Weissman Center For International Business

We had the honor to welcome Stephanie Smith, COO of Private Markets at BlackRock, in sharing her insights at our 173rd Mitsui Lunch-Time Forum on Tuesday, February 11th! With 25 years of experience and career driven challenges, she shared valuable lessons on resilience, education, and how to navigate the financial world. As a proud Baruch alumna herself, she has reinforced the value of being a Baruch student, and what we can achieve. On behalf of the Weissman Center for International Business, we'd like to extend our sincere gratitude to Stephanie Smith for taking the time to engage with our Baruch community! Her stories were an inspiration to us all, motivating us to strive for our own success in the business world. #BaruchCollege #CareerGrowth #Blackrock #Finance #CareerSuccess

We had the honor to welcome Stephanie Smith, COO of Private Markets at BlackRock, in sharing her insights at our 173rd Mitsui Lunch-Time Forum on Tuesday, February 11th! With 25 years of experience and career driven challenges, she shared valuable lessons on resilience, education, and how to navigate the financial world. As a proud Baruch alumna herself, she has reinforced the value of being a Baruch student, and what we can achieve. On behalf of the Weissman Center for International Business, we'd like to extend our sincere gratitude to Stephanie Smith for taking the time to engage with our Baruch community! Her stories were an inspiration to us all, motivating us to strive for our own success in the business world. #BaruchCollege #CareerGrowth #Blackrock #Finance #CareerSuccess

Rise and shine, NYC! The day started with 40 business students waking up with a mix of jet lag, excitement, and caffeine-fueled optimism. Our first stop?The City University of New York, Baruch College. Thanks to a recent academic mission in May 2024 headed by our rector?Rik Van de Walle, we have re-established strong ties with this partner university. Thank you to?Andreas (Andy) Grein, Richard Mitten, Sarah Demetz and colleagues?for informing our students about international exchange possibilities between our partner institutions. At Le Botaniste, Alizée Wyckmans inspired our students with her annual enthusiasm about the challenges and success stories of scaling a plant-based restaurant in Manhattan. Chili sin carne or a Tibetan bowl? I heard some carnivores even mutter that they might be able to live without meat on their plate (once in a while)! From veggies to sleek innovation, we then visited?RENSON Ventilation - Sunprotection - Outdoor, a company that’s basically the Beyoncé of outdoor living and ventilation. A former participant of the NY-LON study visits,?Karel De Potter, gave an impressive pitch, showcasing our students that a career abroad might not be as unattainable as it sometimes seems. Karel, we are always so proud to see former students thriving; congratulations on an impressive career start and thank you for paying back to our educational program! Until we accidentally run into each other on the streets of Manhattan again ;) With our brains full of business strategies, we switched gears and took a leisurely stroll from?Chelsea Market?to the?Hudson Vessel?via?The High Line. Picture 40 students trying to look casual while snapping Instagram-worthy shots of this trendy walk path one story above street level. The grand finale of the day? An?NBA game at Madison Square Garden, where the New York Knicks faced off against the Houston Rockets. Between the electrifying crowd, the jaw-dropping dunks, and the overpriced snacks, it was a slam dunk of an experience — though some of us still aren’t sure how basketball actually works (me included!).?Thanks,?Paul LoFaso M.Ed, MPS, for throwing in the caps! A special thank you to all our generous partners! #happylearning at Ghent University, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration (Ghent University) with Sofie Hondeghem, Stephanie Calewaert, and Bertel D. www.ny-lon.be

We are honored to welcome Stephanie Smith, Chief Operating Officer of Private Markets at BlackRock, as the distinguished speaker for the 173rd Mitsui USA Foundation Lunch-Time Forum. A proud Baruch alumna, Stephanie has built an impressive 25-year career in finance, including 21 years at Goldman Sachs, where she ascended to the roles of Managing Director and Partner. In this Mitsui, Stephanie will share her insights on career development, leadership, and the importance of embracing change in a dynamic global economy. Her journey exemplifies resilience, adaptability, and continuous professional growth, guided by her mantra: “Change Your Mind!!!” Join us for this exceptional opportunity to gain firsthand knowledge from a distinguished Baruch alumna and industry leader. Don’t miss this chance to engage with an expert in private markets and global finance. #Baruchcollege #ZicklinSchoolofBusiness #Blackrock #finance

