Since joining CBS, I’ve noticed that cross-cultural community building is an integral part of the program. It’s not just that my first-year class consists of 41% international students, 32% US minorities, and 36% women, but that people are really open and transparent about sharing their backgrounds and experiences.

From the first day of Orientation — when our peer advisors shared that inclusion is one of the key tenets of the CBS experience — to the everyday openness and transparency with which people share their backgrounds, cultures, and creeds (for example, the diverse attendance at cultural events), the community heralds and maintains our inclusive nature.

On September 11, 2014, a member of my cluster sent a message to all of us that said, “I know this can be a tough day for many New Yorkers — let’s open up our arms and be there for each other during what is likely a difficult day for many.” It was a warm reminder for all of us, whether we lived in New York at the time or not, that our community is open and that our classmates are here for each other.

I am amazed by the many opportunities for cross-cultural learning in the CBS experience, including visiting Italy as part of the Chazen International Study Tour program. Fellow students from Italy helped organize the trip, and we visited professional and cultural sites during our week there.

Additionally, the most fascinating part of business school is getting to know my classmates. This year, we have a supper club series where students invite small groups of peers to dinner in their homes. We sign up to either host or attend, and it is a great way to meet new people. The supper club really helps build the community feeling that is so pervasive and strong here at CBS.

In this environment, I feel comfortable sharing my own perspectives — like my work experiences in tech, advertising, and communications — with my classmates. When I think back to why I chose CBS, it was partially because of the strong academic programs and exceptional relationships in industries of interest to me. And while I expected to learn lots from my classmates, it's amazing to think about how much I've learned personally and professionally from them. I hope to continue to share my own views with others given all of our unique traits and backgrounds.

Why Columbia Business School?
I was in the military, and coming from that environment I understand the value of community and camaraderie. When we came to look at Columbia, I found both of those things in abundance. I got the feeling that students went out of their way to help each other out. It takes the form of people preparing each other for interviews, helping classmates study for tests, or — one thing that is really big for me —opening up networking opportunities here in the city. Starting a company, so many students have come to me and spent time helping me work on business model and giving me feedback on different ideas. So, I’m extremely happy with Columbia.

What is it like to go to business school in New York City?
In New York City, you basically have the world’s network right at your fingertips. That network is physically accessible. I found that pretty much anyone will sit down with me and have coffee to tell me about their company, their industry, and their experiences, and a lot of opportunities have come from that.

What class are you most excited about, or what class has been your favorite?
Right now, I’m most excited about Launching New Ventures taught by Jack Kaplan, because I’m pretty much using that as an accelerator to start a company. You form a team with fellow students, and you basically continue to develop your business plan in its entirety every week. It’s pretty exciting. One of the classes I enjoyed the most was Business Analytics with Professor Omar Besbes. You come out of that class being able to do a fair amount of analytics yourself, as a business leader, which I think gives you a great advantage.

What has been your favorite experience at CBS?
I didn’t realize how quickly a sense of community can be built here. The process of getting to know incredible people from incredible backgrounds really well, and getting really close with them in such a short amount of time, has been the most enriching part of the experience.

Why Columbia Business School?
First and foremost, I felt like the emphasis on creating a strong community came through even from the very first info session I attended. When visiting and meeting other students, I just felt a much warmer reception than at other places. Academics and career opportunities — a lot of top business schools boast those. But I think community was something that really stood out at Columbia.

Another thing I would highlight is: I don’t have a business background, and so for me, it was important to feel like I was getting a more rigorous introduction to business principles. The way that Columbia sets up its core — it’s one of the more rigorous of the top programs.

What is it like to go to business school in New York City?
There are a lot of opportunities. In particular, for people who want to change careers, it is so easy for them to find an externship, part-time work, or an internship with a huge company. For instance, I have a friend who wants to get into media who is interning at ABC; I have a friend who's working at Burberry and wants to go into luxury retail. This semester I’m taking an immersion seminar, which means that for six Fridays we go to different companies and have executives talk to us. I can't imagine many other programs being able to have a class like that, with as many well-known people and organizations.

What's been the most surprising thing about being at CBS?
I think I came here with this goofy preconception that Columbia Business School would be particularly finance-y, and people were really into banking and were coming from that background, and so that was going to be the culture. I’d think, ‘I don't know if I’ll fit in.’ I was pleasantly surprised. My background and the experiences I had to offer were seen as just as valuable to people in the community. The stereotype I had of the typical business school student wasn't really on point — in a good way.

How does the School’s entrepreneurial approach help you with your career goals?
The School presents a lot of resources for job seekers — there are helpful second-years, there’s the Career Fellows Program, there’s the database of alums — but it's on you to choose a path and make the most of it. Being at Columbia has gotten me to really think not only about how you get the job, but once you’re there, how you can shape it and turn it into something that will benefit you down the road.

Once you have your CBS degree, how will you conquer the world?
I'm open to my long-term career going a lot of different directions. The beauty of coming from Columbia Business School, having such a strong network, and being in a place like New York City that has so many opportunities, is I'm confident that no matter how my interests change I will be supported. I’ll be able to follow any path, and I think that's sort of like conquering the world. I feel pretty good that, no matter where I end up, I have the network, the resources, and the education to do so.

