Reunion Weekend 2024: Ask Me Anything Student-Led Conversations with Alumni

Current students are invited to join SOM alumni for an interactive and courageous conversation around career paths, identities, and shared interests. Partners are welcome to join.

Spots are limited. Please only register if you are able to attend.

The following topics have been curated by current SOM students:

The Art of '&' : Living the Full SOM Mission
This panel will discuss how business and society aren’t always at odds, how we can approach a balanced life and career at an intersection, and various methods to integrate and measure impact on society, regardless of a chosen career path.

Sarah Long ‘14, Vice President, Strategic Programs and Business Transformation, Warner Bros. Discovery
Jessica Strauss ‘09, Manager, Government of Canada
Vikram Wagh ‘04, CEO, Mahindra Farm Division, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd.
Panel will be moderated by Cinthya Garibay-Collard ‘24

<><><><>

Day-in-the-Life: Philanthropy and Social Impact
This panel will dive into various roles within philanthropy, how to prepare for a role in social impact, and both the benefits and drawbacks of such careers.

Paige MacLean '98, Independent Philanthropic Advisor
Brooke Patterson ‘05, Senior Program Officer, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
James Robertson ‘99, Former CEO, India HIV/AIDS Alliance
Susan Silver ‘89, Mission Investing Director, The David and Lucile Packard Foundation
Panel will be moderated by Erin Manning ‘24

<><><><>

Recruiting in the US as an International Student
This panel will discuss what international students should consider from cultural, legal, and procedural perspectives. A range of careers will be represented, but general advice will also be discussed.

Sophia Cui '19 Manager, Vehicle Operations, Jaguar Land Rover North America
Nataliia Shavrina '19, Vice President / Head of Global Analytics, Global Capital Finance
Meelendra Singh '20, Senior Product Manager, Amazon
Olivier Viel '19, Associate Director, Policy and Government Affairs, Merck
Rachel Ryan, Career Coach, Career Development Office, Yale School of Management
Panel will be moderated by Ano Shonhiwa '25

<><><><>

Unlocking the Golden (or Otherwise) Handcuffs

This panel will dissect why we struggle to make career pivots, how to strategize and set ourselves up to successfully transition into a new industry or role, and how to overcome the hurdles in starting something new.

Simran Dua ‘14, Founder, Chemistry
Tony Lynn ‘14, Global Program Lead, Meta
Jennifer McKinley '94, CEO and Founder, Cor Silver Skincare
Panel will be moderated by Adam Tang '25

<><><><>

Day-in-the-Life: Entrepreneurship
This panel will present the paths of multiple entrepreneurs, each discussing how they got started, what they wish they’d done differently, tips for fundraising, and what the most rewarding and challenging aspects of their roles have been.

Chris Granger '99, President of OVG360
Lori Hotz ‘94, Founder and CEO at Lobus
Tahira Rehmatullah ‘14, Partner, Highlands Venture Partners
Bill Tsai ‘94, Managing Director, Central Asset Investments
Panel will be moderated by Megan Grossman '25

<><><><>

Following the AMAs, students are also invited to attend:

4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Donald H. Ogilvie '78 Council for Anti-Racism and Equity - (CARE) Colloquium Keynote Panel Discussion: The Evolution of Business & Society

Named in honor of the late alumnus Donald H. Ogilvie '78, the Council on Anti-Racism and Equity (CARE) is proud to present its third colloquium. Please join fellow alumni, current students, faculty, and staff for a discussion on the Evolution of Business & Society, honoring Black leaders.

Panel:
Anna Blanding '09, Chief Investment Officer, ConnCORP
Mark Walton '79, Associate Professor of the Professional Practice in Media Management, The New School
Moderated by Camila Novo-Viano '25
 

The CARE Council includes representatives from the school’s faculty, students, alumni, and staff. It advises the dean and provides a mechanism for communication of needs and issues to the school’s senior leadership. It focuses on the action areas of inclusive community, academics and classroom culture, and representation. Launched in November 2022, the Donald H. Ogilvie Colloquia is a high-impact speaker series that brings underrepresented professionals of color regularly to campus to visit and engage with the SOM community.

5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. All Alumni Cocktail Reception - Invitation-only for students that attend the AMAs.