumni Association's highest honor, the Alumni Medal. Tune in for important life lessons and campus memories from T. Bondurant French '75, '76 MBA ('07, '21 P); Barbara Stewart '85, '95 MBA; Michael D. Greenberg '89 ('23, '25 P); and Judith Toland '94.
This fall, four distinguished alumni received the Northwestern Alumni Association's highest honor, the Alumni Medal. Tune in for important life lessons and campus memories from T. Bondurant French '75, '76 MBA ('07, '21 P); Barbara Stewart '85, '95 MBA; Michael D. Greenberg '89 ('23, '25 P); and Judith Toland '94.
This fall, four distinguished alumni received the Northwestern Alumni Association's highest honor, the Alumni Medal. Tune in for important life lessons and campus memories from T. Bondurant French '75, '76 MBA ('07, '21 P); Barbara Stewart '85, '95 MBA; Michael D. Greenberg '89 ('23, '25 P); and Judith Toland '94.
This fall, four distinguished alumni received the Northwestern Alumni Association's highest honor, the Alumni Medal. Tune in for important life lessons and campus memories from T. Bondurant French '75, '76 MBA ('07, '21 P); Barbara Stewart '85, '95 MBA; Michael D. Greenberg '89 ('23, '25 P); and Judith Toland '94.
As a founding editor at tech companies like LinkedIn and Prezi turned bestselling author and speaker, Lee has made a career out of helping people elevate their careers. Tune in to learn how Lee became a LinkedIn Top Voice and get her guidance on personal leadership, executive presence, and small steps that can make a big impact at work.
When she entered Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, Witzburg knew she wanted to work in service of others. Since graduating, she has served almost a decade with the City of Chicago, culminating in her appointment as inspector general. As Chicago’s top city watchdog, Witzberg helps identify and prevent wrongdoing in city governance. Learn about her commitment to integrity and her advice to civic-minded Chicagoans.
Lock has had a one-of-a-kind career trajectory. After receiving Fulbright scholarship, she won a comedy fellowship, worked as a university recruiting coordinator and brand strategist at X (formerly Twitter), founded her own marketing consultancy, and earned her MBA from the Kellogg School of Management. Learn how she stays hungry for new projects and moves her creative projects forward.
This special episode features recordings from a live taping with Amy Wang ’91, ’95 MD, Gary Rusk ’65, ’69 MD Sanjiv Shah ’97, ’00 MD, who are celebrating their class reunions at Feinberg Alumni Weekend. They join in conversation about their time at Northwestern, how they made their way in the medical field, and what advice they would give to current and prospective students.
Wright has held high-stakes roles in multiples industries--as an NFL player, a partner at consulting firm McKinsey & Company, the president of the Washington Commanders, and now the managing partner and head of investments for Ariel Project Level, a private investment vehicle for women's sports. Learn how he strives for greatness and manages complexity at the highest level.
After graduating with a degree in journalism and excelling as a basketball student-athlete, Jimenez has built a distinguished career as an Emmy Award-winning correspondent for CNN. Learn how his Northwestern experience prepared him for critical on-air assignments.
Thinking of love this Valentine’s Day? Discover stories from alumni who found their perfect matches through their connection to Northwestern. From dorm rooms to date nights, follow along as these Wildcats share tales of connection that will warm your heart.
Andrew is the senior design director at Nike, where he leads the Nike Virtual Studios Team. Discover how he has helped create memorable sneaker releases, managed his own product design studio, and launched a successful side project during the pandemic.
Throughout 2024, 38 alumni shared their stories in 25 episodes of the Northwestern Intersections podcast. Enjoy some highlights from the year in this special episode.
This fall, three distinguished alumni received the Northwestern Alumni Association’s highest alumni honor: the Alumni Medal. Tune in for important life lessons and campus memories from Willard S. Evans Jr. ’77, ’81 MBA; Renetta McCann ’78, ’12 MS; and William Osborn ’69, ’73 MBA, ’18 H.
Ditz cofounded STEM education nonprofit SparkShop in 2017 to help bring entertaining and informative science education to underserved schools in Chicago. Since then, her programming has reached over 8,000 Chicago elementary schoolers. Discover how Ditz used her Northwestern University education to build a successful program and career.
After earning his bachelor’s degree at Northwestern, Bruce worked in Chicago Public Schools before returning to Evanston for his PhD. His research explores human relationships with water and how to ground teaching and learning within Indigenous knowledge and practice. Find out more about his personal journey and the important lessons from Indigenous culture and tradition he calls upon in his work.
Vice Admiral Crandall has served in critically important roles in the US military during his 40-year career, most recently as the 45th Judge Advocate General of the Navy. Learn more about his time in the armed forces and what serving has meant to him.
Berlanti and Plec were classmates and friends at Northwestern and have remained close throughout their incredible careers in Hollywood. Between the pair, they have directed, produced, and overseen countless memorable projects ranging from Riverdale and The Vampire Diaries to Dawson’s Creek and Love, Simon—many of which they worked on together. Explore how they have maintained such a meaningful relationship and why they have stayed connected to Northwestern.
Digital advertising pioneers Jake Abraham and Drew Stein recently hosted the musical artist St. Lucia for their company during the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, marking the first time they collaborated as concert producers since meeting as students nearly 30 years ago. Learn how they began working together again to run an award-winning technology company.
Gutierrez has won Emmy nominations and made the 2022 “Forbes 30 Under 30” list as the youngest-ever national correspondent for NBC News. She has also been featured in award-winning reports on MSNBC and on the news shows Dateline and TODAY. Join us as we discuss her skillful storytelling.
Raghav Khosla, an undergrad in the Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications, came back from Paris with a lifetime of memories after working as an intern for NBC Universal at the Olympic Games. Learn about his summer dream job and Northwestern’s many connections to the 2024 games.
Michael Herwitz is a director and producer and one of the youngest people ever to direct an original play on Broadway. His production, Job, is produced by fellow Northwestern alum Russell Kahn, who runs the Rachel Brosnahan-founded production company Scrap Paper Pictures. Learn more about the show and how the duo has worked together to make it possible.
Katz is a founding figure in the field of queer art history. As a professor and scholar, he has undertaken formative projects in gay and lesbian studies. While at the City College of San Francisco, he served as the first tenured gay and lesbian studies faculty member in the US; in 1995, he founded the Harvey Milk Institute, which was once the world’s largest queer studies institute. Learn more about his pioneering career and current projects.
Katz is a founding figure in the field of queer art history. As a professor and scholar, he has undertaken formative projects in gay and lesbian studies. While at the City College of San Francisco, he served as the first tenured gay and lesbian studies faculty member in the US; in 1995, he founded the Harvey Milk Institute, which was once the world’s largest queer studies institute. Learn more about his pioneering career and current projects.
Cooper is a clinical psychotherapist who works with members of the LGBTQ2+ community. He previously worked in marketing before earning his doctorate at Cambridge University, a path inspired by his research as a Northwestern student. Learn more about his research interests and what Pride Month means to him.
Hong Duffin is the president and CEO of Kenneth Young Center, a community health organization in the Chicago suburbs. With experience in public policy, law, and human services, she serves on the National Council for Mental Wellbeing. Learn about her work with mental and physical wellness and her role on the NU-A5 board.
Hong Duffin is the president and CEO of Kenneth Young Center, a community health organization in the Chicago suburbs. With experience in public policy, law, and human services, she serves on the National Council for Mental Wellbeing. Learn about her work with mental and physical wellness and her role on the NU-A5 board.
Jurowicz is a lawyer and assistant attorney general for the special litigation bureau in the Illinois attorney general’s office. Since graduating from Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, she has worked on numerous projects centering around human rights. Jurowicz serves on the board of the Northwestern University Asian and Asian American Alumni Association (NU-A5)
Join us for a conversation with five alumni of Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Learn about the medical school experience and Northwestern’s Feinberg alumni community from Darren Wethers ’88 MD; Boris Sheynin ’99 MD; David Lee ’89 MD; Jeff Schaider ’83, ’85 MD; and Nupur Ghoshal ’01 PhD, ’03 MD.
This special episode centers around the cast and crew of the upcoming film Play the Game: A Jock ‘N’ Roll Story. Directed by Mesa and executive produced by Versen and Korzilius, the film covers the incredible true story of how a group of Northwestern football players, including the executive producers, worked as security for the band Queen in its heyday. Join us as we discuss this wild career move and the world of rock and roll touring in the 1980s.
Kelsheimer is a college admissions adviser based in greater New York City. She previously served as a high school music instructor and a college professor before moving into her current role, where she helps students and families find their best fit for college. Join us as she gives advice to parents on the college admissions landscape and shares tips for students on how to market themselves in a job search.
Adina Bezerita is a Romanian-American, award-winning Oxford-Cambridge philosopher and scholar, whose works pioneer interdisciplinary projects in ancient wisdom relevant to contemporary thought across the humanities and sciences. With her Numinous Threads foundation (2016), Adina provides leadership, education, consultation and collaboration to individuals, profit and non-profit organizations and to governmental bodies for achieving visionary goals in the polyvalent world. Adina serves as a global ambassador for Northwestern University in Eastern Europe, the first in Romania. She is an appointed honorary advisor to the Romanian Government Ministry of Research, Innovation and Technology.
Byington is a play-by-play commentator who has covered major sports events, including the Women’s World Cup and Olympic Games. She’s the first woman to do play-by-play for the NCAA men's basketball tournament and for a men’s professional basketball team, the Milwaukee Bucks. Hubbarth is an Emmy Award–winning Evanston native who works as an anchor for ESPN’s SportsCenter, NBA Tonight, and First Take. Join us as we discuss the changing sports media landscape and the rich legacy of Northwestern graduates in sports media.
“NCAA and NCAA Championships are trademarks of the National Collegiate Athletic Association.”
Frishman is an author and former news reporter and editor. She has written human interest and medical health articles and recently began writing children’s books. Her recent book, Nina Allender: Suffrage Cartoonist, illuminates the life and work of an underappreciated hero in the women’s suffrage movement. Join us as we discuss how she helped tell the story of one of America’s first female political cartoonists and what Women’s History Month means to her.
Marsh has served the University in countless meaningful ways, including as president of the Northwestern University Black Alumni Association (NUBAA), a member of the Northwestern University Leadership Circle (NULC) Chicago Regional Board, and a host of alumni events at her jazz club, M Lounge, in Chicago’s South Loop. She was an importer-exporter of American blue jeans in Europe before returning to Chicago to become an art gallery owner and now a real estate broker. Join us as we explore her fascinating career trajectory and the incredible story of how a Northwestern professor helped reunite her Nigerian family in Chicago.
Join us for a special episode celebrating alumni who coupled up at Northwestern. Six guests share short stories about finding true love on campus. Take a break from the cold and warm your heart with tales of campus romance.
McCollough Seletzky was a litigator before becoming an award-winning writer and memoirist with work featured in the Atlantic, O Magazine, and the New York Times. Join us as we discuss her memoir, The Kneeling Man: My Father’s Life as a Black Spy Who Witnessed the Assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr., and her journey to discover her family history.
Skladany is an icon across industries, working as a television and radio personality, writer, editor, publicist, and lifestyle content expert. He has worked on countless projects with recognizable brands, from People magazine and Apartment Therapy to Food Network and CBS. Join us as we discuss his ubiquitous career path and the lessons he has learned from working in multiple industries.
Hahn and Sandler met on campus and have been a Northwestern power couple ever since! Their careers have included acting and producing credits on some of Hollywood’s most memorable productions, from New Girl and Meet the Robinsons to WandaVision and Private Life. Join us as they discuss their time at Northwestern, finding their way in Hollywood, and working together in the industry.
Kliegman is a sportswriter and copy chief at Sports Illustrated. Her journalism often focuses on underrepresented topics in sports and society, including gender, asexuality, and mental health. She shares valuable lessons on working as a sports journalist and finding stories that matter. Join us as we discuss her important work and her upcoming book, Mind Games: An Inside Look at the Mental Health Playbook of Elite Athletes, due out in March 2024.
Gallagher is a television producer and author based in Los Angeles. She worked on MTV’s wildly successful The Real World and went on to become an executive producer for several major reality TV shows, including The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Snoop Dogg’s Father Hood, and Married at First Sight. Join us as she talks about her time in Hollywood and how she found the inspiration for her Twist My Charm young adult book series.
Jackson is an author, playwright, and poet currently serving as the Illinois Poet Laureate. She is a Chicagoan through and through, having grown up on the South Side, and uses her experiences in the area as inspiration for her poems and novels. Her works have been awarded major literary honors, including the Pushcart Prize, Carl Sandburg Literary Award, and American Book Award. Join us as we talk through her creative trajectory and the sights, smells, and sounds of Chicago that influenced some of her most recognizable projects.
Lord is a Peabody and Emmy Award–winning journalist, an author, and a Vietnam War veteran. He went from a career in television news management to writing the book, 50 Years After Vietnam: Lessons and Letters from the War I Hated Fighting, in 2018. Lord has reported in several major American cities, including Nashville, Seattle, Los Angeles, and Washington, DC, and was also a correspondent for NBC News. Join us as he discusses breaking news, pursuing the truth, and sharing your own story.
Arana is a prize-winning author, literary critic, and inaugural literary director of the Library of Congress. She has been an executive at publishing houses Simon & Schuster and Harcourt Brace, a judge for the National Book Awards and Pulitzer Prizes, a Latin America columnist for the New York Times editorial page, a media commentator for numerous news outlets, and editor in chief of Book World at the Washington Post. Join us as we explore her incredible literary contributions and discuss her upcoming projects.
Alomá is a CEO, lecturer, and author based in Chicago. He went from working in communications and consulting to lecturing at Northwestern to founding his own marketing company, Threadline. Alomá applies his knowledge of narrative psychology to the practice of marketing and branding, serving as a self-described “couples therapist” for clients and their customers. Join us as Alomá talks about his journey toward founding his dream company and finding time to write a bestselling book, Start with the Story: Brand-Building in a Narrative Economy.
Ginni Rometty came to Northwestern after a challenging childhood and left with a computer science degree that would help her change the world of technology. In 1981, she joined IBM as a systems engineer and worked her way to becoming chairman, president and CEO of the company. Ms. Rometty helped revolutionize the global tech giant in the 2010s and became one of the country’s most influential business leaders. In this special episode, we share a fireside chat between Rometty and Northwestern President Michael Schill from an event last spring. The pair discusses changemaking leadership, the future of technology, and her new bestselling book, “Good Power: Leading Positive Change in Our Lives, Work, and World.” Don’t miss important lessons and advice from one of Northwestern’s most influential alums.