We were honored to host Robert Aquilina, Executive Vice President of The Estée Lauder Companies Inc., as the distinguished speaker at our 172nd Mitsui Lunch Time Forum. ? With a remarkable career spanning over 35 years in global business, transformational change management, and international expansion, Mr. Aquilina brought a profound depth of knowledge. Drawing on his leadership experience managing operations across various countries, he offered insights into the critical role of understanding markets, cultures, and people in driving impactful and successful marketing strategies. He emphasized the value of building genuine connections, investing time in thorough research, and cultivating a deep understanding of the unique needs of each market to succeed in an increasingly interconnected and competitive global landscape. ? In addition to his professional expertise, Mr. Aquilina's long-standing commitment to education and mentorship further enriches his contributions. As a trustee of the Baruch College Fund and a member of the Weissman Center for International Business Advisory Council, he continues to support and inspire the next generation of leaders. ? We sincerely thank Mr. Aquilina for sharing his time, expertise, and vision with our students and broader community. His words will undoubtedly leave a lasting impact, encouraging us all to strive for excellence and embrace a thoughtful, informed approach to global business. #BaruchCollege #ZicklinSchoolofBusiness #EstéeLauder

We are honored to welcome Robert Aquilina, Executive Vice President of The Estée Lauder Companies Inc., as the distinguished speaker for our 172nd Mitsui USA Foundation Lunch-Time Forum. With over 35 years of experience in international business, Mr. Aquilina offers insights into understanding diverse countries, cultures, and people—an essential foundation for fostering a global cosmetic brand. He will share his expertise on navigating the complexities of international markets. Join us for this exclusive session, where Mr. Aquilina will address the critical importance of cultural awareness and effective cross-cultural communication in business expansion. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain insights from a global leader?who has contributed to the global success of one of the world’s most iconic brands. #baruchcollege #Zicklinschoolofbusiness #internationalbusiness

Enrico Prodi for the 171st Mitsui Lunch-Time Forum! Following a tour of the campus, Prodi delivered an insightful presentation to a crowd of students, faculty, and guests, sharing his journey to and through the culinary powerhouse, Eataly. He provided a detailed overview of Eataly's unique, integrated business model, which serves diverse international and national markets, and discussed the shift from working spreadsheets on the finance team to leading and managing on the sales floor. Prodi also delved into the challenges faced during the devastating COVID-19 pandemic and how Eataly managed to navigate those unprecedented times through resilience and innovative strategies. Thank you Enrico Prodi for your insights and sharing your story with us! #InternationalBusiness #MitsuiFoundation #ZicklinSchoolofBusiness #Eataly

Join the Zicklin School of Business' Weissman Center For International Business for an exciting Mitsui Lunch-Time Forumfeaturing Enrico Prodi, Director of Operations at Eataly! ?? Tuesday, October 22, 2024 ?? 12:30PM - 1:45PM ?? Library Building, Room 750 ?? Sandwiches and soda will be served! #baruchcollege?#mitsui?#eataly?#zicklinschoolofbusiness?#zicklinbusiness #events

The countdown is on! Just 5 DAYS until the much anticipated Mitsui Lunch Time Forum with Enrico Prodi, Director of Operations at Eataly Flatiron! ?? As we prepare to hear his journey to this global culinary powerhouse and what it takes to bring and blend the heart of authentic Italian cuisine with the vibrancy of New York City, we'd love to hear your thoughts!

The Weissman Center is thrilled to welcome Enrico Prodi, Director of Operations for Eataly’s flagship store in New York’s Flatiron to Baruch College for the 171st Mitsui Lunchtime Forum. With a background in finance and operations, Enrico brings a wealth of knowledge from his journey across Italy, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, London, and presently, New York City. Whether you are a student or an industry professional, do not miss the opportunity to hear Prodi's expert insights on the chain's global business model, finance, corporate operations, and the hospitality industry.? Mark your calendars—you won’t want to miss this! #BaruchCollege #ZicklinSchoolofBusiness #InternationalBusiness