Student Blogs

Like most AMBAs, my path to the Johnson School has been non-traditional. I completed my undergraduate coursework at the University of California, Davis where I majored in Biology. After graduation, I worked as a bench scientist for Johnson and Johnson before returning to school to pursue my graduate studies at Yale University in the Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases. This led me to my last position working in Seattle for the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center as part of the Statistical Center for HIV/AIDS Research and Prevention (SCHARP).

While my education and work experience have so far been firmly rooted in the sciences, I already know that my time here in Ithaca will bring me up to speed on the business side of the scientific industry in no time. My goal is to leverage my scientific background into a career working in product management and marketing in the Pharmaceutical Industry.

As an AMBA I know I'm going to have to work hard, but also know there are ample chances to play hard and get know my extremely talented classmates and colleagues here at the Johnson School. I am confident the accelerated MBA program at Cornell will give me exactly what I need to meet and surpass my goals, and I look forward to sharing what I am sure will be a very eventful year with you!

Alex Zhang, AMBA '10

My career as a medicinal chemist started at Texas A & M University, where I carried out research on the mechanisms and treatment of Alzheimer's diseases. After receiving my Ph.D. degree, I joined a biotech start-up in to develop cancer-diagnosing DNA-chip technology. For the last seven plus years, I have focused on finding new therapies for cancer, diabetes and neurodegenerative diseases at Amgen San Francisco. These multidisciplinary projects have provided opportunities for me to learn both the science and the business of drug discovery. Finally, I decided my career had reached a point that I am ready to jump into an entrepreneurial endeavor. A well rounded business education will help me make it a smooth transition. The AMBA program at the Johnson School is a perfect fit.

Two weeks into this program, I have been overwhelmingly impressed by the School as well as my classmates. Although it is a challenge to fit all the activities and course work into a 16 hour-day, we did find time to get to know each other better, and managed to play two soccer matches (losers buy drinks the next Friday)! I look forward to enjoying the great outdoors and golf courses in the Finger Lake area during the summer.

One year is a short time. But there will be plenty of challenges and rewards. I am glad to share my experience with you in this space.

Dina Keswani, EMBA '09

Seeing my parents succeed in life through various trials and tribulations has taught me that reality is truly what you make of it. My street smart attitude therefore developed towards work and life in general, is what has got me this far in my career and my professional accomplishments. This has particularly equipped me to be an effective professional, having gained over a decade of business experience while employed with companies like NIIT, MphasiS (an EDS company), IBM, Accenture, and presently American Express. I have worked with both functional and matrix type organizations, at various levels, specializing in diverse capacities and functions namely sales/management, IT consulting, business process operations, and general management. This fruitful exposure both in the United States and in India included collaborating with teams in these countries, as well as project teams in Slovakia, Germany and the United Kingdom. My degree in Economics, from the Stella Maris College, Chennai India, provided me a good backbone as I made my way up in the corporate world. Gradually I developed an increased need, respect and motivation to absorb and apply fundamental yet critical business perspectives, in my everyday work. My academic accomplishments with Cornell University's ILR Off Campus school, made me even more keen to expand my scholastic potential and in particular - the Cornell Executive MBA program.Studying at Cornell will mark yet another new beginning to reflect on the past, contemplate the present and to dream of the Ivy future. I am indeed fortunate to be given an opportunity to share my insights and experience with the Cornell's Executive MBA program.

Jeff Gangemi, MBA '09 Park Fellow

I grew up in York, PA and attended Middlebury College, majoring in Religious Studies. After graduation, I spent two years working as an AmeriCorps*VISTA for the San Diego Council on Literacy and then the International Rescue Committee. After traveling with my now-wife, Shannon, I moved to New York, where I joined BusinessWeek's B-Schools Channel and later the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Channel. I recently spent five months in Argentina writing for BusinessWeek and volunteering for a microfinance organization. I'm now a Park Leadership Fellow and excited to share my experiences with you.

Krishna Sampath, AMBA '09

Neela and I are originally from India, having spent the last seven years in Boston and Singapore. We have a beautiful 17 month old daughter Sanjana, who is extremely excited at the prospect of "exploring" the big wide world around her. Prior to coming to Ithaca, I spent three years leading a product development team in Asia for Teradyne Inc, the world's leading semiconductor test equipment manufacturer. Travelling across Asia was an exhilarating experience, but proved to be a big dietary challenge, yes I am a vegetarian!! I have an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Pune in India and a graduate degree from Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worcester, Massachusetts. I want to switch careers from engineering to consulting, and found the Accelerated MBA program at the Johnson School to be the perfect fit given my background and career aspirations. I look forward to sharing my experiences and perspectives about life in Ithaca and the Johnson School over the next 12 months.