Ayun Halliday is a writer, illustrator, and actor based out of New York City. She is a creative jack-of-all-trades, serving as the architect for plays, books, and her own zine, the award-winning East Village Inky. Halliday's unique comedic style has won her acclaim for her creative projects, and she’s taken the road less traveled to her current work. Join us as she discusses her new book, creative background, and wide-reaching (and usually hilarious) job history.
Mary Jo Bang is an award-winning poet and professor of English at Washington University in St. Louis. After finishing her sociology degree at Northwestern, she took a winding road to becoming a poet, working in medicine and photography before her first teaching job. Her path to poetry paid off: she's now published eight books of poetry, earned fellowships from Princeton University and the Guggenheim Foundation, and featured in The New Yorker and other publications. Join us as Professor Bang discusses her unique career trajectory and how she produced one of her most recognizable works, a pop-culture laden translation of Dante's Inferno.
Mary Jo Bang is an award-winning poet and professor of English at Washington University in St. Louis. After finishing her sociology degree at Northwestern, she took a winding road to becoming a poet, working in medicine and photography before her first teaching job. Her path to poetry paid off: she's now published eight books of poetry, earned fellowships from Princeton University and the Guggenheim Foundation, and featured in The New Yorker and other publications. Join us as Professor Bang discusses her unique career trajectory and how she produced one of her most recognizable works, a pop-culture laden translation of Dante's Inferno.
Award-winning author, blogger, podcaster, and proud Northwestern alumnus, Phil Yu '00 first came to prominence as the author of the popular entertainment website Angry Asian Man. In this special episode, Phil is interviewed by author and Northwestern Asian and Asian American Alumni Association (NU-A5) member Kathy Khang '92. Phil shares how his experiences at Northwestern and beyond helped to develop his own personal identity as an Asian American man and influenced his career as a blogger and author of recent release, Rise: A Pop History of Asian America from the Nineties to Now
Akubuiro, partner at Bully Pulpit Interactive, an advisory firm with locations in Chicago and Washington, DC, has had many experiences made possible by taking the initiative to seize opportunities even when they outpaced his experiences. That includes meeting Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. outside of a press conference and making a case to Jackson to join the Reduce the Rate campaign, a movement to lower the interest rates on student loans. He later took a role to serve as an adviser to the Republic of Liberia post-civil war. Eventually, he embraced an opportunity to join Boeing as chief spokesperson and was instrumental in helping the company navigate the 737 MAX crisis. Tune in to learn from this communications professional how the common thread throughout his incredible career has been creating and embracing opportunities and connections.
It started with the first Women in Medicine Tea hosted at The Drake Hotel in Chicago in 2017. It was a chance for Feinberg School of Medicine alumnae across generations to come together in one place to freely share their stories, their challenges, and their victories. Ghoshal recalls asking, “How do we bottle this moment?” The mission of the Women in Medicine (WIM) subcommittee of the Medical Alumni Association Board is to elevate and amplify the voices of fellow women in medicine. In part 2 of this episode, Flais, Gandhi, and Ghoshal share their thoughts on work-life balance for women in medicine, how allies can help move the needle forward, and the importance of showing up with intention.
Show notes:Women in Medicine Facebook Group Women in Medicine Instagram More about Northwestern Medicine and Women in Medicine (pg 42) About the Mary Ann Frable, MD Women in Medicine Dean's Scholarship Ways to give to the Mary Ann Frable, MD Women in Medicine Dean's Scholarship, and other funds
It started with the first Women in Medicine Tea hosted at The Drake Hotel in Chicago in 2017. It was a chance for Feinberg School of Medicine alumnae across generations to come together in one place to freely share their stories, their challenges, and their victories. Ghoshal recalls asking, “How do we bottle this moment?” The mission of the Women in Medicine (WIM) subcommittee of the Medical Alumni Association Board is to elevate and amplify the voices of fellow women in medicine. In part 1 of this episode, Flais, Gandhi, and Ghoshal share how they all came to be involved with WIM and highlight the subcommittee’s mentorship and philanthropic initiatives. They’ll also explain how the most important instigator of progress is showing up and being intentional about change.
Show notes: Women in Medicine Facebook Group Women in Medicine Instagram More about Northwestern Medicine and Women in Medicine (pg 42)
About the Mary Ann Frable, MD Women in Medicine Dean's Scholarship Ways to give to the Mary Ann Frable, MD Women in Medicine Dean's Scholarship, and other funds
Northwestern Intersections records for the first time from Northwestern San Francisco! Learn from a panel of recent alumnae in a range of tech specialties as they share how they navigated early career decisions. Panelists Moy, Turner, and Wu will offer insights on pursuing advanced degrees, changing industries, recognizing your transferrable skills, and how they’re navigating a rapidly evolving field. They will also share how they answered (and are still answering) what’s next in their career.
Iga Kozlowska ’14, ’17 PhD graduated from Northwestern with a doctorate in sociology and now is the program manager of Responsible AI at Meta. How did she make the transition? And how is sociology relevant to technology? Kozlowska joins the podcast to highlight the transferrable skills she learned as a student and share the process behind her transition into tech with zero previous experience. She also reinforces how imperative it is for people with humanities backgrounds to be involved in the development of artificial intelligence and other advancements as technology becomes more deeply intertwined in our lives.
Show notes:
Northwestern Intersections Podcast: What's Next Live from San Francisco!
Terry Franklin—an attorney, writer, and storyteller—shares how finding the will of his fourth great-grandfather, John Sutton, revealed the emancipation story of his fourth great-grandmother, Lucy Sutton, and their children, which included a legal battle over John’s intentions in freeing his family. Franklin describes the deeply personal journey of discovering his family’s history and how he is using creative pursuits to amplify his ancestors’ story, demonstrating that we all have a role to play in shaping the arc of history.
This episode also includes a preview of Franklin's most recent endeavour: The Lucy Sutton Suite: A Truth-Telling in Four Parts.
Show Notes:
For more on Lucy Sutton:
Bending the Arc of History TedX Talk Webite: LucySutton.com Podcast: The Last Will of Lucy Sutton
For more on Terry Franklin:
Trust Litigation Storytelling with NUEA West: The Letter Scare and Resistance & the Will American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC) podcast: Planning for a Diverse and Equitable Future.
References:
The Lucy Sutton Suite: A Truth-Telling in Four Parts.
By Terrence M. Franklin, Jeffrey George Moline, Ringo Maestro. Commissioned by Oakland Symphony Chorus. Dedicated to the Memory of Maestro Michael Morgan
Kevin Yu ’19 MA joins Northwestern Intersections to share the personal story of how he pivoted from a career in finance to a licensed marriage and family counselor and founder of Soulstice Therapy, and how an increased understanding of his relationships led to this unique transition. Additionally, Yu explains how social media and content creation are changing the ways we discuss and perceive mental health. And why he encourages Soulstice practioners to create mental wellness content. Finally, he offers his perspective on how mental health companies and the demand for access to mental health professionals are impacting private practice.
Shownotes:
Soulstice Therapy
Dr. Inger Burnett-Zeigler shares how she is working to provide mental health resources—including accurate information, access to identity-based providers and treatments, and psychotherapy in community-based settings—to underserved populations in Chicago. Author of Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen: The Emotional Lives of Black Women, Burnett-Zeigler also reveals the inspiration behind her book, its intersections with her research as a scholar and clinician, and how she hopes it will help readers identify their own struggles and paths toward healing.
Shownotes:
Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen: The Emotional Lives of Black Women
The Northwestern Alumni Medal celebrates alumni who have had a transformative impact on their field, who have performed exemplary volunteer service to society, or who have demonstrated an outstanding record of service and support to the University.
Jeff Ubben ’87 MBA (’20 P) is founder, managing partner, and portfolio manager of Inclusive Capital Partners, a San Francisco–based investment management firm. He has championed environmental and social responsibility in business and advanced global sustainability and college access at Northwestern and beyond. Ubben has served on the Kellogg Alumni Council and was a member of the steering committee for We Will. The Campaign for Northwestern.
Shownotes: If you know a Northwestern alum whose life, work, and service truly exemplify the University’s ideals and deserve recognition for their accomplishments, please visit alumni.northwestern.edu/medal for information about how to nominate someone for an Alumni Medal.
President's Alumni Panel: My Northwestern Direction
The Northwestern Alumni Medal celebrates alumni who have had a transformative impact on their field, who have performed exemplary volunteer service to society, or who have demonstrated an outstanding record of service and support to the University.
Cindy Chupack ’87 is a prolific storyteller whose work across television, film, and other media has been recognized with several accolades, including Emmy Awards and Golden Globes. Her credits include Sex and the City, Everybody Loves Raymond, Modern Family, Better Things, Divorce, and Fleishman Is in Trouble. She was inducted in the Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications’ Hall of Achievement in 2020 and is an active member of Northwestern’s Council of One Hundred.
Shownotes: If you know a Northwestern alum whose life, work, and service truly exemplify the University’s ideals and deserve recognition for their accomplishments, please visit alumni.northwestern.edu/medal for information about how to nominate someone for an Alumni Medal.
President's Alumni Panel: My Northwestern Direction
The Northwestern Alumni Medal celebrates alumni who have had a transformative impact on their field, who have performed exemplary volunteer service to society, or who have demonstrated an outstanding record of service and support to the University.
Until his recent retirement, David Louie ’72 was the business editor and technology reporter for ABC Disney’s KGO-TV San Francisco, for which he become the first Asian American reporter in 1972. A trailblazing reporter and editor, he worked in television for more than 50 years and has held leadership roles in several prominent news organizations. He is a former member of the Medill Board of Advisers and was an inaugural inductee to the school’s Hall of Achievement in 1997.
Shownotes: If you know a Northwestern alum whose life, work, and service truly exemplify the University’s ideals and deserve recognition for their accomplishments, please visit alumni.northwestern.edu/medal for information about how to nominate someone for an Alumni Medal.
President's Alumni Panel: My Northwestern Direction
Melissa Dawn Simkins ’01 MS shares how her experiences in the Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications’ IMC master’s program gave her an edge when the field of marketing was starting to shift. Her multidisciplinary approach led her to pioneer celebrity and influencer branding, which in turn helped transform the field of marketing and branding into what we know today. She also imparts the personal story that inspired her to launch Velvet Suite and the She-Suite to support women in the workplace and help them lead with purpose in work and well-being.
Shownotes:
Velvet Suite
The She-Suite
What's Next Live from Chicago is back! In this episode of Northwestern Intersections recorded live from Medill Chicago, learn from a panel of recent alumni about their postgraduate journeys. Alumni from the fields of user experience research, conflict resolution, and biomedical engineering share how they navigated early career decisions. Panelists Jennifer Siedjak, Jim Alrutz, and Ameen Kishta offer insights including how they entered fields different from their areas of study, their choice to pursue an advanced degree (or not), and resources they would recommend to alumni in their shoes. Panelists share how they answered (or are still answering) what’s next in their career.
What's Next Live from Chicago is back! In this episode of Northwestern Intersections recorded live from Medill Chicago, learn from a panel of recent alumni about their postgraduate journeys. Alumni from the fields of user experience research, conflict resolution, and biomedical engineering share how they navigated early career decisions. Panelists Jennifer Siedjak, Jim Alrutz, and Ameen Kishta offer insights including how they entered fields different from their areas of study, their choice to pursue an advanced degree (or not), and resources they would recommend to alumni in their shoes. Panelists share how they answered (or are still answering) what’s next in their career.
In this episode of Northwestern Intersections, Suchi Sethi Tuli—head of recruiting for Google Cloud in the Japan and Asia-Pacific region and a member of NU-Kellogg Club of Singapore and the Alumni Admissions Council—shares how she first stumbled into recruiting as a student at the Kellogg School of Management. She offers her insights on the lessons she’s learned about leadership and how the connections she made with classmates helped her build a personal board of directors. Tuli also shares tips for seeking a great mentor and what it means to be an authentic role model. Interviewing Tuli is Yunita Santoso Ong ’16, product and distribution lead for the Asia-Pacific region and senior news editor at LinkedIn News.
In this episode of Northwestern Intersections, Suchi Sethi Tuli—head of recruiting for Google Cloud in the Japan and Asia-Pacific region and a member of NU-Kellogg Club of Singapore and the Alumni Admissions Council—shares how she first stumbled into recruiting as a student at the Kellogg School of Management. She offers her insights on the lessons she’s learned about leadership and how the connections she made with classmates helped her build a personal board of directors. Tuli also shares tips for seeking a great mentor and what it means to be an authentic role model. Interviewing Tuli is Yunita Santoso Ong ’16, product and distribution lead for the Asia-Pacific region and senior news editor at LinkedIn News.
What do public affairs specialists and mental health practitioners have in common? The ability to listen and the desire to help someone tell their story. In this episode of Northwestern Intersections, Ranade shares the deeply personal story that inspired her career pivot into mental health and wellness with a focus in helping women navigate grief, anxiety, and depression. She also highlights the transferrable skills she developed while working in corporate PR at GE Healthcare. Ranade is now in her second year in the master’s in clinical health counseling program at The Family Institute at Northwestern. Learn from Ranade why it's never too late to pursue your passions.
In this special bonus episode of Northwestern Intersections, join us for an account from Barack Obama’s chief speechwriter, Cody Keenan ’02, of the 10 most dramatic days of the presidency, when a hate-fueled massacre and looming Supreme Court decisions put the character of the US on the line and a president’s words could bring the nation together or tear it apart. Authored by Keenan, GRACE is an intimate writing on the rhetorical tightrope America's first Black president had to walk, culminating with an unforgettable high point: Obama stunning everybody by taking a deep breath and leading the country in a chorus of “Amazing Grace.”
Ameet Mallik, the new CEO of ADC Therapeutics—a commercial-stage biotechnology company improving the lives of those affected by cancer—joins the podcast to reflect on what leadership means to him. He speaks about the foundational moments during his Northwestern and post-graduate experiences that shaped his career trajectory. He also offers his insights on building diverse teams of experts and creating positive impact, and the importance of feeling shared sense of purpose within your organization.
Ameet Mallik, the new CEO of ADC Therapeutics—a commercial-stage biotechnology company improving the lives of those affected by cancer—joins the podcast to reflect on what leadership means to him. He speaks about the foundational moments during his Northwestern and post-graduate experiences that shaped his career trajectory. He also offers his insights on building diverse teams of experts and creating positive impact, and the importance of feeling shared sense of purpose within your organization.