Why Columbia Business School?
My family lives in D.C., and Columbia Business School is one of the closest top MBA programs. It turned out to be the best choice I've ever made. At CBS, we always are encouraged to step outside of our comfort zones. It's turned out to have a profound impact on every single student who ever tries something new, having the full support of the community.

What has been your favorite experience at CBS?
Hands down, the Peer Advisor experience. A group of 70 students facilitate the one-week orientation program for the 550 students who enter in the fall and the 200 students who enter in winter. It's a program all about dealing with people. It allows us to learn how to build deep connections with other people and how important it is to build the right culture for business school. That has such huge impact on everyone's daily life in school.

What's been the most surprising thing about being at CBS?
Coming in, I thought CBS was a school where people were just supposed to be really good at finance, but what really surprised me is how the school teaches leadership in action. We have great speakers and classes that teach about leadership, and so many activities that allow us to practice leadership skills with other students. The Peer Advisor group is an example -- it allows us to see how our peers lead and to try that out ourselves. Everyone has some great skills that we can all leverage to become better leaders. I now understand that leading is not managing and delegating tasks; it's more fun than that, because you can influence other people and push things in a better direction. To me, that’s the most meaningful part of leadership.

What does it mean to you to be part of the Columbia Business School community?
I'm a lifelong member of a group that cares about building the right culture and doing the right things for society. A group of people who are extremely honest and genuine to each other. People who care about building a truly inclusive culture at school and, when we go out into the world, will bring this value of inclusion to the organizations we serve and become compassionate leaders.

How is the J-Term experience similar to or different from the standard school cycle?
J-Termers are extremely international, which has given me the opportunity to learn about different cultures. It’s surprising how much I can relate to a person from a completely different continent that I would expect to have nothing in common with, and fuse a deep connection with that person. J-Term is also the most efficient way to do your MBA. Not everyone can allocate two full years. And because J-Termers lose that first semester to mingle with the larger community, we have been working really hard in the Peer Advisor program to facilitate inter-class mingling.

How does the School’s entrepreneurial approach help you with your career goals?
The School is very open minded. Every semester I see the School take students' feedback very seriously and try to implement changes. It is always open to new ideas. Also, the School has been promoting entrepreneurship a lot recently. I'm involved in a Summer Startup Lab where I met my business partner. We’re working on a startup idea that we're both pretty passionate about: we want to export organic food that's produced in the U.S. to China. My business partner is from China and has a marketing background, and I'm based here, so in the future maybe we can make something happen.

Why Columbia Business School?
I picked Columbia because it has arguably the best real estate MBA program in the world, and I knew with certainty that I wanted to get into real estate development. Being in New York and having exposure to that real estate realm, and also having access to the program that the School offers, seemed to be the perfect coalescence of factors. It was without a doubt the place for me.

What is it like to go to business school in New York City?
Real estate is a networking-driven career path, and having some of the most iconic real estate firms and assets within a few minutes' train ride is a valuable opportunity to make connections and learn very quickly. It allows you to put your boots to the ground right away. There is nothing like meeting face to face with someone. I think that's a tremendous asset for the School in general. Another plus, of course, is the limitless array of activities in the city. My wife and I have had a great time availing ourselves of the park, the museums, restaurants, and bars.

What class are you most excited about, or what class has been your favorite?
The Real Estate Project class was my favorite. It was essentially a semester-long competition where students selected our own teams, and each team was paired with a company, whether a private equity fund, a developer or another firm, to look at actual potential real estate deals. Our team was partnered with a Florida-based private equity fund, and we looked at a big suburban mall outside of Chicago and helped develop the plan for purchasing it, repositioning it, upgrading it, and financing it, and profitably managing the asset. My team ended up winning the competition and learning a ton in the process.

What has been your favorite experience at CBS?
My favorite experience, if I had to pick one, was the real estate Chazen trek to Bogota, Colombia and Mexico City this year. Beforehand, a group of us went for a week to Colombia with a native guide who's in our cluster. He led the charge in showing us around his hometown of Medellin, and then we spent five days in Cartagena. We ultimately met up with the rest of our group for the official Chazen part of the trip in Bogota.

What's been the most surprising thing about being at CBS?
The inclusiveness of the culture and the community. I had never been exposed to an Ivy League education, so I didn't really know what to expect—especially at a business school, which has the stigma of being an aggressive, type-A environment. It was surprisingly welcoming here. Everyone is very down to earth—people you can learn a lot from, who are happy to help each other, and who are genuinely happy for the opportunity to be at Columbia Business School.

How does being in New York City help you with your career goals?
New York is one of the most emblematic real estate cities in the world—and certainly in the US—in terms of the buildings, the family dynasties that were built here, and generally in terms of the modern-day skyscraper era, which all started in New York. To be here studying real estate, with access to the companies and leaders in the Real Estate Association, is just amazing. Especially for somebody like me, who is a career switcher, it's been tremendously helpful to be able to take a train downtown to meet with alumni and pick their brains about career strategies. I have the ability to do all that without having to travel outside the city I live in.

