Northwestern Intersections

To continue the Northwestern Alumni Association’s celebration of National Mentoring Month, we invited a mentoring pair from the Northwestern Network Mentorship Platform—mentor Courtney Harris ’13 and mentee Djenaldbeth Louis ’20 MS—to share their tips for creating a thriving, reciprocal relationship. Courtney and Djenaldbeth walk us through their strategies for open communication and setting expec...

January—National Mentoring Month in the United States—brings the launch of a new complement to the Northwestern Network Mentorship Program. The Affinity Leaders and Learners (ALL) Mentorship Program strives to create a unique opportunity for undergraduate students seeking identity-based mentorship. The Northwestern Network is piloting this first run of the program for our Black, Asian and Asian Am...

If you would have asked Mike Raab ’12 at graduation where he thought he would be at age 30, he surely wouldn’t have said having worked in three completely different industries, taken a summer off to backpack through Europe, and be back at Northwestern working as a staff member and getting his MBA at Kellogg. In this episode, Mike shares the vital importance of making connections and the unpredicta...

Imran “Immy” Khan ’05 has done a little bit of everything from starting his own company to starting a YouTube channel called, “Where do We Go From Here?”, but the tenet at the core of all of his ventures is storytelling. Immy is the head of development at Berlin-based Big Window Productions, a production company helping spur a renaissance of television in Europe. Big Window Productions is dedicate...

Amit Walia ’01 MEM, MBA is the CEO of Informatica, a software development company specializing in enterprise data integration and management software powering analytics for big data and cloud. His journey to Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management started when he followed his now wife, to the United States from India after finishing his undergraduate studies. Amit was appointed as the CEO of I...

In our final installment of our four part back-to-school mini-series, we speak with Shreya Sriram ’22 and Florencia Son ’23 PhD. Shreya is a third-year undergraduate student at Northwestern University where she is majoring in Economics and Communication Sciences and Disorders on the Pre-Medicine track. She conducts independent research in the Auditory Research Laboratory and the CAPLab.  Florencia...

In our latest installment of our four part Back to School mini-series, we speak with Tiffany Wells ’09, ’19 MS.  Tiffany serves as the assistant head of school at Guidepost Montessori Wicker Park in Chicago where she heads up the school’s operational response to the pandemic. Tiffany shares how “rolling with the punches” has been the guiding principal of her career and her personal life. She remin...

The Northwestern Intersections team is kicking off our latest season with a four part Back to School mini-series, where we will speak with Wildcats at the intersection of education and the pandemic, discussing how they are approaching their work in our ever-changing, virtual world. In the second episode of the mini-series, we sit down with Tim Dohrer ’95 MA. Tim is the director of Northwestern’s M...

The Northwestern Intersections team is kicking off our latest season with a four part Back to School mini-series, where we will speak with Wildcats at the intersection of education and the pandemic, discussing how they are approaching their work in our ever-changing, virtual world. Melissa Foster ’96, ’01 MMus, a full time senior lecturer in the theatre department and a member of the musical theat...

Small businesses across the US and the world have been hit hard by the effects of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. However, many businesses have found ways to be creative with their business and have found experienced an outpouring of support from their communities. Austin Harvey ’04 knows this well. Austin is an advanced cicerone and the curator and co-owner of employee-owned Beermiscuous, a...

Virtual interviews aren’t new, but they are more prevalent and necessary than ever. Executive coach Corinne Vargas ’14 MS is here to help our listeners perfect their skills and ace their next interview with some simple, memorable tips. She shares her ABCD’s, standing for avoid technical issues, mind your background, curate your verbal and written voice, and discover as much as possible about your...

For many of us, food has been a major part of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, for better or for worse. In our new segment Wellness Tip, Carla Hightower ’85, ’87 MD, ’91 GME, ’02 MBA explores the connection between nutrition and many chronic health conditions that exacerbate the effects of COVID-19. As a physician, a certified integrative health coach, and a corporate wellness consultant, Carl...

