Northeastern Next Podcast

Northeastern alumni can be found around the world—there over 275,000 people who are connected by one global university. Every day our alumni volunteers give their time and talent to make the Northeastern network even stronger.  In this episode, Ilana Gensler, assistant director of alumni engagement, will speak with a few of our volunteers from San Francisco to Thailand.  Volunteers:  Rachel Rappe,...

“The Breakfast Club with murder” is how Karen McManus, MA’04, describes her first novel, "One of Us is Lying." Now with four books published and more on the way, this New York Times Bestselling author has made writing her full-time career. Karen started in PR and Marketing, but realized it was never too late to make a switch. In this episode she shares how a familiar '80s song inspired her writing...

Pandemic pivots became a priority for many entrepreneurs in early 2020, but a variety of factors can influence a product change. In this episode, you’ll hear from two business leaders: Yewande Masi, CJ’09, founder of Ornami skincare and Glen Giovanucci, DMSB’83, CEO at G-Form . This episode features a pre-recorded interview from our virtual entrepreneurship event in November. It’s moderated by Kat...

18 billion pounds of plastic enter our oceans each year, a harrowing fact that only accounts for a portion of our planet's pollution crisis. Northeastern innovators are tackling this problem to create sustainable solutions for cleaner oceans. Bureo , an emerging B-Corp, has created a program to recycle fishing nets into a NetPlus™ material, used in products by Patagonia and other partner companies...

Successful CEOs are not born overnight. Ryan Drexler, AS’93, grew up as the shy kid and lacked confidence in public speaking, but like every Northeastern student, he focused on finding his career path. Ryan majored in theatre, a unique choice at the time, but one that brought him outside his comfort zone to develop essential leadership skills. Fast forward to the present, Ryan is now CEO and presi...

Creativity. Diversity. Changemakers. What do these buzz words really mean? Vallabhi Singh, DMSB’17, has been chasing that answer and her own curiosity since she graduated. Unexpectedly, she left her promising career in New York City to return to her home country of India, but she brought with her a deep passion for entrepreneurship, collaboration, and connection. She focused her energy and founded...

An American passport changed her life. Alexandra Tarzikhan was born in the United States to her American mom and Syrian dad. She grew up in the city of Aleppo, returning to Boston to attend Northeastern. But in 2011 at the start of the Syrian civil war, Alexandra could easily hop on a plane thanks to her passport. Her lived experience became drastically different than the refugees struggling for s...

What do the Beanpot and Chicken Lou’s have in common? They are both beloved Northeastern traditions, and Men’s Hockey Head Coach Jim Madigan speaks fondly of both. Coach Madigan set foot on campus for the first time in 1981 as a first-year student. Graduating in 1986, he landed his first assistant coaching job at Northeastern, and 34 years later, hasn’t looked back. Coach Madigan is a six-time Bea...

If sports journalism makes you think of box scores and game recaps, you are only scratching the surface. Kade Krichko, AMD'12, is a freelance writer, editor, and photojournalist who makes a living traveling the world and chasing stories. Covering skateboarding in Cuba, and the history of skiing in China, he writes with a unique lens at the intersection of sports and culture and is published in The...

What's "African fashion?" Audrey Lang, DMSB’15, finds it almost impossible to define for the most culturally diverse continent in the world. Born in France to two Cameroonian immigrants, she has lived in the US since she was three with the goal to work in Africa after her Northeastern experience. Having built a career in retail and e-commerce, Audrey landed an opportunity in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire...

What is the “heart” of your ideal workplace? Who are the people, the values, and the shared goals? The answers to these questions help define an "employer brand"—the look, feel, and voice of a company. Employer branding and recruitment marketing are growing fields in the modern work landscape, where talent acquisition is competitive and employees are expecting more. Rian Finnegan, AMD'11 is a cham...

Simply making it to Shark Tank might be the ultimate dream for an entrepreneur. But, last year, Jamie Ratner, MS’01, founder and CEO of CertifiKID , closed a deal with Mr. Wonderful himself, for her discount website for family-friendly activities. Before starting CertifiKID, Jamie worked in security for almost a decade after receiving her master’s in criminal justice at Northeastern. But, as a par...

There are five times as many books about trucks than there are about any children of color. When Sailaja Joshi, DMSB’06 was searching for authentic and appropriate stories of Indian culture for her own children, she found a huge diversity gap in children’s literature. So, she decided to solve the problem, and launched Mango and Marigold Press, an award winning independent publishing house focusing...

