Marketing and Entrepreneurship Archives - ��Ƶ

Leadership and Career Readiness Take Center Stage at Presidential Lecture Series

Richard Pietras — Fri, 24 Oct 2025 20:18:20 +0000

��Ƶ students had the rare opportunity to hear firsthand from , a senior leader at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), during an engaging Presidential Lecture Series event with President Michelle J. Anderson.

Held in partnership with the New York Jobs CEO Council and attended by more than 160 people, the student-focused talk kicked off with a dynamic introduction by the council’s executive director, Kiersten Barnet. Before the main discussion, faculty from ��Ƶ’s Koppelman School of Business hosted an insightful roundtable, where they exchanged ideas with Griggs, Barnet, and Anderson on key topics in accounting and business strategy. The event also included a workshop for students with New York Jobs CEO Council representatives that focused on jobs readiness.

Attended by more than 160 people, the Presidential Lecture Series event on October 23 with Paul Griggs centered on the critical skills that drive professional success and how leadership is evolving in today’s ever-changing workforce.

Griggs began the main lecture by introducing PwC—one of the largest professional services firms in the world, employing more than 370,000 people across 150 countries and territories. He explained the firm’s three major practice areas: assurance, tax, and consulting, each powered by professionals from diverse disciplines, including accounting, data science, and engineering.

Reflecting on his own journey, Griggs shared how he came to accounting “by accident.” Growing up in a small South Carolina town, he initially aspired to become a doctor, until a hospital visit made him reconsider. “I realized quickly I wasn’t cut out for medicine,” he joked. Instead, he turned to accounting—“the language of business”—because it offered stability and opportunity. That “accident,” he said, led to a 30-year career at PwC that opened doors he never imagined possible.

Throughout the conversation, Griggs emphasized that accounting provides a foundation for limitless career paths. “Once you understand the language of business, you can do anything,” he said, noting that many PwC alumni now lead in industries from banking to health care.

A major theme of the discussion was technology and artificial intelligence. Griggs urged students not to fear technological change but to “play, experiment, and explore.” He noted that PwC professionals already integrate large language models and AI tools into their daily work. “AI won’t replace your job,” he said. “But someone who knows AI might.”

President Anderson steered the conversation toward soft skills, asking what qualities matter most in the future of accounting.

Paul Griggs encouraged students in attendance to believe in themselves and take chances: “Say yes, even when you’re not sure you’re ready. You belong in every room you walk into.”

Griggs’s response was passionate and personal: “You already have what it takes—grit, attitude, curiosity, and the ability to connect with people.” He reminded students that success is built through hard work and persistence, quoting Kobe Bryant’s philosophy that “the journey itself is the dream.”

He also spoke candidly about failure and resilience, recounting career disappointments that ultimately led him to his current leadership role. “Sometimes you don’t get what you think you want,” he said. “But that’s often because something better is waiting.”

When asked about mentorship, Griggs credited both professional and personal mentors—from professors to parents—for shaping his journey. “You’re already a mentor and a mentee,” he told students. “People are watching you and learning from you every day.”

Griggs also fielded questions from students. Closing the event, he encouraged them to believe in themselves and take chances: “Say yes, even when you’re not sure you’re ready. You belong in every room you walk into.”

Watch the entire lecture .

About the Presidential Lecture Series at ��Ƶ

The Presidential Lecture Series features ��Ƶ President Michelle J. Anderson in conversation with high-profile leaders, exposing students and the extended college community to inspiring ideas, courageous leadership, and models of civic engagement and civil discourse.

The post Leadership and Career Readiness Take Center Stage at Presidential Lecture Series appeared first on ��Ƶ.

Marketing Faculty, Students Host Top Industry Leaders for Career-Boosting Seminar

Richard Pietras — Thu, 27 Feb 2025 17:31:50 +0000

On February 20, ��Ƶ’s marketing students were treated to an exciting and educational day of career-building insights at a special seminar led by distinguished leaders from the business and finance sectors. The event, spearheaded by Assistant Professor Ngoc Cindy Pham—a CUNY Career Success Fellow, Tow Senior Faculty Mentor, and Career Readiness Council Member—provided students with invaluable tools for professional communication and career planning.

(Left to right) Assistant Professor Ngoc Cindy Pham and Amber Creighton of Cathay Securities, Inc., address Koppelman School of Business students.

The seminar was a powerful learning experience, featuring a lineup of influential guest speakers. Ryan Ban Tran, CEO of Trans International Group, Inc., captivated students with practical tips on effective business communication. Tran shared strategies for simplifying complex business concepts into clear, engaging language that resonates with diverse audiences—an essential skill in today’s fast-paced corporate world.

