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Writer's pictureGirl Boss

Female Alumni Networking Night and Panel

Updated: Dec 3, 2018



This past week Girl Boss hosted it's first large scale event - and it was a huge success! The Alumni Networking Night panelists included women who have graduated from Fordham University, some as recently as May 2018. The panelists answered multiple questions on their professions, their college experiences, and their experiences as women in business.



 

WHAT DO YOU DO?

  • Maria Alejandra Zamudio

Tory Burch, Business Analyst

Maria Zamudio analyzes customer's buying patterns in order to help the company learn how to sell more products. She is also helping the company adjust to the growing online shopping trend.

  • Naika Accimeus

JP Morgan, Control Transformation Strategic Projects Unit.

Naika Accimeus has worked at JP Morgan for 4 years now and helps with new projects at JP Morgan.

  • Nancy Khweiss

UN Fund for Women, Coordinator

Nancy Khweiss works to support the political, social, and economic rights of women around the world.

  • Sahcha Pierre-Louise

BlackRock, Analyst

Sahcha Pierre-Louise is an analyst for BlackRock which is "the world’s largest asset manager guiding individuals, financial professionals and institutions in building better financial futures.”

  • Haley Hauge

Accenture, Consulting Analyst

Haley Hauge is an analyst at Accenture she has completed multiple projects, one of which "including Change Management and Salesforce Implementation for a Health and Public Client and EPIC Implementation for a Health and Public Services Client."

  • Jasmin Chacko

Deloitte, Consultant

Jasmin Chacko works as a consultant for Deloitte, where she consults companies in how to better improve their businesses.



 

ADVICE ON GETTING A JOB

  • Step out of your comfort zone. Your major does not limit what job opportunities are open to you.

I came to Fordham and decided I wanted to completely change my career.” Maria Zamudio

  • Career Services

Career services helped me a lot with my resume. I used a lot of career services appointments.” Maria Zamudio

  • Cold Calls and Emails

You definitely have to cover your bases and do the cold Linkedln and emails. Even if nothing comes out of it, it is definitely a numbers game and you always want to try your luck.” Sahcha Pierre-Louise

  • Networking

Knowing someone at a company gets you way further in life than submitting a million resumes.” Jasmin Chocka

  • Linkedln

"I've really spent hours on my LinkedIn and learned to include certain 'key' words in my resume." Maria Zamudio

  • Special Skills

"My resume really helped me stand out because it showed my skills in Arabic." Nancy Khweiss

  • Internships

"I interned for JP Morgan over the summer, and that was really my way in." Naika Accimeus

  • Be prepared for interviews

I read through the book Case in Point, I practiced a lot, and did online simulations. The first thing I did was to reach out to someone to help me and having those mock one on one conversations was great.” Haley Hauge


 

WHAT DID YOU DO AT FORDHAM?

  • Fordham Career Ambassadors

They train you to conduct resume reviews and mock interviews. And you get to go behind the scenes of career fairs.” Naika Accimeus

  • RA life

Being an RA has been a great asset. Everyone who sees that I was an RA on my resume has asked me about it, they find it fascinating.” Jasmin Chocka

  • Cultural clubs

I was a part of the Middle Eastern students organization.” Nancy Khweiss

  • Consulting Club

The highlight of my time at Fordham was the Consulting Club.” Sahcha Pierre-Louise

  • Office of Multicultural Affairs

I really wanted to delve into my passions, so I was very active in the Office of Multicultural Affairs as a diversity peer leader.” Sahcha Pierre-Louise

  • Social Innovation Collaboratory

This is over at Rose Hill and is really great for those at Lincoln Center who want to build a bridge over. They are incredible.” Sahcha Pierre-Louise

  • RHA

It’s a form of student government based thing and I got to know my whole building which was a really great experience.” Haley Hauge


 

WHAT IS IT LIKE BEING A WOMAN IN BUSINESS?

  • Women support each other

Everyone is always trying to help me succeed. I think the network of female positivity is widely acknowledged and it’s understood that women have a harder time in business and that’s a fact we’re all working on changing.” Haley Hauge

  • Work life balance

I think work life balance is something that will always be harder for women than men because we’re expected to work a lot harder.” Haley Hauge

  • Imposter syndrome

In places of work where you are outnumbered, whether it’s your gender or race, I just focus on these two things written on my desk; I am fearless and you may not be wanted but you sure as well deserve to be here.” Sahcha Pierre-Louise

  • Companies want women

You guys are an asset to any company. Companies and firms everywhere are really trying to push forward these diversity initiatives and women are at the top of their list.” Sahcha Pierre-Louise

  • Don’t be afraid to speak up

Practice your public speaking skills, they are like a muscle.” Nancy Khweiss

  • People are rooting for you

One of the advantages of being a woman is that there are so many people really rooting for you to succeed.” Nancy Khweiss

  • Social stigmas can actually help you (emotional stereotypes)

When we go after those backhanded comments and stigmas that are put upon us, it is not questioned. If I go to HR to file a complaint about a derogatory statement, it’s not going to be contested for fear of falling into those stigmas. They take what women say seriously.” Naika Accimeus

  • Role Models

There are not a lot of female role models, so we’re kinda opening the path.” Maria Zamudio

  • Self-imposed barriers

At my year and 4 months at Deloitte, my being a woman has never been a challenge unless I self-impose it on myself. If you see yourself as lesser, then people will see you as lesser, but if you see yourself as an equal spot at the table, then it doesn’t matter.” Jasmin Chocka

  • Be confident

When I ask for something I ask, ‘how would my male colleagues ask for this?’ Am I asking or stating?” Jasmin Chocka


 


Photo by Annie Wu

Last weeks networking event truly showed the growing role of women in business and that women are a force to be reckoned with. For contact information for any of the panelists feel free to reach out to us at Girl Boss! Thank you for the amazing turnout! Feel free to send us any feedback, ideas or thoughts at girlbosslc@fordham.edu.


-Gabriella Boresi

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