The Northwestern Intersections podcast joins the Northwestern Law Alumni Fireside Chat Event Series for a live interview with Phillips, one of the most experienced Supreme Court and appellate lawyers in the country, co-director of the Northwestern University Supreme Court Clinic and an adjunct professor at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law as well as a partner at Sidley Austin LLP. Phillips will share how his career trajectory started with ambitious clerkships, his most memorable cases, and his thoughts about how practicing in the Supreme Court has changed over the course of his tenure.
Show notes:
Northwestern Law Mentorship Program
Northwestern Network Mentorship Program
Affinity Learners and Leaders Mentorship Program
The Northwestern Intersections podcast joins the Northwestern Law Alumni Fireside Chat Event Series for a live interview with Phillips, one of the most experienced Supreme Court and appellate lawyers in the country, co-director of the Northwestern University Supreme Court Clinic and an adjunct professor at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law as well as a partner at Sidley Austin LLP. Phillips will share how his career trajectory started with ambitious clerkships, his most memorable cases, and his thoughts about how practicing in the Supreme Court has changed over the course of his tenure.
Show notes:
Northwestern Law Mentorship Program
Northwestern Network Mentorship Program
Affinity Learners and Leaders Mentorship Program
In 2018 Yari Gallegos joined the Northwestern Alumni Association (NAA) as a young alumni/Homecoming intern. Now she’s returned to the NAA as assistant director of alumni engagement for student to alumni transitions. In her new role she’s helping to organize programs like New Chapter. NU Neighbors and staple events for Homecoming. In this episode of Northwestern Intersections, Gallegos shares how her experiences as an undergraduate student inspired her to pursue a career in higher education. As a graduate student Gallegos' research—reflecting on her own college experience—focused on perceived institutional support and ethnic identity salience for Latinx undergraduate students at a predominately white institution. She highlights how through interviews she found that many Latinx undergraduate students discover university resources too late, and that many define their sense of belonging through their community and not with their school. Gallegos shares her thoughts on the importance of connecting with and creating community—especially for first-generation and Latinx students—and how these institutions can support their success. And finally, how through her role new she hopes to contribute to building spaces of belonging for students making the alumni transition.
Show Notes:
New Chapter. NU Neighbors
Homecoming Week
Up Next on Northwestern Intersections
Northwestern Law Fireside Chat Event Series
Since she was a student at Northwestern, University Trustee Jane S. Hoffman ’86 (’21 P) has been interested in how messages and media are constructed and consumed. And found she could help others understand complex subjects through storytelling and accessible language, and through public service.
As Commissioner of Consumer Affairs in New York City, Hoffman found herself never tiring of hearing people's problems and finding solutions. During her run for Lieutenant Governor of New York she describes how she had the opportunity to tour the entire state and listen to her potential constituents and understand the issues impacting them and their communities. Hoffman tell us how she later founded the Presidential Forum on Renewable Energy to help force politicians and their policy makers to talk about the existential threat of climate change in a public forum. And subsequently introduce language around climate change into common discourse. Helping others understand complex subjects such as data, privacy, money, and sustainability through accessible language is a through line in her career path.
In this episode of Northwestern Intersections Hoffman joins us for a conversation that highlights her recent book, Your Data, Their Billions: Unraveling and Simplifying Big Tech. Understanding the great benefits and genuine risks of navigating the internet and new technology is essential in our increasingly virtual world. She shares how her book offers an accessible explanation of how big tech collects and trades our data to make profits, and how her policy proposals would protect online users’ privacy rights. And how you can take meaningful steps towards safeguarding your privacy while enjoying the positive features the internet has to offer.
Enter for a chance to win a signed copy of our Your Data, Their Billions: Unraveling and Simplifying Big Tech by filling out the form alumni.northwestern.edu/IntersectionsGiveaway or request to be entered by emailing intersections@northwestern.edu. This Northwestern Alumni Association (1201 Davis Street, Evanston, IL 60208) promotion ends August 18, 2022, at 11:59 p.m. CDT [date will vary depending on each individual giveaway]. Forms filled out after the promotion period will not qualify. Each person will have the same odds of winning as we will draw the 10 winners [number may vary by giveaway] by chance. Offer is limited to one book ($28.00 retail value) per household and limited to U.S. residents who are at least 18 years of age. Shipping and handling of the book will be covered by the Northwestern Alumni Association. No purchase or donation is necessary to enter and no purchase or donation will improve one’s chances of winning.
It's empowering to tell your story, but even more so to empower others to share their own. As a student in Performance Studies at Northwestern and throughout her time at Piven Theatre Workshop, Rebecca Kling ’07 gathered the tools of performance: movement, storytelling, adaption, audience, lighting. After graduation while in Tim Miller's paradigm shifting workshop at Link's Hall, "Charged Bodies", Kling understood how those tools could be applied internally: sharing her own personal narrative of transition and how she navigates the world as a trans-woman. She describes how at the time, she was the only trans-performer she knew of publicly speaking about her experiences; trans-folks were simply not visible the same way they are today with rise of social media and online communities. Through orchestrating talk-backs with the audience—opportunities for members to ask questions about trans-folks and their experiences—Kling realized the potential of performance to also serve as a tool to educate and advocate.
Kling also shares how there were very little resources for trans students during her time at Northwestern in the early 2000s. She was often sent off-campus to seek resources and did not have access to other members of the trans community. A lot has changed since she graduated in 2007. However, the baseline changes such as all-gender bathrooms, access to HRT, name changes and preferred pronouns, are just the beginning. Kling calls on allies to join the fight in advocating for meaningful and material changes that will allow trans- and gender non-conforming folks to feel validated and safe. Whether it’s at your school, your job, or in your social circle. This call to action is especially crucial during a time when trans rights and bodily autonomy at large are being threatened.
In this episode of Northwestern Intersections, Rebecca Kling shares how through performance studies she realized the radical power of telling your own story, and how she made the transition from performer to educator and activist. Cofounder of Better World Collaborative—a trans-, woman-, and Latinx-owned consultancy firm—she continues to use storytelling to help businesses, nonprofits, and the creative industry take authentic steps to linking their missions in equity and inclusion.
Links to Northwestern resources for trans-students and allies:
· Northwestern Medicine Gender Pathways Program | Northwestern Medicine.
· All Gender Housing: Residential Services - Northwestern University
· Queer @ NU: Multicultural Student Affairs - Northwestern University
· Undergraduate Courses (2022-23): Gender & Sexuality Studies Program - Northwestern University
· Center for Applied Transgender Studies
· Out Network Evanston
· Reimagining the GSRC: Campus Inclusion & Community - Northwestern University
Who are the alumni behind Northwestern University Pride Alumni Club’s podcast Who NU?? And what is Who NU? all about? Host Len Iaquinta ’66 and producer Marc Staros ’09, share stories about their respective Northwestern experiences and their career paths after graduation. Iaquinta details how he pursued a career in broadcast radio and eventually philanthropy that led to a seven year position at Northwestern. While Staros pursued a successful career in consulting and eventually became an independent consultant and advisor. We also learn how life on campus was very different for each of them due to society's changing perspectives on LGBTQIA+ identifying folks. Iaquinta and Staros share how they first became involved in NUPAC and how listening to an episode of Northwestern Intersections while stuck on the Kennedy Expressway sparked the inspiration for Who NU?.
On this episode of Northwestern Intersections, learn from Iaquinta and Staros more about the founding and evolution of NUPAC. Including how the alumni group is creating resources for LGBTQIA+ students, like the NUPAC Scholarship Fund: a permanently endowed fund that was created to provide undergraduate financial aid for students demonstrating contributions to the LGBTQIA+ community through leadership, service, volunteering, or research. And how NUPAC creates space for LGBTQIA+ alumni and allies to build community together. Iaquinta and Staros also share more about the mission of Who NU?, notable past guests, and what's next for the podcast. Alumni listeners can also discover how they can get involved and/or support NUPAC.
In this special episode of Northwestern Intersections, learn from a panel of recent alumni about their postgraduate journeys. Alumni from the fields of international development, STEM, entrepreneurship, and consulting will share how they navigated job and career changes, and decisions around pursuing advanced degrees. As well as their advice for current Northwestern students who are thinking about the post-graduation job search and how to take advantage of on-campus resources. Moderated by 4th year student, Shreya Sriram ’22.
We'll hear from Baindu Kallon ’14 who works at the intersection of migration, development and communications, with a specific focus on Sub-Saharan Africa. After graduating, Kallon spent time at various non-profits and media organizations before moving to the United Kingdom to complete her Master's degree at SOAS, University of London. She is currently based in London working at the MIDEQ Hub, the world’s largest migration research project focused on the relationships between migration, inequality and development in the context of the Global South.
David Chase ’13 the CEO and Founder of Possible, an education start-up that is on a mission to help people to try on careers, like we try on shoes. David has worked and consulted for all different types of tech companies from early-stage startups to Fortune 500 enterprises. Prior to Possible, Chase was Head of Marketing at CodeCombat (Series A, YC 14), did growth at eSpark Learning, and worked at Microsoft leading content strategy for Xbox Live. Through his own career transitions and navigations, he has found he is most passionate when supporting the career decisions of others.
And Nancy Le ’20, who works at the intersection of healthcare and business, where she is primarily interested in how the private sector can play a role in public health. After graduation, Le worked in the COVID-19 response at Harris County Public Health, breaking chains of transmission at workplaces by advising businesses on infection control practices and conducting case investigation. She now works as a life sciences management consultant at Capgemini Invent, advising pharmaceutical and med tech companies on business strategy. Le hopes to continue work in healthcare and improve equity in healthcare access and outcomes, either in the private or public sector. And is taking the next step towards achieving that goal as she heads to Columbia University in the fall to earn her Masters in Public Health.
Anoop Jain ’09, founding director of Sanitation and Health Rights in India (SHRI), has always had a deep sense of social justice. As a Northwestern student he observed how the most vulnerable of New Orleans' population was disproportionality impacted by Hurricane Katrina. And later on a trip to Guatemala as part of Alternative Student Breaks, he found himself deeply impacted by working in fellowship and breaking bread with communities there. Later, after graduating Northwestern, he fundraised for the creation of a soup kitchen in the Himalayas. The culmination of these experiences resulted in Jain quitting his job, and traveling to India to work with organizers and community activists to provide direct support to underserved communities in India. During this time he realized that he was working at the intersection of social justice and public health, and that the issue of sanitation in the rural parts of India were not individual problems, but systems failures. The reframing of sanitation as a result of inadequate systems and not individual behavior was a paradigm shift that led Jain to earn his MPH and DPH so he could help implement those upstream changes.
On this episode of Northwestern Intersections, Jain shares how he founded Sanitation and Health Rights in India, and how he is committed to the service of underserved communities in India. Jain tells us how the mission of SHRI, in addition to building sanitation facilities, is evolving to focus on strengthening systems and provisions to be as robust as possible in order to provide the highest quality sanitation services. He underscores the importance of marrying academic rigor and understanding of issues with the component of practice. As well as elevating the voices of the communities you serve so they can shape the questions and the research that will create the policy that impacts their quality of life.
Irene Kang ’11 has lived multiple lives. In her first she worked in the field of environmentalism and sustainability. In her second, she's the founder of Spark Collection—bilingual books for families to learn language in a fun and meaningful way. Throughout the course of these lives, the most important decisions she made were by trusting her intuition when something felt right: choosing Northwestern, pursuing environmentalism, and meeting her husband (and fellow alumni) Chris, and creating Spark Collection.
Kang shares how she realized during the pandemic that there were very few accessible resources for teaching Asian languages to children. And that this was issue many Asian and multicultural families struggled with themselves. Kang decided to create Spark Collection, and published her first book with the incredible community support of Kickstarter: My Favorite Gift. Available in Mandarin, Hindi, and recently, Korean. She previews the second book in the collection, My Beautiful Earth coming out in September of 2022, and her third book Pay It Forward, which we will see in 2023. Kang tells how the books in Spark Collection reflect the values that she wants to share with her child: the importance of family, environmentalism, kindness, and resilience.
On this episode of Northwestern Intersections, Kang talks about the inspiration behind Spark Collection and the incredible impact of the first book, My Favorite Gift through feedback she's received from families. And how Spark Collection is contributing to increased Asian representation and access to Asian languages in children's literature. And finally, Kang shares her insights on making significant career transitions and asks us: what would we try if we couldn't fail? For her, the answer was Spark Collection.
Visit the website or follow them on Instagram to learn more and get the latest updates on Spark Collection!
Justin Barbin's ’11 interest in photography originated out of a desire to preserve memories. Documenting family and friends, events and milestones, even arbitrary moments allowed him to recall feelings and experiences with clarity. Photography also allowed him to connect with Northwestern community as a student. The impact his photographs had is best exemplified when the Northwestern community came together to fundraise for Barbin after his camera was stolen junior year. Whether he's documenting the Hamilton cast at the Tony Awards, photographing Dillo Day, or traveling the globe to see his 50th country; community and connection are through lines in Barbin's career path, his photos, and in the way he interacts with others. On this episode of Northwestern Intersections, Barbin shares how he first became interested in photography as child and successfully pursued it as a full-time career as an adult. Barbin also reveals how the trauma he experienced at the end of college reinforced the power of photography as a way of preserving the memories of people we've lost and creating connections with the community around us. And how although Barbin is often perceived as someone incredibly joyous, it's balanced with grief he's learned to grow around.
Brian Aguado ’13 MS, ’15 PhD has always valued commitments to research, diversity, and being part of a supportive community. Those qualities are some of the main reasons why he chose Northwestern and are qualities that are clearly evidenced in his career journey. An Assistant Professor at UC San Diego, Dr. Aguado runs the Aguado iBiomaterials Research Group which focuses on the study of sex differences in cardiovascular disease using biomaterial technologies. He dedicates time to cultivating a positive and supportive lab environment for his students with the hopes they'll take those practices with them as they progress in their careers. Most recently, Dr. Aguado co-founded LatinXinBME, a social media initiative dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive community of Latinx biomedical engineers and scientists to support each other personally and professionally through their careers.
On this episode of Northwestern Intersections, Dr. Aguado shares how he first became interested in sex as a biological variable, how the studies done in his lab suggests that sex chromosomes influence the way cardiovascular disease presents in men and women and underscores the importance of using precision biomaterials. He tells how an equity-based approach to biomedical engineering allows us to more effectively treat women and other populations who have been historically excluded in research. He will also share how he is building an inclusive and supportive environment in his lab, and in the field through online communities like LatinXinBME.