Amber Creighton of Cathay Securities, Inc., shed light on careers in investment banking. Known for being an industry often dominated by Ivy League graduates, investment banking might seem out of reach for many. However, Creighton made it clear that with the right approach, anyone can tap into this competitive field. Students had the chance to discuss their own interests, learn how to build strong professional networks, and gain practical advice on how to break into top firms.

(Left to right) Guillermo Molina, Ryan Ban Tran, Provost April Bedford, Amber Creighton, Cindy Ngoc Pham, and Dean James Lynch.

The seminar also had an international dimension, with Guillermo Molina attending on behalf of Universidad Católica Tecnológica del Cibao. His visit highlighted the ongoing discussions about a potential sisterhood agreement between ��Ƶ and universities in the Dominican Republic. This partnership would open doors for students to explore new academic and cultural opportunities abroad.

What truly set the seminar apart was Pham’s dedication to turning her students’ aspirations into real opportunities. On the first day, she asked students about their dream careers, and little did they know that a few weeks later, they would be sitting in a classroom with real industry leaders, learning directly from them.

Ryan Ban Tran, CEO of Trans International Group, Inc., captivated students with practical tips on effective business communication.

In the lead-up to the event, Pham worked one-on-one with students to fine-tune their résumés, ensuring they were fully prepared to meet with recruiters and make the most of the seminar’s networking opportunities. This thoughtful preparation helped students feel confident and ready to take the next step in their careers.

The event kicked off with inspiring words from Provost April Bedford and Murray Koppelman School of Business Dean James Lynch, who stopped by to welcome the guest speakers and show their unwavering support for student career development. Their presence underscored ��Ƶ’s ongoing commitment to helping students succeed in their chosen fields.

This career seminar was just one example of how the college continues to invest in the future of its students. It was a powerful reminder of the college’s unwavering commitment to equipping students with the skills and connections they need to thrive in the professional world.

The post Marketing Faculty, Students Host Top Industry Leaders for Career-Boosting Seminar appeared first on ��Ƶ.

Business Students Close Out 2024 with a Bang

Richard Pietras — Wed, 08 Jan 2025 17:57:09 +0000

To help close out 2024 on a high note, several Koppelman School of Business students joined faculty for a pair of high-level business functions.

On Dec. 31, Koppelman’s Interim Dean James Lynch and Assistant Professor Ngoc Cindy Pham, along with students and the founders of the KSB Business and Investment Club, Damir Shavkatov and Allen Mardakhayev, were invited by Ryan Ban Tran, CEO of Trans International Group, Inc., and Amber Creighton, Cathay Securities, Inc., to participate in the NASDAQ closing bell ceremony with Pheton Holdings Ltd. in Times Square.

(Left to right) Thomas Poudyal, Product Manager; Valeria Arrieta, Analyst for Freddie Mac; Allen Mardakhayev, ��Ƶ Business Management/Marketing student; Ryan Ban Tran, CEO of Trans International Group; Jianfei Zhang, CEO of Phethon Holdings Ltd.; Professor Ngoc Cindy Pham, Department of Management, Marketing, and Entrepreneurship; Depinder Grewal, Managing Partner, Tiger Alternative Investments; Damir Shavkatov, ��Ƶ Psychology/Marketing student; Interim Dean James Lynch of Koppelman School of Business.

During the event, Lynch engaged with leaders from the financial industry in New York City and global markets, fostering collaborations to strengthen ties between the Koppelman School and key members of the finance community. He also extended invitations to industry professionals to visit the ��Ƶ campus in 2025 for seminars, networking events, and collaborative projects aimed at bridging academia to the financial sector.

Prior to that, on Dec. 9, Tran invited Pham—a CUNY Career Success Fellow and the Tow Senior Faculty Mentor at the college—and the KSB Business and Investment Club members to a private board meeting with officials from Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade to discuss sustainable energy and water development.

The events helped pave the way for future student participation in high-level case studies through Pham’s strategy of applied learning and the KSB Business and Investment Club.

The post Business Students Close Out 2024 with a Bang appeared first on ��Ƶ.

Fashion Event Connects Students With Industry Professionals

Richard Pietras — Wed, 16 Oct 2024 14:56:42 +0000

On October 8, ��Ƶ students hosted the NYFWx ��Ƶ fall 2024 fashion show, a bi-annual event that merges academia with the fashion industry. Part of the 2024–25 CUNY Career Success Fellowship and attended by more than 100 people, the initiative provided students with the opportunity to showcase their skills in marketing, selling, and event planning while engaging directly with industry professionals.

Photos by Junyi Li.

The day featured a panel discussion with leading fashion designers from New York Fashion Week, followed by a student-produced fashion show, highlighting emerging trends and designs. Interim Associate Dean of the Koppelman School of Business Myles Bassell participated in the panel alongside the fashion designers and, the event concluded with a networking session and free professional headshots for attendees.