In our new segment, Career Tip, we brought back Chareen Goodman, a former guest from our Career Webinar Series, who shares how to map out a plan to S.O.A.R., which stands for stop, observe, assess, and respond. She lays out tangible steps on how to respond to your unexpected life and career change as the CEO of your own life.   Chareen will be offering complimentary career coaching call just for o...

How do you start a conversation with children over sensitive topics like systemic racism, historical trauma, grief, or divorce? In this episode, Anthony Ward Jr. ’06 chats with the NAA on his take and experience on variety of techniques as a clinical therapist and also a father of two daughters. His key advice? Empathize with their point of view other than your own. Start the conversation early. O...

As important conversations surrounding diversity and equity are happening in industries across the US, Jaime Esposito ’14 and Stephen Hall ’13 are leading the way for more queer representation in classical music. The two percussionists and educators are also the co-founders of Spectrum Ensemble, a performance group with the goal of giving the queer community a platform to create and make music. Sp...

The word ‘pivot’ has become ubiquitous with the impacts of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, and that is no different for Caleigh Hernandez ’15. Caleigh is the founder and CEO of RoHo, an accessories brand usually specializing in sandals, jewelry, and handbags. RoHo partners with four artisan groups across Kenya to create their products while creating consistent, fair paying work for their arti...

On this episode of Northwestern Intersections, your host Helen Kim ’16, speaks with Vlada Bortnik ’01, the CEO and founder of the app Marco Polo and Joya Communications. Marco Polo is a video chat app that allows users to connect with friends and family on their own time, without the pressures of curated social media or a scheduled video chat. Vlada helps us think about screen time and screen fati...

We live in an unprecedented and uncertain time, filled with stress, anxiety, and new realities for our home and work lives. It can be overwhelming, but Dr. Coco Cabrel is here to help you take a few moments to re-center and take care of yourself, whatever your struggle may be. Dr. Coco will lead you through three meditations-without-meditating, or what she calls “The Calms.” Stay tuned after The C...

Most first-year Northwestern students come into their undergraduate studies with a vague idea of what they want to do post-graduation. Neal Taparia came into Northwestern with what would become a research management tool staple for his peers and students after him: EasyBib.com. Developed with a friend in high school, EasyBib—acquired by education technology Chegg-- was just the start of Neal’s ent...

Since 1932, the Northwestern Alumni Medal has celebrated alumni who have had a transformative impact on their fields, who have performed exemplary volunteer service to society, or who have demonstrated an outstanding record of service and support to the University. In October 2019, three accomplished alumnae received the highest honor for the positive impact they have made in their careers and com...

Since 1932, the Northwestern Alumni Medal has celebrated alumni who have had a transformative impact on their fields, who have performed exemplary volunteer service to society, or who have demonstrated an outstanding record of service and support to the University. In October 2019, three accomplished alumnae received the highest honor for the positive impact they have made in their careers and com...

Since 1932, the Northwestern Alumni Medal has celebrated alumni who have had a transformative impact on their fields, who have performed exemplary volunteer service to society, or who have demonstrated an outstanding record of service and support to the University. In October 2019, three accomplished alumnae received the highest honor for the positive impact they have made in their careers and com...

According to renowned American lyric soprano Amanda Majeski, understanding your personal definition of success is essential in any career, but even more so in the arts. Amanda gives us an inside look into the ins and outs of the opera world, as well as the unifying power of music and art. She shares how she befriended performance anxiety in a high pressure career and her strategies to managing it...

As the Partner and U.S. Health Services Sector Leader at PwC, Gurpreet Singh has expertise in Health Information Technology and Digital Strategies that drive innovation. We get the inside scoop on some of the cutting-edge innovations the healthcare system is moving towards and the impact of Chief Digital Officers bring to an organization. Outside of work, Gurpreet serves on the Board at non-profit...

We brought back Melissa Donaldson to continue our conversation after her highly-praised webinar presentation on Intentional Diversity and Inclusion Practices, hosted by the NAA last month. Melissa, who is currently the Senior VP and Chief Diversity Officer at Wintrust Financial Corporation, dives deeper into the questions we all have when it comes to being a diversity and inclusion practitioner an...