Liza Katzer ’08 describes herself as a late bloomer. She applied to 21 different colleges before deciding on Northwestern; didn't quite know what she wanted to do after graduating (but thought "producer" sounded right); got laid off while working at Disney; and silently struggled with mental health and insecurity well into her 20s. An Emmy-winning producer for her work on the acclaimed comedy-drama series Ted Lasso, and recently named one of the Hollywood Reporter's 35 Under 35 Upcoming Entertainment Executives to Watch, these things about might surprise you. But that's the whole point of Ted Lasso: that regardless of your first impressions, everyone is deeply complex, layered, and capable of growth. Katzer has always wanted to be part of positive change in media and help tell more authentic stories that anyone watching can see themselves in. Sometimes art imitates life and sometimes TV shows—like Ted Lasso—reveal to us the possibilities for a kinder world.
On this episode of Northwestern Intersections, Katzer shares personal stories of growth and uncertainty, her insights into the impact of media on women's well-being, and how she positively contributes to a positive and uplifting work environment at Doozer Productions. Finally, she talks about how Ted Lasso is contributing to the way we think about mental health, vulnerability, depictions of women and their relationships.
Northwestern Intersections will be featuring all-female guests during the month of March in recognition of Women’s History Month, so we may uplift and celebrate the alumnae who are shaping their respective fields.
Ilana Peña always wanted to write her own coming of age show featuring a tween/teenage Latina protagonist that audiences of all ages could enjoy. However, many of the shows she loved as a child celebrated boyhood, and the shows that did feature female leads were geared exclusively to young audiences. Peña is the creator, showrunner, executive producer, and director of the critically acclaimed Diary of a Future President, which tells the story of a young Latina girl whose experiences as a tween are foundational to becoming the leader of the country. On this episode of Northwestern Intersections, Peña shares her experiences being a writer on the supportive, women-led set of the renowned, musical comedy-drama Crazy Ex-Girlfriend and how she fostered that same uplifting, women-led space on her own show for cast and crew to thrive. She also underscores the importance of telling positive and joyous stories that show Latinx and LGBTQ folks as multifaceted, cultivating your community, and being loud about what you want.
Northwestern Intersections will be featuring all-female guests during the month of March in recognition of Women’s History Month, so we may uplift and celebrate the alumnae who are shaping their respective fields.
Tananarive Due '87, film historian, educator, producer, writer, and leading voice in Black speculative fiction, joins Northwestern Intersections in a special two-part episode. In part 2 she shares how she developed her famous course at UCLA, "The Sunken Place: Racism, Survival, and the Black Horror Aesthetic," after watching Jordan Peele's Get Out. Jordan Peele's impact is immeasurable: Get Out sparked the Black Horror Renaissance and the creation of the documentary Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror (Due is an executive producer); his production company has opened doors for marginalized horror creators, particularly women; and much more for years to come. Peele's impact has extended to Due as well--he invited her and husband and collaborator Steven Barnes to write an episode of The Twilight Zone, her first television credit. We learn how Due and Barnes met at a science fiction, fantasy, and horror conference in 1997, and became partners and collaborators writing screenplays and teleplays together. Due reveals her tips for successfully collaborating, offers thoughtful advice for developing writers, and shares how she and Barnes have started their own podcast, "Lifewriting: Write for Your Life!", an extension of their Life Writing program.
Tananarive Due ’87, film historian, educator, producer, writer, and leading voice in Black speculative fiction, joins Northwestern Intersections in a special two-part episode. Due was always writing stories, even before she got to Northwestern, but she wasn't writing about horror and the supernatural until well after graduation. In part 1 she shares how through encounters with legendary figures and influential books, she not only found the confidence to pursue writing in the genre of horror, but from the perspective of Black protagonists. Resulting in the publication of her first novel, The Between. Due shares her own reasons for being drawn to the genre, and guides us through how the renewed interest in horror is rooted in the horrific times we're living in and contemplating our own survival. Black Horror is also experiencing a renaissance in film and literature—sparked by Jordan Peele's Get Out—as more people turn to the horror genre as a means of escaping real monsters, processing trauma, expressing the intangible, illustrating genuine systemic dangers, and inspiring the fight to survive in the face of it all.
On the occasion of National Mentoring Month, join us for a discussion with industry leaders in medicine and entertainment from the Northwestern Network Mentoring Program—Michelle Lin ’05,’09 MD, and Rebecca Windsor ’98. Through stories about zigzagging career paths, burnout, and impactful colleagues and professors; discover how mentorship advice is mostly universal even across two different fields. And in-between pieces of shared wisdom, Lin and Windsor offer some industry specific advice for those who are entering or currently navigating the fields of medicine and entertainment respectively.
In recognition of National Mentoring Month and to celebrate a year since the launch of the Northwestern Alumni Association's Affinity Leaders and Learners (ALL) Mentorship Program, we invited a mentoring pair—mentor Alexis Jeffries '08 and mentee Janea Wilson '22—to share their insights for creating impactful, personal connections and the benefit of a tailored experience for students seeking identity-based mentorship.
To learn more about the ALL Mentorship Program and how you can participate please visit mentor.northwestern.edu/programs/affinity
Since 1932, the Northwestern Alumni Medal has celebrated alumni who have had a transformative impact on their fields, who have performed exemplary volunteer service to society, or who have demonstrated an outstanding record of service and support to the University. In this special episode of Northwestern Intersections, we will hear insights from this year’s recipients of the Northwestern Alumni Association’s highest honor: Judy Belk ’75, Andrew C. Chan ’80, ’80 MS, Christopher B. Combe ’70 (’99, ’09 P), and Gordon Segal ’60 (’93 P).
In episode 106c we will hear from Christopher B. Combe, former chairman and CEO of Combe Incorporated—a private, family-held company that manufactures and markets health and personal care products globally and is known for such brands as Just for Men, Vagisil and Seabond.
If you missed the President’s Alumni Panel, we’ve included a link to the recording here in the show notes. President Morton Schapiro leads a discussion with the Alumni Medalists about how the University shaped their lives and careers.
To our alumni listeners, if you know an alum whose life, work, and service truly exemplify the ideals of Northwestern University and deserve recognition for their accomplishments please visit alumni.northwestern.edu/medal to access the form to nominate them or go directly to the nomination form.
Since 1932, the Northwestern Alumni Medal has celebrated alumni who have had a transformative impact on their fields, who have performed exemplary volunteer service to society, or who have demonstrated an outstanding record of service and support to the University. In this special episode of Northwestern Intersections, we will hear insights from this year’s recipients of the Northwestern Alumni Association’s highest honor: Judy Belk ’75, Andrew C. Chan ’80, ’80 MS, Christopher B. Combe ’70 (’99, ’09 P), and Gordon Segal ’60 (’93 P).
In episode 106a we will hear from Judy Belk, President and CEO of the California Wellness Foundation, one of California’s largest public health philanthropic institutions.
If you missed the President’s Alumni Panel, we’ve included a link to the recording here in the show notes. President Morton Schapiro leads a discussion with the Alumni Medalists about how the University shaped their lives and careers.
To our alumni listeners, if you know an alum whose life, work, and service truly exemplify the ideals of Northwestern University and deserve recognition for their accomplishments please visit alumni.northwestern.edu/medal to learn more or go directly to the nomination form.
Since 1932, the Northwestern Alumni Medal has celebrated alumni who have had a transformative impact on their fields, who have performed exemplary volunteer service to society, or who have demonstrated an outstanding record of service and support to the University. In this special episode of Northwestern Intersections, we will hear insights from this year’s recipients of the Northwestern Alumni Association’s highest honor: Judy Belk ’75, Andrew C. Chan ’80, ’80 MS, Christopher B. Combe ’70 (’99, ’09 P), and Gordon Segal ’60 (’93 P).
In episode 106b we will hear from Andrew C. Chan, senior vice president of research–biology at Genentech, a biotechnology company that works to develop medicines for people with serious and life-threatening diseases.
If you missed the President’s Alumni Panel, we’ve included a link to the recording here in the show notes. President Morton Schapiro leads a discussion with the Alumni Medalists about how the University shaped their lives and careers.
To our alumni listeners, if you know an alum whose life, work, and service truly exemplify the ideals of Northwestern University and deserve recognition for their accomplishments please visit alumni.northwestern.edu/medal to access the form to nominate them or go directly to the nomination form.
Since 1932, the Northwestern Alumni Medal has celebrated alumni who have had a transformative impact on their fields, who have performed exemplary volunteer service to society, or who have demonstrated an outstanding record of service and support to the University. In this special episode of Northwestern Intersections, we will hear insights from this year’s recipients of the Northwestern Alumni Association’s highest honor: Judy Belk ’75, Andrew C. Chan ’80, ’80 MS, Christopher B. Combe ’70 (’99, ’09 P), and Gordon Segal ’60 (’93 P).
In episode 106d we will hear from Gordon Segal, co-founder of Crate & Barrel, and design visionary and retail industry pioneer, who also helped transform the appearance of the University’s Evanston and Chicago campuses in his role on the Board of Trustees.
If you missed the President’s Alumni Panel, we’ve included a link to the recording here in the show notes. President Morton Schapiro leads a discussion with the Alumni Medalists about how the University shaped their lives and careers.
To our alumni listeners, if you know an alum whose life, work, and service truly exemplify the ideals of Northwestern University and deserve recognition for their accomplishments please visit alumni.northwestern.edu/medal to access the form to nominate them or go directly to the nomination form.
After nearly eight years at Northwestern as both a student and staff member, please join us in wishing Helen Kim ’16 the best of luck as she starts a new role as a customer onboarding manager for a customer engagement software company in Chicago. In this bittersweet finale to Helen’s time with Northwestern Intersections, Helen reflects on the lessons she learned at Northwestern, talks about her most memorable episode of this podcast, and shares her advice for the Northwestern Network.
Kangmin Justin Kim ’11 is one of the most sought-after countertenors of his generation in the opera world. He has earned accolades in roles of the Baroque repertoire, contemporary music and in Mozart’s trouser parts at the most prestigious opera theatres and festivals in Europe. Justin’s accomplished career is built upon years of study and perfecting his technique; however the people is his life have been just as important to his success. In this episode Justin stresses the importance of finding your network, trusting your gut even when it’s not easy, and being ready to jump in when luck happens to find you.
What does one do when they have a variety of interests and passions, but aren’t sure of a career path? According to Lio Mehiel ’15, it’s important to remember that you’re building yourself and not just a career. Lio is an actor, filmmaker, conceptual artist and activist. They are a co-founder of Voyeur Productions with fellow Northwestern alumni Dulcinee DeGuere ’15 and Russell Kahn ’16. In May, Lio led a program for the NAA called Moving Beyond Allyship in the Fight Against White Supremacy. Join us as Lio shares about their experiences in the arts industry, how those experiences helped them embraced their gender identity as a gender-queer, transmasculine person, and how activism is at the forefront of everything they do.
Donna Wang Su ’14 MA is human embodiment of the old adage “Actions speak louder than words.” The associate director at the Farley Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation with two decades of experience in finance, strategic planning and higher education administration, Donna has spent nearly 15 years at Northwestern. She has worked in a variety of schools and units improving systems, creating new connections for others, and making every role her own. In this episode, Donna walks us through her non-linear career path, how her identity and experiences as an Asian-American woman plays a significant role in her approaches to work, and her latest adventure: campaigning and being elected to Evanston’s District 65 school board.
Lori Hall and Jessica Lane were tired of not seeing enough strong multicultural marketing agencies that genuinely captured the cultural nuances for the right audiences. They came across way too many tone-deaf campaigns that failed miserably. That’s when they decided it was time for them to start an agency of their own. Pop’N Creative is a successful Black-owned, women-led multicultural marketing agency, born out of a deep desire to see brands win in marketing to a multicultural world. These two changemakers share how they started a growing business at the beginning of the pandemic, some of the most common mistakes marketers make, and how one can find their voice as an activist to dismantle racism within various industries.
In celebration of Women’s History Month, Northwestern Intersections is featuring 4 female Northwestern trailblazers to honor those who have shaped and inspired the future of our community.
Patti Solis Doyle’s career began when she joined Richard Daley’s campaign for the Mayor of Chicago that led to a stable job at the Chicago City Hall. Then, in 1991, she took a big leap of faith to quit her job at the City Hall to join a presidential campaign for then Arkansas governor, Bill Clinton, the 42nd President of the United States. She served as a senior advisor to Hillary Clinton throughout that campaign and two terms in the White House, becoming the first Latina to manage a presidential campaign. Her career as a campaign advisor did not end there. She went on to serve as the chief of staff for then Vice Presidential nominee Joe Biden and served as an advisor to the Obama-Biden campaign during the 2012 presidential election. As a proud daughter of immigrant parents from Mexico, Patti shares her personal story growing up on Chicago’s south side at many speaking events, particularly for women of color in politics. Patti also serves as the Director at Large for the NAA Board as of 2020.
To celebrate Women’s History Month, Northwestern Intersections is featuring four female Northwestern trailblazers to honor those who have shaped and inspired the future of our community.
In 2011, Elise Wetzel and her husband Rick Wetzel, a co-founder of Wetzel’s Pretzel’s, were in line at Chipotle during rush hour to grab a quick lunch when they were actually hoping to grab pizza instead. That’s when a light bulb went off in her head with the idea that a pizza restaurant with an assembly line could work. She grabbed a napkin and sketched out her ideas with Rick, which led to the beginning of one of the fastest-growing franchise pizza restaurants in the world, Blaze Fast Fire’d Pizza. Elise sheds light on her experience as a successful entrepreneur and brand marketer, having learned her skills in consumer behavior during her time at Northwestern. She shares the importance of establishing team inclusivity, adaptability, and brand awareness.
In light of celebrating Women’s History Month, Northwestern Intersections is featuring 4 female Northwestern trailblazers to honor those who have shaped and inspired the future of our community.
What were you doing when you were seventeen? Nick Shah ’08 MS, the founder and president of Peterson Technology Partners, Chicago's premier IT recruiting agency, immigrated to Chicago from India and started his entrepreneurial journey managing operations for a local Chicago newspaper, India Tribune. After deciding to not go to college, Nick started his first company—a company that earned a million dollars of revenue in the first few years.
Nick shares his untraditional career and educational paths, his advice on getting started in business, and strategies for honoring what aligns with your values.
For 100 years, Medill has trained the world’s best storytellers. Deborah Douglas ’89 is no exception. Deborah Douglas, the Eugene S. Pulliam Distinguished Visiting Professor of Journalism at DePauw University and senior leader with The OpEd Project, is an award-winning journalist and the author of “U.S. Civil Rights Trail: A Traveler’s Guide to the People, Places and Events That Made the Movement.”