Faizan Syed, MBA '09

I am currently a second year student originally from Karachi, Pakistan. I moved to the US when I was 18 to begin my undergrad education at the University of Virginia . I graduated with a double major in Psychology and Economics, but, because I am a bit of a car fanatic, I started my career at General Motors. In the four years I spent at the company prior to B-school, I worked in a variety of functions ranging from manufacturing and marketing to business development and strategy.
I chose to return to business school to switch careers and begin a career in investment banking with a focus on the auto industry. Cornell was an easy choice given its strength in the banking career track, its collaborative nature and smaller size. My first year was simply amazing and I am looking forward to a similar second year experience.

Bethany Diddle, MBA '09

Bethany grew up all over the country but calls New Mexico, where she spent most of her childhood years, home. Prior to business school, Bethany worked as an Account Executive in both advertising and design firms, helping to build brands for companies such as Celebrity Cruises, Johnson & Johnson, Unilever, and The Campbell Soup Company. She also has extensive experience in new business development, working in this function for The National Foreign Trade Council and Arnold Worldwide. This summer, Bethany interned at General Electric in the corporate marketing department for the Innovation and Strategic Connections group. While she loved her internship, she's so excited to be back in Ithaca and sharing the great experiences we have here with all of you!

Benjamin Rollins, MBA '09

Entrepreneurship and Marketing is my primary focus at Cornell's Graduate School of Management (MBA class of '09). On the side I explore Ithaca's famous gorges with the Outdoors Club, toss footballs as president of the Football Club, and spread the entrepreneurial spirit as an officer in the EVC Club . Furthermore, I'm a member of the most exclusive unofficial club on campus - the parent's club. I have a wonderful wife and two little blonde boys ages 2 and 4.

Before my coming to Cornell, I received a B.S. in business from BYU in Provo, UT. While at BYU I took a two year hiatus to be a full-time volunteer in Mexico. After graduating I moved to San Francisco to work at Gap Inc as a merchandise planner managing a $220M division. Later, I was selected to perform market analysis at the Gap's new fourth brand Piperlime.com. Finally, I decided to leave the big corporation and work at a profitable startup named Shade Clothing in Salt Lake City. All this time I ran the website www.gorillabags.com where I sell funky and fun college furniture.

Tory Ragsdale, MBA '10, Park Fellow

I studied Engineering Management at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore in college and pursed my MS at Illinois State University in the same field. I joined State Farm Insurance in Bloomington, Illinois as a Leadership Development Associate after graduation to broaden my leadership experience. I took an operations optimization assignment later as an internal consultant and my work resulted in significant cost savings for my company. From this experience I realized my ability to make an impact well beyond the purely engineering or general management disciplines and decided to pursue strategy consulting as a full-time career. Even as a first year at The Johnson School, I have found the resources for charting my career to be virtually endless. From individual assessments to casework to career work groups, I have learned a great deal more about my industries of interest and most importantly learned more about myself. Studying and learning with the best minds from around the world has been an incredible opportunity to grow professionally and build long-lasting friendships. In my spare time I enjoy cycling, soccer, rare book collecting.

Kelly Quinn, MBA '10, Park Fellow

I grew up in Hudson, MA and attended Boston College, where I majored in English and Communications. After two years with Liberty Mutual Insurance Company, I transitioned to Simon Management Group, a market strategy consulting firm focused on growth opportunities for technology-based companies. I spent the last two years living and working in Golden, CO and made the decision to return to business school to build a stronger marketing foundation. I am interested in pursuing a career in brand management and am excited about the wealth of opportunities that The Johnson School offers in this regard. I am participating in the Park Leadership Fellows program and look forward to sharing my experiences with you.

Anna Bruno, MBA '10, Park Fellow

My route to business school was by no means direct, but as far as I'm concerned, it makes perfect sense. An entrepreneur and a writer at heart, I found my way here via studies in religion and philosophy at Stanford, followed by a stint in public relations, marketing roles for two software start-ups, and a bit of post-acquisition work at IBM. I like wearing jeans to work, going in late and leaving late, and sitting at the same table as the CEO. I am and I always will be a Pittsburgher by association, but I've now spent almost a third of my life in the San Francisco Bay Area. Today, I'm thrilled to spend two years in Ithaca at the Johnson School-I wouldn't have it any other way.

Kima McCoy, MBA '10

Greetings! I am a first-year Johnson School student with the Class of 2010, but I recently deployed to Iraq for my third tour of service since I graduated from the Air Force Academy in 2001. I was born on Suwon Air Base in South Korea, and ever since, military service has been in my blood. Uncle Sam gave me the opportunity to live in many locations: Texas, Germany, Afghanistan (twice), Virginia, and New York. Now a member of the New York Air National Guard, I expect to return to Ithaca in time for the fall semester where I'll resume my studies with the Class of 2011. I am also a volunteer CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) that advocates for abused and neglected children. I am excited to share my experiences with you all!