Last month, Ithaca College School of Business students went to New York City and spent a busy 36 hours meeting alums, learning career possibilities, and touring major firms. Leading the group of sixteen students were chaperones Jonathan Chalmers, Career Engagement Specialist for the School of Business from the Center for Career Exploration & Development; Dr. Chee Ng, Associate Professor, Department of Finance in the School of Business; and Cooper Rothman, Career Engagement Specialist for the School of Music, Theater, and Dance. On this trip, planned by Chalmers and funded by the Ithaca College School of Business, students visited Goldman Sachs, Citi, KPMG, and Bloomberg. At each firm, students were given alum and career introductions alongside the opportunity to ask questions and exchange further contact with alums.
The first stop off the bus from Ithaca College (after bags were dropped at the Belvedere Hotel) was Goldman Sachs. We arrived ready in business-formal dress to the glass-paneled, Tribeca firm. Scott Ruffrage, Global Head of Electronic Trading Compliance Vice President; Reggie Ambroise, Electronic Trading Compliance Vice President; and Courtney Lowery, Securities Division Compliance Vice President spoke to us and detailed their time working and succeeding in a competitive environment. After this informative session, we all had even more questions about the work and culture of Goldman Sachs and investment banking overall. Question-asking only ended as the trip’s busy schedule called for a walk down to Greenwich Village to Citi’s global headquarters.
Citi was exciting; being greeted by Class of 2023 Ithaca College graduate, Sarah Webb (and now Citi Financial Analyst) was inspiring as myself and many other students sat next to her as a peer just a semester ago in the School of Business’ Core Trading Consultants Club. Seated around a conference room table with NYC neighborhood views and Citi pens and notebooks in front of us, it was easy to find enthusiasm for the company and their many undergraduate program offerings. In a room full of Citi representatives (a few of which being Ithaca College alums), we openly walked around and learned how Citi has student-engaging programs that start even before one graduates! Webb and Kiera Peterson (’21) were able to speak to us, detailing their undergraduate experiences at Citi that led to now career experiences with the firm.
After two firms, we ended our first day surrounded by pizza and more Ithaca College alumni (what a combination!) at John’s Pizza of Times Square. To have a casual meal surrounded by alumni – including Miguel Ferreira ‘07, Francesca Infante-Meehan ‘23, and Gary Kerper ‘80 – who were so generous with their time was a unique experience that allowed us to connect with each other not just professionally, but personally. Interests were shared, recent news happenings were discussed, contact information was exchanged – there was something about sitting down for a meal with these people that really showed the personality behind their careers and successes.
On the second day of the trip (after some NYC bagels enjoyed right around the corner from our hotel), we visited KPMG Global Mobility Services. At KPMG, one of the “Big Four” accounting firms, we were welcomed by a group of central New York college graduates (a mixture of Ithaca College and SUNY Geneseo alums), like Brian Garvey, Tax Manager (Ithaca College ‘14) and Senior Manager, Noelle Morrison (Geneseo ‘14). We watched a presentation that detailed what KPMG does for their customers, but also their employees. We saw the impact of working for a personally supportive company and many students began to really consider this impact when thinking about the location of their future careers.
Bloomberg LP was our last stop. We rode up the elevator designed with the day’s terminal reports to an open floor full of employees working, meeting with each other, and passing by. We had tour guides who taught us some architectural significances of the building. The guides detailed how the Bloomberg company strives to be open and full of luck, represented by the surrounding open glass doors and walls and overall horseshoe-shaped building. We toured more down into some of the company’s broadcast studios. As a student majoring in Journalism and Business Administration with a concentration in Finance, it was unique to see these two majors come together. Connecting with Bloomberg Markets Senior Producer, Queenette Karikari was great as it showed more opportunities in the business and media field.
After each firm visit, students would discuss which firm they liked best. It was great to hear different students with different interests and skills weigh their new knowledge on motivation for future careers. Each firm, no matter how different in company mission, did highlight the importance of being genuine. Many times, skill was discussed as an automatic, whereas interest in people and work ethic was highlighted upon. Sometimes the world of business may seem closed or cold, but this trip reinforced the necessity and skill of being an employee, coworker, or even just a person who cares about one’s company, its mission, and its people.