To prepare for her new book, Deborah traveled throughout the South to visit places significant to the Civil Rights Movement. In this episode of Intersections, Deborah shares on the multitude of projects she spearheaded, how a focus on the Black community has guided her life’s work as a child of the Great Migration, and some unforgettable advice that we all should remember, regardless of our career path.
To continue the Northwestern Alumni Association’s celebration of National Mentoring Month, we invited a mentoring pair from the Northwestern Network Mentorship Platform—mentor Courtney Harris ’13 and mentee Djenaldbeth Louis ’20 MS—to share their tips for creating a thriving, reciprocal relationship. Courtney and Djenaldbeth walk us through their strategies for open communication and setting expectations and boundaries with a mentoring partner.
Courtney Harris ’13 is a graduate of the School of Communication. She has spent the past seven years diving into the media industry with roles held across the advertising agency, publisher, and client landscapes. Most recently she has joined the McDonald’s Media team head quartered in the West Loop of Chicago. She is an active member of the NAA via their mentorship and admission interview programs.
Djenaldbeth Louis ’20 MS began her professional career in the hospitality industry in sales and marketing. After five years, she decided to pivot and get her master’s degree so that she could head towards a more strategic and creative role. Now Djenaldbeth is a recent graduate of the Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications where she received her master’s in Integrated Marketing Communications. Upon graduation, she accepted a role as a strategic planner for a multicultural agency in Chicago where she connects brands with consumers in a genuine way using insights, brand storytelling, and data.
January—National Mentoring Month in the United States—brings the launch of a new complement to the Northwestern Network Mentorship Program. The Affinity Leaders and Learners (ALL) Mentorship Program strives to create a unique opportunity for undergraduate students seeking identity-based mentorship.
The Northwestern Network is piloting this first run of the program for our Black, Asian and Asian American, and LGBTQ+ students and alumni. The ALL Program has been created in partnership with the Northwestern University Black Alumni Association (NUBAA), Northwestern University Asian and Asian American Alumni (NU-A5), and Northwestern University Pride Alumni Club (NUPAC) with the hope to extend the program to include more underrepresented groups in the future.
In this episode, we sit down with the three club liaisons to dive into the details of the program and the impact mentoring has had on their careers and lives.
To learn more about the program and how to register please visit mentor.northwestern.edu/programs/affinity.
Our liaisons, from left to right:
Evan Frost ’17 is an assistant director on the Northwestern Pritzker School of Law’s annual fundraising team and a graduate of the School of Education and Social Policy (#SESPLove). Before the pandemic you could often find him cheering on the ’Cats at Ryan Field or commuting to and from the holds pickup at your nearest Chicago Public Library branch.
Julian Hill ’08 is a community organizer, first, and a clinical teaching fellow with the Georgetown University Law Center’s Social Enterprise & Nonprofit Law Clinic, second. He graduated from the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences where he studied philosophy. Following Northwestern, he taught high school Spanish with Teach for America in the Los Angeles region before backpacking in Latin America, farming in Uganda, and attending Harvard Law School for his JD.
Brad Grams ’17 MA is the principal White House liaison for Environmental Protection Budgeting at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s Office of the Chief Financial Officer, where he leads the formulation of the agency’s budget with its senior leaders, as well as The White House and Congress. Outside of his EPA work, Brad is an adjunct lecturer in Northwestern University’s School of Professional Studies, where he focuses on research and program evaluation methods in the public sector, and leads their Public Policy and Administration Mentorship Program.
If you would have asked Mike Raab ’12 at graduation where he thought he would be at age 30, he surely wouldn’t have said having worked in three completely different industries, taken a summer off to backpack through Europe, and be back at Northwestern working as a staff member and getting his MBA at Kellogg. In this episode, Mike shares the vital importance of making connections and the unpredictable ways in which the people you know can impact your life and take it in a multitude of different directions.
Mike is currently the associate director of The Garage, Northwestern’s entrepreneurial incubator and start-up hub in Evanston. In his role, Mike helps current undergraduate and graduate students connect with each other, alumni, and friends to create that Northwestern network that was so valuable in his own career. Mike and the rest of The Garage team are launching a podcast called How I Got Here, where recent alumni share their career path post-graduation. How I Got Here can be streamed on all podcast platforms beginning January 5, 2021.
Imran “Immy” Khan ’05 has done a little bit of everything from starting his own company to starting a YouTube channel called, “Where do We Go From Here?”, but the tenet at the core of all of his ventures is storytelling. Immy is the head of development at Berlin-based Big Window Productions, a production company helping spur a renaissance of television in Europe. Big Window Productions is dedicated to producing shows that expose viewers to thought-provoking stories and uplifting underrepresented voices in media.
Immy walks us through his winding career path, and emphasizes the importance of finding a North Star passion to guide your life’s work. He also vulnerably shares how navigating your career and your life isn’t always smooth, but is manageable with the right mindset.
Amit Walia ’01 MEM, MBA is the CEO of Informatica, a software development company specializing in enterprise data integration and management software powering analytics for big data and cloud. His journey to Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management started when he followed his now wife, to the United States from India after finishing his undergraduate studies.
Amit was appointed as the CEO of Informatica two months before the lockdown took place in United States. With the opportunity to lead over 4,800 employees in the tech industry, Amit shares the importance of a human-centered leadership approach and how to brave uncertainty. Whether there is a pandemic or not, building relationships and putting the needs of his employees always come first. He reminds us of the value of your gut feeling, honest self-feedback, and so much more.
In our final installment of our four part back-to-school mini-series, we speak with Shreya Sriram ’22 and Florencia Son ’23 PhD. Shreya is a third-year undergraduate student at Northwestern University where she is majoring in Economics and Communication Sciences and Disorders on the Pre-Medicine track. She conducts independent research in the Auditory Research Laboratory and the CAPLab. Florencia is a third-year PhD candidate in the Chemistry Department and part of the Farha group at Northwestern, studying metal–organic frameworks for the purpose of the detoxification of chemical warfare agents. Both Shreya and Florencia serve as Student Directors on the Northwestern Alumni Association’s (NAA) Board of Directors.
In this episode, Shreya and Florencia give us an inside look into navigating campus virtually. They share their experiences in the classroom, the lab, and their social circles, in addition to providing their insights into the NAA Board of Directors. Join us for a conversation between four Northwestern women, including our producer Allison Ledwon ’19.
In our latest installment of our four part Back to School mini-series, we speak with Tiffany Wells ’09, ’19 MS. Tiffany serves as the assistant head of school at Guidepost Montessori Wicker Park in Chicago where she heads up the school’s operational response to the pandemic. Tiffany shares how “rolling with the punches” has been the guiding principal of her career and her personal life. She reminds us all the importance of perspective and reflection in our lives, as well as the value in dreaming big.
The Northwestern Intersections team is kicking off our latest season with a four part Back to School mini-series, where we will speak with Wildcats at the intersection of education and the pandemic, discussing how they are approaching their work in our ever-changing, virtual world.
In the second episode of the mini-series, we sit down with Tim Dohrer ’95 MA. Tim is the director of Northwestern’s Master of Science in Education program, as well as an assistant professor for the School of Education and Social Policy. Throughout his career, Tim has taught middle school, high school, and college students in rural, urban, and suburban settings. In his current role, Tim teaches teachers. On today’s episode, Tim dives into the under recognized parts of teaching, and shares the ingenuity that is happening in classrooms today.
The Northwestern Intersections team is kicking off our latest season with a four part Back to School mini-series, where we will speak with Wildcats at the intersection of education and the pandemic, discussing how they are approaching their work in our ever-changing, virtual world.
Melissa Foster ’96, ’01 MMus, a full time senior lecturer in the theatre department and a member of the musical theatre voice faculty in the School of Communication, occupies a unique position on Northwestern’s campus. She is one of the five Northwestern faculty members that live with their families in residence halls with undergraduate students. In this episode, Melissa guides us through what it’s like building residential community without all members occupying the same space, as well as the intricacies of teaching voice lessons over Zoom calls. Melissa also shares the importance of gratitude and your support network when navigating some of life’s most challenging patches, whatever it entails.
Small businesses across the US and the world have been hit hard by the effects of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. However, many businesses have found ways to be creative with their business and have found experienced an outpouring of support from their communities. Austin Harvey ’04 knows this well. Austin is an advanced cicerone and the curator and co-owner of employee-owned Beermiscuous, a Chicago craft beer bar and retailer. Chicago’s shelter-in-place order went into effect two weeks after Austin and his colleagues purchased the bar from the founder.
In this episode, Austin shares the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) on his business and the strong bond between the bar and the community. He also dives into his perspective on work, and alleviating some of the pressures that come with our society’s definition of success and education.
If you’re interested in learning more about some alumni-owned small businesses, you can visit the Northwestern Alumni-Owned Small Business Directory on our website, alumni.northwestern.edu.
Virtual interviews aren’t new, but they are more prevalent and necessary than ever. Executive coach Corinne Vargas ’14 MS is here to help our listeners perfect their skills and ace their next interview with some simple, memorable tips. She shares her ABCD’s, standing for avoid technical issues, mind your background, curate your verbal and written voice, and discover as much as possible about your potential employer. Corinne dives into how this advice can help you be your most confident, authentic self, while standing out from the rest of the applicant pool.
For many of us, food has been a major part of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, for better or for worse. In our new segment Wellness Tip, Carla Hightower ’85, ’87 MD, ’91 GME, ’02 MBA explores the connection between nutrition and many chronic health conditions that exacerbate the effects of COVID-19. As a physician, a certified integrative health coach, and a corporate wellness consultant, Carla shares some ideas on how to make lasting changes to our eating habits so our bodies can operate and feel their best.
Carla has two free resource guides for our listeners on overcoming diabetes naturally and strengthening your immune system to put today’s tip into action.
In our new segment, Career Tip, we brought back Chareen Goodman, a former guest from our Career Webinar Series, who shares how to map out a plan to S.O.A.R., which stands for stop, observe, assess, and respond. She lays out tangible steps on how to respond to your unexpected life and career change as the CEO of your own life.
Chareen will be offering complimentary career coaching call just for our listeners as a way to help out fellow ‘Cats in need during this time. You can go https://careercrushercoaching.com/naa-free-gift/ to connect with Chareen Goodman.
How do you start a conversation with children over sensitive topics like systemic racism, historical trauma, grief, or divorce? In this episode, Anthony Ward Jr. ’06 chats with the NAA on his take and experience on variety of techniques as a clinical therapist and also a father of two daughters. His key advice? Empathize with their point of view other than your own. Start the conversation early.
On July 21st, 2020, Anthony was a featured presenter on the NAA’s ’Cats Wellness Chat to lead a discussion on cultural issues conversations. You can check out the recording either here or on our website www.alumni.northwestern.edu/intersections to hear more from Anthony.
As important conversations surrounding diversity and equity are happening in industries across the US, Jaime Esposito ’14 and Stephen Hall ’13 are leading the way for more queer representation in classical music. The two percussionists and educators are also the co-founders of Spectrum Ensemble, a performance group with the goal of giving the queer community a platform to create and make music.
Spectrum Ensemble’s mission is to commission and perform beautiful music while supporting the community by commissioning queer composers and using their music to fundraise for LGBTQ+ advocacy organizations.
In this episode, Jaime and Stephen share insights into their work, the process of starting an ensemble, and the impact their work is having. You can catch Spectrum Ensemble’s next performance at the New Media Art and Sound Summit here on July 22.
The word ‘pivot’ has become ubiquitous with the impacts of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, and that is no different for Caleigh Hernandez ’15.
Caleigh is the founder and CEO of RoHo, an accessories brand usually specializing in sandals, jewelry, and handbags. RoHo partners with four artisan groups across Kenya to create their products while creating consistent, fair paying work for their artisans, most of whom are women. With the economic impact of the pandemic, sandals and handbags were no longer a top of the shopping list purchase for most consumers. But Roho’s artisan partners still needed to put food on their families’ tables. In this episode of Northwestern Intersections, Caleigh shares the creative changes the company has made in order to support their team, the challenges of global business, and the importance of open and honest communication in leadership.
On this episode of Northwestern Intersections, your host Helen Kim ’16, speaks with Vlada Bortnik ’01, the CEO and founder of the app Marco Polo and Joya Communications. Marco Polo is a video chat app that allows users to connect with friends and family on their own time, without the pressures of curated social media or a scheduled video chat.
Vlada helps us think about screen time and screen fatigue in new ways, while sharing candid insights from the C-suite and her home during the coronavirus pandemic and anti-racist movement.
We live in an unprecedented and uncertain time, filled with stress, anxiety, and new realities for our home and work lives. It can be overwhelming, but Dr. Coco Cabrel is here to help you take a few moments to re-center and take care of yourself, whatever your struggle may be. Dr. Coco will lead you through three meditations-without-meditating, or what she calls “The Calms.” Stay tuned after The Calms to hear more about Dr. Coco’s work and experiences during this global pandemic we are all going through together.
Coco Cabrel ’87 BS, ’89 MD, is the founder of Lifestorm Calms, her coaching and consulting system for calming stress and burnout smack in the middle of the chaos. She currently offers courses and 4-week intensive programs just like the ones in this episode on www.lifestormcalms.com/kestrel. You may contact her directly at drcoco@lifestormcalms.com, connect on LinkedIn at /linkedin.com/in/cococabrel, or on her Instagram @lifestormcalms.
We live in an unprecedented and uncertain time, filled with stress, anxiety, and new realities for our home and work lives. It can be overwhelming, but Dr. Coco Cabrel is here to help you take a few moments to re-center and take care of yourself, whatever your struggle may be. Dr. Coco will lead you through three meditations-without-meditating, or what she calls “The Calms.” Stay tuned after The Calms to hear more about Dr. Coco’s work and experiences during this global pandemic we are all going through together.
Coco Cabrel ’87 BS, ’89 MD, is the founder of Lifestorm Calms, her coaching and consulting system for calming stress and burnout smack in the middle of the chaos. She currently offers courses and 4-week intensive programs just like the ones in this episode on www.lifestormcalms.com/kestrel. You may contact her directly at drcoco@lifestormcalms.com, connect on LinkedIn at /linkedin.com/in/cococabrel, or on her Instagram @lifestormcalms.
Most first-year Northwestern students come into their undergraduate studies with a vague idea of what they want to do post-graduation. Neal Taparia came into Northwestern with what would become a research management tool staple for his peers and students after him: EasyBib.com. Developed with a friend in high school, EasyBib—acquired by education technology Chegg-- was just the start of Neal’s entrepreneurial career.