We might love the sun, but it is also very harmful to our largest organ—the skin. Lauren Rampello, DMSB’11 is the founder of Pure Glow—a company dedicated to bringing an organic and sunless tanning solution to Boston. Lauren built her business on knowledge and transparency, focusing on natural ingredients, while prioritizing health and the unique client experience. And, Lauren has leveraged Northe...

Students who like biology often go the pre-med route, but what if being a doctor isn’t the right fit for you? Navigating the medical career landscape can be daunting, but Katie Lemons, MS’19 found a way to combine her passions and carve a unique path. Recently earning her Physician Assistant degree and license from Northeastern, she also has a master’s degree in nutrition and manages a popular blo...

If you've been in Boston, you might recognize the classic pedicab—the three-wheeled bicycle pedaled by local college students who shuttle tourists and fans to Fenway Park. Ben Morris, DMSB’05, knew that a pedal-powered vehicle could go even farther. What started as a Boston-based fleet of five, today has grown into the largest pedicab company in the country, called Coaster Cycles. And Ben—now CEO...

Sweat. Inspire. Transform. Raise the Bar. You’ll find these words on the walls of The Handle Bar Indoor Cycling Studio, founded by Jess Fracalossi, AS'10, in 2013, with a mission far beyond the bike. Six years later, she has four award-winning locations in Boston, loyal riders, and a brand centered around passion, community, and wellness. From angel investors and the brick and mortar real estate g...

In a world of Nike, Adidas, Reebok, and Under Armour, is it possible to break through and create a new and competitive sportswear brand? Jason Yau, DMSB’17, founder of Zyphr apparel , thinks so. Athletes in Hong Kong rely on foreign brands, and Jason saw a gap in the market for his homegrown premium sportswear company. With global fast fashion trends and low barriers to entry, Jason is setting his...

Crime thriller novels and TV shows have always been popular, but author Brian Shea, CJ’97 has literally been at the scene of the crime. After serving in the US Navy, Brian spent over 10 years in law enforcement as a detective, and now writes what he knows. What do a terrorist, human trafficker, and serial killer have in common? They’ve all been hunted by his leading character, FBI agent, Nick Lawr...

Sophia Moon, MBA’13, is an artist, entrepreneur, marketing consultant, and community builder who has always followed passion in her career. Instead of a side hustle, she designed a life she loves with many major hustles, giving each her full attention. She now owns Essem Art Studio in Charlestown, MA, leading art and music labs for children. She is also the Boston Chapter host of Creative Mornings...

When he was 11, Jonathan Ulman dreamed of playing drums with Pearl Jam. Fast forward to today, he is a three-time winner of the Boston Music Award's Session Musician of the Year, a teacher at the Berklee College of Music, and has over 20 years of experience playing in live concerts and on hundreds of records. Jonathan understands the hustle involved in making a music career a reality, but more imp...

Northeastern alumni programming spans the globe, serving more than 257,000 community members. Who makes it possible? Our volunteers! Hear from some our community leaders from France, Brazil, Spain, Greece, Singapore, the UK, and Boston, about why they choose to come back to serve their alma mater.  If you are interested in getting involved, visit: alumni.northeastern.edu/leader Our featured leader...

What happens when you combine a love of craft beer with a passion to do good? You get Redemption Rock Brewing Co., led by alumni Dani Babineau, AS’10, and Dan Carlson, AS’10. Their brewing company is a registered benefit corporation—a for-profit organization that is legally bound to include positive social, community, or environmental impact. Redemption Rock brews for the community, focusing on lo...

Sarah Stokey could be a Hollywood action hero. The Massachusetts native moved to Alaska after graduation, to pursue her dream of sled dog racing. In 2019, she finished her second Iditarod race—a grueling 1,000-mile sled dog race from Anchorage to Nome, Alaska. From an early age, Sarah discovered her love of dogs, and took a leap of faith in making it a full-time career. Sarah is both a musher and...

Daniel Clarke, DMSB’12, always had a passion for storytelling, entrepreneurship, and supporting wildlife. After graduating from Northeastern, he moved to Los Angeles to start a wildlife media company. In his podcast, " Escape the Zoo ," Daniel interviews leading wildlife photographers, conservationists, and scientists to learn about the awe-inspiring species we share a planet with, revealing the b...