“We’re incredibly proud of our students for the hard work they put into this event,” said Assistant Professor Cindy Ngoc Pham, a CUNY career success fellow and event organizer. “This was a fantastic opportunity for them to apply what they’ve learned in class to a major industry event, and the results were outstanding.”

The event was organized by a team led by Ezae Darby, a fashion designer who is majoring in business administration with a concentration in marketing and is taking Pham’s Principles of Selling class. The day was particularly special for Darby because his mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother attended his first successful event. His grandmother, a proud alumna of ��Ƶ, expressed her pride in seeing him continue the ��Ƶ family connection: “I had all great professors at ��Ƶ. That is why I am confident in the education here.”

The post Fashion Event Connects Students With Industry Professionals appeared first on ��Ƶ.

��Ƶ’s School of Business Earns Reaccreditation from AACSB

Richard Pietras — Thu, 08 Feb 2024 19:03:02 +0000

��Ƶ is proud to announce that the Koppelman School of Business has earned its accreditation extension from the the global accrediting body for business schools.

Offering degrees in accounting, business management, economics, and finance, the Koppelman School is part of an elite group of the world’s schools that confer business degrees at the bachelor level or higher, while being the only accredited business school in Brooklyn.

“Congratulations to everyone at the Murray Koppelman School of Business for securing this prestigious distinction,” President Michelle J. Anderson said. “Dean Qing Hu and the entire Koppelman faculty are doing extraordinary work to prepare the business leaders of tomorrow through hands-on experience and professional mentorship.”

Just a few of the programs and initiatives that set Koppelman apart include:

CUNY’s first concentration in Diversity and Inclusion in Business for the school’s undergraduate B.B.A. in Business Administration Program that incorporates liberal arts and focuses on addressing racial, ethnic, and gender inequities.
The popular, fully online M.S. degrees in business administration and accounting designed to be completed in one year for full-time students or committed working professionals.
The M.D. Sass Investment Institute that provides a unique experiential learning opportunity for students in finance and investments.
The Executive-in-Residence Program and the Business Matters! annual conference that connects students with expertise and opportunity through business industry leaders and successful alumni.
The Koppelman Entrepreneurship Competitions that develop creative thinking and support student entrepreneurs.

“Being the only accredited business school in Brooklyn gives our students a competitive edge,” said Dean Hu. “I would like to thank our faculty, corporate partners, and alumni business leaders who have engaged our students through initiatives like the Executive-in-Residence Program and Business Matters! events as well as internships and experiential learning opportunities and mentorship programs. World-class faculty, real-world experience, and alumni engagement are what set Koppelman apart.”

One recent example of how Koppelman is connecting students with industry professionals was a seminar with leading New York City–based real estate firm Citysphere for a guest lecture in Assistant Professor Cindy Pham’s class on the intricacies of selling in the real estate industry. This is just another example of how the Koppelman School builds bridges between academic learning and practical industry insights.

Student Daviti Mkheidze praised the guest lecture session.

“Listening to real estate expert Patrice Bericourt’s inspiring journey in real estate was a unique learning experience to master the art of sales,” Mkheidze said. “I learned the importance of building relationships, having effective communication, and embracing rejection as an opportunity to grow.”

Achieving AACSB accreditation is a mission-driven, rigorous process that includes an in-depth assessment of assurance of learning in degree programs, faculty intellectual contribution, industry, and community engagement, and societal impact, and a comprehensive peer-review process that focuses on continuous improvement in all areas. During this multiyear path, schools focus on developing and implementing programs to achieve their mission and align with AACSB’s accreditation standards. These principles-based standards require excellence in areas relating to strategic management and innovation, research, and teaching and learning.

Founded in 1916, AACSB is the largest business education network of students, educators, and businesses globally providing quality assurance, business education intelligence, and professional development services to more than 1,600 organizations and over 800 accredited business schools worldwide. The accreditation process measures the quality of educational services against 15 international standards that ensure continuous improvement and provide a focus for schools to deliver upon their academic program and mission.

AACSB has 1,013 accredited institutions in over 60 countries and territories and 194 institutions with AACSB accreditation for accounting programs. Achieving this milestone ensures greater access to high-quality business education for learners around the world and businesses seeking top talent.

“AACSB congratulates each institution on achieving AACSB accreditation,” said Stephanie Bryant, executive vice president and global chief accreditation officer at AACSB. “The commitment to earning accreditation is a true reflection of each school’s dedication—not only to its students, alumni network, and greater business community—but to society as a whole.”

The post ��Ƶ’s School of Business Earns Reaccreditation from AACSB appeared first on ��Ƶ.