In this episode of Intersections, Neal shares the importance of hustling, the valuable advice he has gotten throughout his career, and the ways he stays connected to young entrepreneurs on campus.
Neal is now exploring how classic games can help with brain and memory training with his new initiative Solitaired.
Since 1932, the Northwestern Alumni Medal has celebrated alumni who have had a transformative impact on their fields, who have performed exemplary volunteer service to society, or who have demonstrated an outstanding record of service and support to the University. In October 2019, three accomplished alumnae received the highest honor for the positive impact they have made in their careers and communities. This week, we’ll hear, Bridgette Proctor Heller ’83, ’85 MBA, a senior executive with more than 30 years of experience with Fortune 500 companies.
Northwestern Intersections will be featuring all-female guests during the month of March in conjunction with the Women’s History Month and the 150 Years of Women at Northwestern to honor those who have shaped and inspired the future of our community.
Since 1932, the Northwestern Alumni Medal has celebrated alumni who have had a transformative impact on their fields, who have performed exemplary volunteer service to society, or who have demonstrated an outstanding record of service and support to the University. In October 2019, three accomplished alumnae received the highest honor for the positive impact they have made in their careers and communities. This week, we’ll hear from Yie-Hsin Hung ’84, a top-ranking female operating executive at New York Life.
Northwestern Intersections will be featuring all-female guests during the month of March in conjunction with the Women’s History Month and the 150 Years of Women at Northwestern to honor those who have shaped and inspired the future of our community.
Since 1932, the Northwestern Alumni Medal has celebrated alumni who have had a transformative impact on their fields, who have performed exemplary volunteer service to society, or who have demonstrated an outstanding record of service and support to the University. In October 2019, three accomplished alumnae received the highest honor for the positive impact they have made in their careers and communities. This week, we’ll hear from Lisa M. Franchetti ’85, who led several commands in support of US national security strategy.
Northwestern Intersections will be featuring all-female guests during the month of March in conjunction with the Women’s History Month and the 150 Years of Women at Northwestern to honor those who have shaped and inspired the future of our community.
According to renowned American lyric soprano Amanda Majeski, understanding your personal definition of success is essential in any career, but even more so in the arts. Amanda gives us an inside look into the ins and outs of the opera world, as well as the unifying power of music and art. She shares how she befriended performance anxiety in a high pressure career and her strategies to managing it that will prove valuable for creative and corporate careers alike. She also emphasizes the importance of one’s support networks, both personal and professional, in accomplishing goals.
Northwestern Intersections will be featuring all-female guests during the month of March in conjunction with the Women’s History Month and the 150 Years of Women at Northwestern to honor those who have shaped and inspired the future of our community.
As the Partner and U.S. Health Services Sector Leader at PwC, Gurpreet Singh has expertise in Health Information Technology and Digital Strategies that drive innovation. We get the inside scoop on some of the cutting-edge innovations the healthcare system is moving towards and the impact of Chief Digital Officers bring to an organization. Outside of work, Gurpreet serves on the Board at non-profit organizations in Chicago, IL with his two young rock star sons. He passes down to his sons what his father taught him: no one ever can take your education from you nor the experiences you have with others.
We brought back Melissa Donaldson to continue our conversation after her highly-praised webinar presentation on Intentional Diversity and Inclusion Practices, hosted by the NAA last month. Melissa, who is currently the Senior VP and Chief Diversity Officer at Wintrust Financial Corporation, dives deeper into the questions we all have when it comes to being a diversity and inclusion practitioner and supporter. You’ll hear candid perspectives and personal experiences from both Melissa and Helen and you can click here to watch the webinar recording.
When life throws you curveballs, you can either hide or welcome the new changes into your life. In Jordan’s case, he welcomed them and quickly adjusted to the changes to live out the most fulfilling life he can have. Major changes were part of his journey, which led him to become an Executive Coach who guides others to overcome uncertainty and discover what brings them meaning and fulfillment. Listen in to hear how you can step outside of your comfort zone in the midst of unforeseen changes and take control of your career path.
Welcome back to our new season of Northwestern Intersections. We’re starting off the season strong by having Chelsea Hayes with us to talk about how we present ourselves in front of others. As an Executive Coach and Corporate Trainer for Fortune 500 companies, she emphasizes the importance of directly asking for what we want, giving ourselves the credit we deserve, and forming memorable relationships with your mentors/mentees. She also shares her experience of joining the Council of One Hundred and meeting incredible Northwestern women from all over the world.
Today’s episode marks the last episode of 2019! As a way to celebrate, our podcast team went back and pulled out some of our favorite advice and insights from various alumni guests from 2019. We’ll be back in February 2020 with our new season so stay tuned. Have a wonderful holiday season and go ‘Cats!
Roy Lu’s first career transition came shortly after his graduation from the McCormick School of Engineering, when he made the move from engineer to entrepreneur, with his first startup, Vitaminbubbles, a biotechnology company. Since then, Roy has worked and learned at two major tech companies, seeing first-hand how companies grow and flourish. Roy’s latest venture, Timepop Technologies, focuses on how technology can create a more connected world. Roy co-founded his company with fellow Northwestern graduates and is continuing to expand his company in Asia.
Listen in as Roy dives into the changing technology industry, the world of international business, and the lifelong impact of the Northwestern network.
After receiving her Ph.D. in Political Science and Methodology at Northwestern University, Dr. Sally A. Nuamah worked at Princeton University and Harvard University as a research fellow, followed by her assistant professorship at Duke University. She then returned to Northwestern to become a tenure-track professor of Urban Politics in Human Development and Social Policy. Her work explores issues of race, gender, education policy, and political behavior. Forbes Magazine quotes that “..leaders like Nuamah are a testament to the strength of the entrepreneurial spirit in academia’s young disruptors”. Sally is a notable advocate and filmmaker, in which you can learn more about her initiatives through her book, How Girls Achieve, and her documentary, HerStory.
From dressing up as a clown for birthday party gigs to working at Hilary For America, Ryan Bernsten has done them all. But one of the most fascinating experiences he has embarked on was driving across America to listen to stories of Americans in all 50 states from 2018 to 2019. His thesis, now a podcast called 50 States of Mind, sheds light on his journey of interviewing elected officials, mayors, and voters on both sides. Ryan also highlights that he could not have done this alone without the support of fellow Wildcats, some who opened up their homes, provided meals, and connected him to other networks further his mission.
After running a marathon, Zeena Dhalla recognized her passion for fitness and decided to become a personal trainer, transitioning from the film and Internet industry. Finding great success in her training, she took on a new major role: being a mom.
Now she works as a Certified Postural Alignment Specialist improving posture, a small part of fitness that makes a world of a difference. Zeena coaches clients through this journey as the founder of her own company, VerticAlign Posture Coaching. She dives into what it means to find your own personal definition of success, finding balance in a world that focuses on “having it all” and even teaches us some exercises to do while listening to this podcast to start to improve our posture.
What’s Next Live is back by popular demand! This time, we traveled to New York to host a live panel of recent alumni who shared stories about what it takes to make a major transition early in their careers. Our panelists, Sierra Boone '17, Charlie Oh '16, Tracey Haneman '13, and Henri Pierre-Jacques '13, are phenomenal alumni, living in New York and navigating their career transitions in their own unique ways. Discover What's Next in your career by listening to the recording of our second ever live podcast experience.
Becoming a successful comedian and performer in New York did not happen overnight for Ziwe Fumudoh. Her Twitter fame started when she worked as a hostess at a barbecue restaurant, tweeting as much as she could during her breaks. While juggling multiple jobs, Ziwe worked harder than anyone else by working at prestigious digital media companies like The Onion, Above Average, Comedy Central, and many more. As a creative professional, living in New York, Ziwe sheds light on being comfortable with the unknown, battling Imposter Syndrome, and challenging yourself to try as many different activities as you can to find what makes sense for you.
Listen in to this special episode as Ziwe also shares about her upcoming Fifth Reunion as one of the Committee Members for the Class of 2014. Homecoming and Reunion Weekend will take place on the week of October 21st, 2019 in Evanston, IL, where Wildcats will come back to celebrate and reunite with their fellow classmates.
As the principal of Acero Marquez Charter School in the Chicago area, Allison Hansen wears many hats to make sure that school is a place where both her teachers and students can grow together. Despite seeing the challenges of being a principal through her experience with the Teach for America Program, Allison still stuck to her passion for education reform. She sheds light on her definition of what great leadership is and what it looks like to be vulnerable as a leader. Owning her privilege takes a lot of courage but naming it and educating herself to be an ally has been instrumental in her relationship at her school.
Listen in to this special episode as Allison also shares about her upcoming Tenth Reunion as one of the Committee Members for the Class of 2009. Homecoming and Reunion Weekend will take place on the week of October 21st, 2019 in Evanston, IL, where Wildcats will come back to celebrate and reunite with their fellow classmates.
The NAA is happy to introduce our new host of Northwestern Intersections, Helen Kim. Helen is one of the founding team members of this podcast and has served as the editor and producer of Northwestern Intersections. She currently works as the Assistant Director of Career Advancement at the Northwestern Alumni Association, specializing in digital career programs for both alumni and students, and is an alumna of the Class of 2016. Listen in as former host Cassie Petoskey passes the baton and asks Helen about her experience transitioning from studying Percussion Performance at the Bienen School of Music to working in career programming for the University. We want to thank Cassie for all her efforts and wish her the best in her next role, where she will be working with Weinberg students to facilitate career exploration programs.
In this three-part series featuring outstanding coaches, you’ll hear some of the most frequently asked questions that they receive from their clients in their industries. Tish Hicks ’88, Kathryn Haydon ’99, and Melissa McFarlane ’86 are leading experts in their fields who have presented Northwestern Alumni Association’s career webinars in the past on topics including on the power of one’s voice, creativity at work, and goal-setting processes on designing one’s business and personal endeavors.
In this episode, we are speaking with Melissa McFarlane ’86, an internationally-recognized coach with over 28 years of experience in executive, business, and personal coaching. She is the Founder and CEO of Creative Successful Entrepreneurs | Coach for Creatives.
In this three-part series featuring outstanding coaches, you’ll hear some of the most frequently asked questions that they receive from their clients in their industries. Tish Hicks ’88, Kathryn Haydon ’99, and Melissa McFarlane ’86 are leading experts in their fields who have presented Northwestern Alumni Association’s career webinars in the past on topics including on the power of one’s voice, creativity at work, and goal-setting processes on designing one’s business and personal endeavors.
In this episode, we are speaking with Kathryn Haydon ’99, a creativity and innovation strategist at Sparkitivity with over 20 years of experience and the author of four books, including her upcoming book, The Non-Obvious Guide to Being More Creative.
In this three-part series, you’ll hear some of the most frequently asked questions that they receive from their clients in their industries. Tish Hicks ’88, Kathryn Haydon ’99, and Melissa McFarlane ’86 are leading experts in their fields who have presented with the Northwestern Alumni Association through career webinars in the past on topics including the power of one’s voice, creativity at work, and goal-setting processes on designing one’s business and personal endeavors.
In this episode, we are speaking with Tish Hicks ’88, the founder of V.O Dojo with over 25 years of experience as a voiceover professional with a background in acting, singing, and kickboxing.
After her own experience in conflict with chairpersons, Isabelle Nüssli interviewed 100 chairpersons and CEOs to uncover the source of the tension that’s often built at the top of the corporate pyramid. When she realized that admitting these issues in leadership was considered taboo, she sought out to take action, ultimately resulting in writing her book. Nüssli is the author of Cockfighting: Solving the Mystery of Unconscious Sabotage at the Top of the Corporate Pyramid. In this episode, you’ll learn the three conscious and five critical unconscious drivers that drive these types of turmoil, according to her findings.
Start your day off with a sense of peace and mindfulness with Ellie Burrows Gluck as she guides us through a calming meditation exercise in this special episode. Before co-starting MNDFL, Ellie Burrows Gluck served as an executive in the film business for a number of years until she came across her true passion: spirituality and pursuit of consciousness. She then quit her job in 2013 to travel around the world as a spiritual tourist, returning to New York City at the end of the trip to pursue her Certificate in Coaching. And then came along MNDFL, a drop-in meditation company where New Yorkers can better connect to their mind, heart, and the body without the weekend-long commitment. Listen in as she sheds light on her non-linear career changes she made while facing unexpected life circumstances.
Erica Keswin is a workplace strategist and business coach with over 20 years of experience, having worked with top organizations that honor relationships at their workplace. Keswin, a bestselling author, published her book, Bring Your Human to Work, to help employees and leaders at organizations navigate ways to connect in the workplace and develop a winning culture. In addition to tips on how to form genuine relationships, she also shares her experience in the field of executive recruiting, a field not most MBA graduates go into, and her transitions between companies while going through major personal life changes. Keswin is always ready to be challenged and she is ready to share with the world on how to leverage all that technology has to offer but also to put it in its place and connect with humans face-to-face.
Concertmaster of Hamilton: An American Musical of the Chicago company and artist and teacher-in-residence at the Lyric Opera of Chicago come together to share their stories as entrepreneurial artists in the 21st century. What’s inspiring about these artists is that they’re not afraid to be vulnerable when it comes to elaborating on the topics of injury, fear, and insecurity – most which are not often talked about in the creative arts community. Aranyi, who is also on faculty at the Farley Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Northwestern, offers her expertise on branding classes she teaches on campus, one of which Bontrager was invited as a guest speaker at. No matter how many times (around a thousand) he performed Hamilton or she sang cantatas and debuted at the Carnegie Hall, they still get nervous. And that makes them human.
August 1st is the long-awaited day that the Common App opens for students applying to colleges. Paula Whitman is here to tell you that applying to colleges does not have to be stressful! Whitman, a college application and essay coach, shares what has changed and stayed the same over the past year in the admissions process and offers tips for each class of high school students. She also points out what to avoid and the pitfalls most students make during this process. Tune in to hear how to make the college admissions process as easy and smooth as possible for the entire family.
Gary Beasley went with his gut to leave his first job after few months, despite the general rule of thumb his mentors suggested of staying at a company for few years. This was only one of the many successful calculated risks he took to become the CEO and Co-Founder of Roofstock, a technology-enabled marketplace that provides tools to investors for evaluating, buying, and selling single-family rental homes. Beasley shares his experience of how to take charge in one’s non-linear career track and how to manage transitions between varying levels of roles at one’s company. You’ll also hear tips on how to be a valuable CEO at a thriving organization and how to scratch the entrepreneurial itch.
Nicole Gibbons moved her way up from being the PR Assistant to become the Global Director within her ten years of tenure at Victoria’s Secret. What makes her story even more impressive is that she was managing a side hustle at the same time to pursue her passion for design. Gibbons is the founder of Clare, a company designed to make paint shopping easier, accessible, and more inspiring. She has been sought out by top media outlets and appears as a design expert on Home Made Simple, a home improvement reality show on the Oprah Winfrey Network. Gibbons sheds light on the reality of building your own start-up, transitioning into becoming an entrepreneur, and managing up at your company.
Scott Shay didn’t think he would be where he is today as the Chairman of Signature Bank when he started his freshmen year at Northwestern as a chemistry major. Shay, a Chicago native, moved to New York shortly after graduating to join the Salomon Brothers Group. Despite the first six months of his tenure at Salomon Brothers being some of the hardest times in his career both intellectually and physically, he grabbed every opportunity to pursue new projects. His dedication led him to meet some of the most notable mentors, including Lewis Ranieri, and opened up new forks down the road in his career path. Shay, who is also the author of In Good Faith: Questioning Religion and Atheism, reflects on his father’s experience as a Holocaust survivor and to continue his legacy of resiliency.
As the CEO and Co-Founder of Moringa School, a multi-disciplinary learning accelerator to provide young students with digital and professional skills training in Nairobi, Kenya, Audrey Cheng quickly rose to be selected as one of the 2016 Forbes 30 Under 30 Social Entrepreneurs. But Cheng shares that this journey also came with battling unforeseen life hindrances and burnouts. The key to her success? Being rooted in happiness. Tune into Cheng’s story to hear how she led her team to prioritize their well-being, even through difficult situations.
It was during his undergraduate years that Brian Mustanski knew he wanted to combine the perspectives of biology and psychology in the world of human sexuality research. He now serves as the Director of the Institute for Sexual and Gender Minority Health and Wellbeing, the Co-Director of the Third Coast Center for AIDS Research, and he is a tenured Professor at Northwestern. In this episode, Mustanski enlightens us with how his identity has impacted his career as well as his passion for influencing local policy makers on public health. Tune in as Mustanski talks us through fighting for equality, how to be allies to show solidarity with the LGBT community, and how to form collaborative partnerships.
Earlier this spring, the NAA hosted Campus to City, an event where four recent alumni returned to campus from San Francisco,Washington, D.C., New York City, and Chicago to share advice with the Class of 2019 to help prepare them for the transition from campus to post-graduate life. They candidly chatted about staying in touch with Northwestern after graduation, managing work, life, relationships, and more after leaving campus. Whether you are graduating this month or you graduated years ago, we hope you enjoy this conversation moderated by Andrew Harlan ’19 featuring panelists, Fenit Nirappil ’12, Zoe Goodman ’13, Xiomara Contreras ’17, and Rodney Orr ’18.
Mallory Thompson graduated from the Bienen School of Music in 1980 and is now only the third person in the university’s history to hold the director of bands position. Beloved by the Northwestern music community, Thompson shared stories about helping students and alumni network with each other, but even more importantly, make lasting connections with one another in informal settings. She talked us through the challenges and opportunities that she faced in her career as well as issues like burnout, and the importance of getting to know oneself, that musicians face throughout their lifetime.
Mallory Thompson will also be conducting for the Symphonic Wind Ensemble 50th Anniversary Celebration on Sunday, June 9 at 7:30 p.m. Central. SWE alumni from virtually every major orchestra and military ensemble will perform a program of ensemble favorites and wind masterworks to commemorate the 50th anniversary of SWE's founding. Visit music.northwestern.edu/events/live after 7:20 p.m. Central to view the live stream.
In honor of one year of incredible alumni stories on this show, the Northwestern Alumni Association hosted a live panel of recent alumni who shared stories about what it takes to make a major transition early in their careers. You won’t want to miss what our panelists, Victor Shao '13, Brittany Croone '13, Colette Ghunim '14, and Michael San Gabino '13, had to share about taking feedback and making tough decisions in their careers.
Discover What's Next in your career by listening to the recording of our first ever live podcast experience.
Sometimes, taking one step in the right direction is all you need to go from feeling stalled to having momentum in your career journey. Carol Ross ’83, ’87 MS hosted a webinar for the NAA in April 2019 where she coached three volunteers, with three common career challenges, to get back on track with their careers. After the webinar, Carol had a conversation with Northwestern Intersections host Cassie Petoskey about major themes that came up in the coaching, the emotions behind career changes, and what was surprising from the session. Tune in for validation that you are not alone if you are feeling confused about, or stalled in, your career journey. You'll walk away with hope, inspiration, and new perspectives.
To celebrate the podcast turning one on April 12, 2019, we wanted to share what resonated with our alumni through their voices. We asked alumni to share their name, class year, and what stuck with them from a Northwestern Intersections episode thus far. Tune in to hear what career stories have inspired alumni over the last year.
Take a tour through Northwestern University’s Evanston campus with this specially curated audio guide by the University Archivist and alumnus Kevin Leonard ’77, ’82 MS. Leonard shares stories of what campus life was like after worldwide historic events as well as perceptions of spaces on campus over the years all while talking you through the history behind the buildings that make up this great campus. Listen while you walk around campus or tune in to reminisce about your time in Evanston, you won’t want to miss this audio tour!
We also hope you enjoy the music throughout the tour, all of which are recordings of the Northwestern University Symphony Orchestra (NUSO) conducted by Victor Yampolsky in Pick-Staiger Concert Hall.
After being let go from his first job after college, Tony Wilkins ’79 learned to always plan for the next step even before knowing what that next step would be. This perspective on how to prepare and his drive to be financially independent have led to a successful journey from one role and industry to the next. Wilkins started in engineering, transitioned into finance after earning an MBA, and is now investing in early-stage ventures. You won’t want to miss his insights on prioritizing authenticity and coachability above everything else.
At graduation, she didn’t know if she would find a job she would enjoy that allowed her to use her communications degree, but Deena Beach ’03 was able to do just that. Though she didn’t start out on a traditional career path, Beach quickly found her way into a media agency and on her way to leadership positions: she is currently the Vice President of Marketing Strategy at Disney ABC Television Group–Freeform. We talked about some of the challenges of management, got real about motherhood, and left the interview inspired by her insight that you are not in competition with the world.
Founding Mariachi Northwestern while he was a student at Northwestern was just one of the many ways that Daniel Flores is leaving a legacy within his communities. Flores is heavily involved with QuestBridge, the organization he earned a scholarship from to come to Northwestern, and has touched many lives through his work with this program. Flores has now found a role where he is aligning his career goals with his personal goals as the Growth Projects Associate for The Chicago Public Education Fund. Tune in for practical career transition insights from a recent alumnus who has already made several successful moves in his journey.
She came to Northwestern’s law school to start her successful legal career. What Celeste Vogel '94 JD didn’t know was that she would also meet her husband and decide to move to Switzerland shortly after graduation. This was the first leap of faith Vogel made in her life, but it wasn’t the last. Vogel has taken on different functions each time she transitioned from one job to the next, learning new skills and impacting new communities along the way. You won’t want to miss her insights on authenticity, challenging perceptions, and playing a part in changing the narrative.
In his first role after graduating from Northwestern, John MacFarlane ’00, was working three jobs simultaneously – as a performer, concertmaster, and teacher – but he didn’t stop there. MacFarlane continued down a long and successful career in music doing a variety of things, most recently of which is at the Chicago Lyric Opera Orchestra as the Assistant Principal Second Violin. Don’t miss this fascinating conversation about how the music industry brings out unique challenges in one’s career as well as the overall changing landscape of music today.
You can learn more about John and his work at https://johnfostermacfarlane.com/.
You can learn more about the Farley Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Farley.northwestern.edu.
She never received a poor performance evaluation throughout her successful career in the legal industry, even through years of alcohol and drug addiction. Lisa Smith later had a panic attack and checked herself into rehab. She found herself writing to her family about her situation and recently published her book “Girl Walks Out of a Bar: A Memoir,” about her descent into and recovery from addiction. Tune in for insights from Smith’s experiences in overcoming adversity as well as from her two successful careers as a lawyer and as an author.
She always knew that she would tell her mother’s story. Maudlyne Ihejirika ’87 MSJ moved to the United States with her mother and siblings as refugees from the Nigerian civil war because her father was studying at Northwestern. Ihejirika earned her Master’s in Journalism from Medill and has been a reporter for the Chicago Sun Times for 25 years. She recently published her first book, Escape from Nigeria: A Memoir of Faith, Love and War, about her mother’s childhood in Nigeria and later her miraculous escape to the United States.
Though he found himself to be older than his classmates, he knew he came to Northwestern for a reason, to become a marriage and family therapist after a long career in consulting. Neil Venketramen ’16 MS has made many transitions throughout his life from growing up in South Africa under apartheid to moving to the United States consulting for Deloitte to getting a degree from and later working at Northwestern in The Family Institute as a therapist.
Kathy Khang ‘92 knew when she left print journalism to pursue a career at InterVarsity that she would come back to her Medill roots and continue writing down the road. Khang is the author of “Raise Your Voice,” which encourages people to speak up and make decisions based on their own set of values, and she is currently the Director of Campus Access Initiatives at InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA.
He stepped out onto the stage and had to tell the student body that the Beach Boys weren’t able to play that day…though this might not have been the exact moment, David Friendly learned about his passion for producing while a student at Northwestern. Friendly has been a journalist, a movie executive, the producer of films like Little Miss Sunshine, and now he is the President of Friendly Films.
Tune in to hear some of the best insights from our most listened to episode of the year. You’ll hear Kellogg professor, venture capitalist, and author, Carter Cast '92 MBA, talk more about the five archetypes that most often derail careers along with other advice he has to share around finding a career that has meaning to you. You will also learn more about an opportunity to enter in for a chance to win a signed copy of Cast’s book, The Right-and-Wrong Stuff: How Brilliant Careers are Made and Unmade. The following giveaway has now ended. Please provide your feedback for the podcast here. Enter for a chance to win a signed copy of The Right-and Wrong-Stuff: How Brilliant Careers are Made and Unmade by Carter Cast through filling out the form at www.northwestern.edu/intersections/cartercast. This Northwestern Alumni Association (1201 Davis Street, Evanston, IL 60208) promotion ends December 19, 2018, at 11:59 p.m. CDT. Forms filled out after the promotion period will not qualify. Each person will have the same odds of winning as we will draw the 20 winners by chance. Offer is limited to one book ($17.99 retail value) per household and limited to U.S. residents who are at least 18 years of age. Shipping and handling of the book will be covered by the Northwestern Alumni Association. No purchase or donation is necessary to enter and no purchase or donation will improve one’s chances of winning.
Sam Kleiner ’09 went to law school after graduating from Northwestern. He has held a number of roles in the legal industry, but his story doesn’t end there. He spent countless hours researching and writing a book after discovering a trove of love letters from a WWII pilot. His book, The Flying Tigers: The Untold Story of the American Pilots Who Waged a Secret War Against Japan, was released in May 2018. Kleiner talks to the NAA about the stories behind his book and how this history impacts US-China relations today. He shares insights from both his career in the legal industry as well as from an author’s perspective. Tune into hear more about these intersecting worlds.
Linda Gartz ’70, ’72 MS didn’t start her career thinking she would become an author. Through the skills she learned through her years teaching and then producing documentaries, she gained the necessary skills to eventually write her book after she discovered hidden letters in her parent’s former home. “Redlined: A Memoir of Race, Change and Fractured Community in 1960s Chicago” is a story about both the personal, in terms of Gartz’s family history, and the political, in terms of racist lending policies in Chicago. Gartz shares insights gained through her career transitions and she discusses the power of building social skills to network and keep in touch with friends and other alumni. Don’t miss this engaging conversation with a new author who has advice to share.
Dino Gane-Palmer ’11 MBA is a British entrepreneur based in Chicago. Gane-Palmer moved from the UK to earn his business degree from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern with the goal of leveraging an MBA to launch a company. He tells the story of starting his company PreScouter, a platform that enables innovation professionals to get things done through utilizing a global network of scholars at top universities, all while in school and then growing it to a 100+ person company. Gane-Palmer talks about some of the challenges he faced in moving to Chicago as well as some of the things he is most proud of throughout his career. Don’t miss this conversation with a successful entrepreneur who has many insights to share with the Northwestern Network.
Carol Ross ’83, ’87 MS worked as an engineer for years before making a transition. Ross started working with her HR department to get experience working with and training colleagues as an engineer a few years before she was let go from her long-standing position. Through that experience, dabbling in training and facilitating, she was able to get an idea of what she would be good at, and even more importantly what she would enjoy, in a second career. Ross discusses the emotions of a career change from her personal perspective, as well as her work with clients in the midst of personal and professional change. Don’t miss this eye-opening discussion of something many people don’t consider when actively making a change in their lives – their emotions.
Greg Schwem ’84 started his career in print journalism after graduating from the Medill School of Journalism. He worked his way into the broadcast side of reporting through his ability to learn quickly what the story was. He transferred this skill again later in his career during his transition into corporate entertaining through comedy. He has been in the world of comedy for almost 30 years, finding his niche in performing stand-up comedy and humorous motivational speeches at corporate events worldwide. Schwem shares valuable insights and inspiration for alumni looking to make a career change themselves.
Dorothy Tucker ’78 knew that she wanted to be a reporter since she was 16 years old so she came to Northwestern for the program in radio and television. Tucker has been a reporter ever since she graduated from Northwestern, working her way back to the community she grew up with, in Chicago. She has been at CBS 2 Chicago since 1984. Tucker talks about having three children throughout her time as a reporter, along with the sacrifices she had to make on both ends. Now she is an empty nester, traveling across the country to see her children, and was recently promoted to an investigative reporter. Don’t miss her advice on advocating for yourself and having the courage to persevere.
Also, Tucker is the Co-Chair of her 40 Year Reunion Committee. Homecoming and Reunion Weekend (October 11-14) are cherished traditions where alumni can share a toast to the past and a toast to the future. It is a time to come home to Evanston to celebrate, reconnect with classmates, and create new memories. Visit www.alumni.northwestern.edu/homecoming and www.alumni.northwestern.edu/reunion for more information.
Emily Farr ’03 went to law school after graduating from Northwestern not knowing exactly what she would do with that degree. Farr has since launched her own firm focused on corporate, employment, and health law. As she became a successful attorney she went looking for a women’s speakers bureau to get involved with. She couldn’t find what she was looking for so she started her own. Myra is Chicago’s all-female speakers bureau working to connect talented women to speaking opportunities and networking events. It may look like Farr has taken some risks in her career, but she doesn’t see it that way. Tune in for her perspective on putting in the work to figure out what you love.
Also, Farr is the Co-Chair of her 15 Year Reunion Committee. Homecoming and Reunion Weekend (October 11-14) are cherished traditions where alumni can share a toast to the past and a toast to the future. It is a time to come home to Evanston to celebrate, reconnect with classmates, and create new memories. Visit www.alumni.northwestern.edu/homecoming and www.alumni.northwestern.edu/reunion for more information.
Tune into a conversation with the Northwestern Alumni Association Board President, Samir Mayekar, as we discuss pivotal career concepts from the 2018 Northwestern Alumni Medalists. The Northwestern Alumni Medal is the highest honor given by the Northwestern Alumni Association (NAA). It will be bestowed this fall on two Fortune 500 CEOs, a movie studio executive, and a Smithsonian museum director.
- Louis A. Simpson ’58, (’96 P), Trustee,investment advisor and Fortune 500 CEO
- Johnnetta B. Cole ’59 MA, ’67 PhD, ’92 H, Smithsonian museum director and college president
- Douglas R. Conant ’73, ’76 MBA (’09 P), Fortune 500 CEO and New York Times bestselling author
- Courtney D. Armstrong ’93, ’97 JD, MBA, Warner Bros. Pictures executive
Ben Parr ’08 may not have found the perfect fit in his career right after graduating from Northwestern but he quickly transitioned to an organization where he thrived. Parr stayed at Mashable for over 3 years as it grew into one of the largest tech publications in the world. In the ten years since leaving Northwestern, Parr has been a journalist, investor, entrepreneur, and even an author of Captivology: The Science of Capturing People’s Attention. Don’t miss his insights on taking advantage of opportunities you didn’t even know where in front of you. Also, as a member of his 10 Year Reunion Committee, Parr shares what he is looking forward to most when he comes back to campus for Reunion Weekend.
Homecoming and Reunion Weekend (October 11-14) are cherished traditions where alumni can share a toast to the past and a toast to the future. It is a time to come home to Evanston to celebrate, reconnect with classmates, and create new memories. Visit www.alumni.northwestern.edu/homecoming andwww.alumni.northwestern.edu/reunion for more information.
Heather Foster ’03 joined the Obama Campaign early on in her career and she stayed with the Obama Administration for over ten years, growing her career throughout that time. She held a number of different philanthropic and political roles, where she both learned valuable skills and also left a lasting impact on this nation. Foster shares her perspective on the learning curve of making career changes and the importance of having your own board of directors to support your career decisions. Also, as a member of her 15 Year Reunion Committee, Foster shares more about what Reunion means to her.
Homecoming and Reunion Weekend (October 11-14) are cherished traditions where alumni can share a toast to the past and a toast to the future. It is a time to come home to Evanston to celebrate, reconnect with classmates, and create new memories. Visit www.alumni.northwestern.edu/homecoming and www.alumni.northwestern.edu/reunion for more information.
Sarah Powers ’02 worked in restaurants after graduating from Northwestern so that she could pursue her passion in dancing. Although this may not be a stereotypically traditional career path, she became a successful dancer before moving into the corporate space where she was able to hone a different set of skills. She didn’t know it then but Powers’ combination of experience in a creative space as well as on the business side played into her successes as the co-host of The Mom Hour and the Creative Director of the Life Listened Podcast Network. As a business owner and mother of three, Powers shares her honest opinions on parenthood as well as valuable insights for alumni facing tough career decisions themselves.
Thaddeus Tukes ’16 came to Northwestern knowing that there wasn’t a program for what he wanted to do but he had the faith he could work with Northwestern to create one. Although it wasn’t always easy, Tukes worked with leaders at the Bienen School of Music to create a major that worked for him, just as he is now working with community leaders in Chicago to create a lifestyle that works for him. He has accomplished a lot in his two year career path, like performing the vibraphone and being showcased at Carnegie Hall and the Symphony Center in Chicago, among many other jazz festivals, but he is most proud of his work teaching young people to enjoy and love art. You won’t want to miss this conversation around transforming your perspective from finding a career path to creating a lifestyle.
Alexis Alexanian ’85 started her career in advertising before quickly moving into the entertainment space where her career took off. She is currently an independent feature film and television producer, production executive and consultant. She has accomplished a lot in her career from working on major feature films to becoming the Board Chair of New York Women in Film & Television, where she has enjoyed her work in mentoring the next generation of women in her industry. Alexis is excited to build on her mentorship of future women leaders through her new appointment on the Council of 100, a group of executive Northwestern alumnae formed to connect successful Northwestern women with recent alumnae to help launch their careers after graduation.
Peter Schoenke started his career in financial journalism in New York and has long since moved back to the Midwest after making a career shift. He launched a website in 1997 in the tech boom that later became a successful business, RotoWire.com, in an industry he didn’t originally know much about. RotoWire.com is the largest independently-owned fantasy sports website that syndicates content to espn.com, Sports Illustrated, and so on. In this episode, Peter shares advice for not only fantasy sports fans but also insights for alumni who are entrepreneurial in their own careers.
Amanda Litman went into politics right after graduating from Northwestern, starting out her career in the Obama Campaign. She may not be working in campaigns now, but her passion for politics has grown even stronger. After working for Hillary Clinton’s campaign in 2016 as the Email Director (the other emails, as she would say) she went on to start her own organization (runforsomething.net). Her mission is to help young people run for office and she even wrote a book about it, “Run for Something: A Real-Talk Guide to Fixing the System Yourself” where people can learn more about how to become a political candidate. Litman shares some great stories of mentorship throughout her work on high level political campaigns, and you won’t want to miss these candid career insights!
Dr. Don Martin ’94 PhD cherished his six years earning his doctorate at Northwestern, which played into him pursuing his passion for helping others find their personal fit in a grad school. But, before Martin discovered his passion for helping people through the grad school process, he became an expert in the fields of enrollment management, student affairs, and higher education administration at some of the top Universities in the United States. Whether you’re applying for a new job or to go back to grad school, throughout his twenty years in higher education and ten years in coaching prospective students, Martin has been able to evaluate some of the key characteristics that make students and professionals successful: don’t make assumptions, be persistent, and practice gratitude.
Natasha Lindor '09 MS, the daughter of parents who immigrated to the United States from Haiti for a better life, grew up believing that a world class education and her unrelenting work ethic would be the keys to her success. Lindor climbed the corporate ladder for years before coming to campus for her Masters in Integrated Marketing and Communications. She wanted to be a global brand manager but realized a few years after finishing her program that she was passionate about helping others through career and lifestyle coaching. As you can imagine, Lindor has a plethora of career insights for the Northwestern Network in this episode as we discuss advice for career changers and how success is built one decision at a time.
For the award-winning journalist and author, Jonathan Eig '86, his first job delivering newspapers on his bike throughout his neighborhood was only the beginning of his long career in journalism. From his junior high and high school newspapers to his most recent book, Ali: A Life, Eig has been writing for his entire career, including three New York Time's bestsellers. He spoke with us about moving from reporting to writing autobiographical books and the skills that are transferable from one to the other. Eig shared advice for budding journalists as well as stories from his reporting and writing days. He spoke about meeting Muhammad Ali himself and the emotional experience that turned out to be. Tune in for the career insights and thoughtful stories from Eig's personal career journey through printed media.
Apryl Schlueter started her career in IT consulting but later learned that her calling was in a completely different industry. Schlueter is now the Chief Energy! Officer of The Cheerful Mind, Inc. -- a happiness and productivity coach, speaker, and the author of Finding Success in Balance: My Journey to The Cheerful Mind. After years of working in various industries, Schlueter realized her true passion for helping people streamline their lives to make more time for more joy, balance, and ease. Listen in to our conversation about the importance of self-reflection in finding the work life balance that makes sense for you and learn from Schlueter how a positive mindset can help you tackle some of your personal career challenges.
Carlos Paret came to Northwestern for his MBA and soon moved from Chicago to Southern California. He quickly got involved in Northwestern Alumni Association activities; Paret is the current president for both the Kellogg Alumni Club of Orange County and the NU Club of Orange County. He has been successful in a variety of leadership roles from early on in his career. Paret is fortunate enough to be working for a company that is transforming something that is very personal to him. Not only does Paret lead a successful career at Edwards Lifesciences, he is also a regular practioner of yoga, volunteers at his church, and hopes to organize a mission trip to Ecuador. You won't want to miss this episode packed with insights that will help you be both happier and more productive.
Daniel H. Pink graduated from Northwestern in 1986 and later became a New York Times bestselling author. Pink is the author of Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us, To Sell is Human: The Surprising Truth About Moving Others, and most recently, When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing. In this episode, Pink talks to the NAA not only about his research on timing and motivation and how that has an impact on our day to day lives, but also about his career more broadly. You will learn tips to improve your efficiency throughout the day, different ways you can motivate people depending on the task at hand, and even lessons learned along Pink's personal career journey.
Dr. Alexandra Solomon started out in pre-med as an undergraduate but she went on to become a different type of doctor than she initially intended. Dr. Solomon came to Northwestern for her Masters and PhD programs in clinical psychology and she never left. Solomon is a licensed clinical psychologist at The Family Institute at Northwestern and she is the professor for one of the most popular courses at Northwestern: Marriage 101. Her classes may have a waitlist but you can tune into this interview with her right now to learn more about her advice for developing loving relationships, her insights on transforming family patterns without rejecting one's family, and her career path more broadly as a psychologist, speaker, professor, and author.
The NAA wanted to celebrate reaching the tenth episode of Northwestern Intersections by curating some special content for our listeners. Our podcast team went back and listened to our first nine interviews and pulled out some of the advice and insights that stuck with them, ranging from seeking out mentorship to ways you can figure out what you most enjoy doing in your day-to-day. We hope you enjoy this special edition of Northwestern Intersections. We will be back with more interviews with alumni in a few weeks. Stay tuned for our conversations with New York Times Best-Selling authors Jonathan Eig and Dan Pink!
Elynne Chaplik-Aleskow is the definition of a successful career changer with three different and successful careers throughout the span of her lifetime. Her first career was as the Founding General Manager of WYCC-TV, a PBS affiliate. She later went back to a true passion of hers and became a Distinguished Professor Emeritus at Wright College in Chicago. As she retired, her husband provided some wisdom that Chaplik-Aleskow wouldn't be happy just retiring so she decided to become an author and now her memoirs are published in over 37 magazines and anthologies. As you can imagine, she has a number of great stories to share for career changers, advice to share for job seekers, and life lessons to share with the Northwestern Network.
Daniel Moser began his career as a stock boy but quickly learned that he was destined for something very different. Moser started his creative career in music playing the trumpet and soon after that, moved into acting. After successfully working in the theater world for many years he came back to Northwestern to pursue a doctorate in performance studies. Now he is using his theater background to teach students at Northwestern the very important communication and presentation skills they need to use to be successful in their own careers, whether that be in interviewing, presentations, and even in every day relationships. You won't want to miss this thought-provoking conversation with Moser as he discusses the role of consciousness in skill learning and always being aware of how you are presenting yourself.
Dave Collins graduated from Northwestern and went straight to work in a large corporate consulting firm before later branching out on his own. He discusses the profound impact that his work in student theater and improv groups on campus have had on his personal professional development, as well as on his career as a whole. After a few lessons learned along the way, one of which made him think he might lose his job in the first week, he decided to start his own company, Oak and Reeds, a corporate training firm dedicated to using the tools of improvisation to train clients on everyday soft skills useful for growing through change. Although he loves what he does, Collins tries to be mindful of having a career he is passionate about but also having a hobby that he loves that he keeps separate from work. Tune in to hear more great career insights Collins has learned through starting his own company in the Bay Area.
Ali Russo came to Northwestern for her LLM in taxation after she had been working in the legal industry for years. Russo started her own firm in the suburbs of Chicago in just a month's time and now she helps the community with their estate planning needs. Russo discusses some of the career decisions she has made over the years because of her family. She is open about how having a family and a career is no easy task but she truly enjoys her new definition of success. Russo offers great feedback on what networking really means in this new world of work. You won't want to miss the insights she shares about knowing when to leave a job, and more, that were revealed throughout the conversation.
Connor Regan knew that he wasn't going to be the valedictorian at Northwestern so he found his niche in collecting real world work experience with 9 internships while a student in Evanston. One of those internships was at Google where he went back to after graduation and has not left since. Although it is rare for a millennial to stay at the same organization for long, Regan talks about how he could work at Google for his entire career and do something different every couple of years. Listen in as Regan talks about his first job starting a vending machine company when he was 11 through the advice he has to share with the Northwestern Network.
Emily Klear '12 MS started her career in corporate America at Coca Cola selling fountain soda in the Bay Area. Klear went back to school for her Master's in Marital and Family Therapy after a few very challenging personal experiences made her want to help couples through traumatic events and tough relationship situations. Klear changed industries and quickly advanced her career to become the Director of Couples Services at The Family Institute at Northwestern University where she is an active couples therapist. Don't miss out on some great insights on changing careers as well as on relationships in general that have come out of her years of experience working with couples.
Emily Drewry has learned a lot since her first job at the local Piggly Wiggly and she has continued to grow in her current role as the Senior Social Content Manager at Forbes. She recently interviewed Arianna Huffington for a live Twitter interview series, a project that she recently developed from scratch. She moved to New York City a week after graduation from Northwestern and she has not looked back since. Listen in as Drewry talks about her path in the social-content journalism world and shares advice for fellow alumni.
Ishan Daya graduated from Northwestern where he studied flute performance and his career path has been far from traditional since then. He has a great perspective on learning something new from every experience, stemming from his first job at Summerfest in Milwaukee but he has come a long way since then. Daya worked for a few years in consulting at McKinsey before starting his own business with three other Northwestern alumni. They have grown their team from 9 people in 2017 to currently 51 people who are working on growing the company beyond their traditional offering of office happy hours. Listen in as Daya shares stories, like when he ran into a fellow alumnus in a hotel lobby in Egypt, along with many other bits of advice for Northwestern alumni.
Carter Cast is a successful professor, venture capitalist, and now author, but his career did not start out that easy. Cast talks to the NAA about his career path from working in marketing on Tostitos, to becoming the CEO of Walmart.com, to becoming a professor at Kellogg, and now he is the author of The Right and Wrong Stuff: How Brilliant Careers are Made and Unmade. Cast talks about the five archetypes that most often derail careers and provides advice into different criteria to consider when thinking about making a career change. You will not want to miss all of the insights Cast has to share with modern professionals.