What does it mean to you to be part of the Columbia Business School community?
My wife, Karin, and I are co-presidents of the Better Halves Club and we've had a great time getting to know other couples from all over the country and the world. We've had an amazing time building the club and making it an inclusive, very socially active organization that’s a fantastic resource for people relocating here. The “better halves” are as much a part of the community as the students, and are welcome to participate in school events, with some exceptions for recruiting and professional clubs. They go on the trips with us, come to our formal events, and come to our happy hours and CBS Matters. Probably all of my best friends from Columbia are people I met through the Better Halves Club.

Once you have your CBS degree, how will you conquer the world?
I want to choose a career path that's ultimately doing something of value for society, beyond just something that's financially valuable. I think my Columbia Business School degree has allowed me the opportunity to achieve those goals while also providing for my family and letting me challenge myself.

"You don't open up your life story to anyone, but when you do and people take it in and understand you, you build stronger relationships."

I have done my CBS Matters twice — once for my cluster during cluster elections and once for my rookie cluster during the Class of 2016 Orientation. The first time I talked about how I grew up, what matters to me, and shared stories that have made me who I am today. It was a nerve-wracking experience in some ways because it was September — the first month of business school — and I was talking with 68 students in my cluster who I didn't know very well about something that was really personal to me. As nervous as I was starting that conversation, by the end of it I felt much closer to my cluster. That's one of the reasons CBS Matters is so powerful. You don't open up your life story to anyone, but when you do and people take it in and understand you, you build stronger relationships.   

The second time I did it was for my rookie cluster when I was their PA, and it was to show them the power of doing CBS Matters and how you can build connections with different people. Afterwards people said to me, "It was amazing to see your CBS Matters, and I think I will do mine because I saw yours." That's a powerful statement to get from someone you have only known for two weeks.     

What is it like to go to business school in New York City?
It’s fantastic. I feel everyone should go to business school in New York. The speakers we have on a daily basis are just incredible—not only executives from companies that are based here, but all over the world. So many political leaders visit in New York. One of our professors met the finance minister of India on a flight to New York and asked if he would come speak—it was arranged within a couple of hours and the room was packed. With so many companies headquartered here—especially in the finance, consulting and retail space—we get to visit these companies, hear from amazing speakers, and talk to CEOs and entrepreneurs all the time. The New York advantage is unparalleled.  

What class are you most excited about, or what class has been your favorite?
Financial Planning and Analysis was a fantastic foundation, and the knowledge I gained in that class is directly applicable to business issues. Another was Defining and Developing Winning Strategic Capabilities with Professor Alonso Martinez, a former consultant. At each class, a speaker came in and talked to us about a different industry. Learning from Deepak Chopra was an experience, and his speakers, including Lauren Bush Lauren, were top notch. We have speakers in so many classes. Often we’ll do a case study, for example on IKEA and Yellow Tail wines, and then the main protagonist of that case will come speak to us. It’s exciting to get to speak to the actual person in the case and hear their perspective.

What has been your favorite experience at CBS?
Definitely the school trips I’ve gone on. I went to Israel and Jordan on a tour; it was organized by my classmates, so it was even more special. One night, 40 of us sat in the middle of Wadi Rum—a desert in Jordan—under the stars, playing music and having fun. I just sat there thinking, "Wow, this is incredible!" This spring I went on a retail and luxury-focused Chazen trip to Italy, where we visited Gucci’s production facilities. We also visited Ferragamo and YOOX, a company started by a Columbia Business School alum, Federico Marchetti ’99. We then went to Castello Banfi, a winery estate, and topped it off with gelato tasting at Grom Gelateria. The MBA program has given me a great network of friends and our moments together will forever be etched in my mind.

What's been the most surprising thing about being at CBS?
The vast gamut of people from different backgrounds. It's not just people from consulting or finance, but also politics, marketing, retail, healthcare, tech, and other fields including family business and entrepreneurship. From military veterans to former musicians, I’m constantly blown away by what people have achieved professionally and personally.

In my cluster we have people from 26 different countries, which truly adds a global perspective. And despite their accomplishments, everyone is super friendly and collaborative. That’s also true of the faculty and school administration, who are very approachable. I found that I could meet with almost any professor and have a conversation, discuss ideas, or get career advice. Everybody embodies the Columbia spirit, and that’s something special. 

How does being in New York City help you with your career goals?
Being in New York put me at the very center of business, fashion, and food, the three things I wanted to explore professionally and personally. From Godiva to Google, New York Times to MoMA, and Chanel to BaubleBar, I’ve met with senior executives at companies I really admire. I’ve also taken four courses in which I worked with companies as part of the curriculum, including an independent study working with Prince Dimitri of Yugoslavia. We worked with our professor to provide a business development proposal and an end-to-end marketing strategy for his jewelry business. In another course I worked with students from Parson’s School of Design on a project for Ferragamo.

How does the School’s entrepreneurial approach help you with your career goals?
It teaches us to treat every business like our own, whether or not we own the company. There’s a lot of emphasis on teaching courses that are truly relevant to us, up to date, and focus on what we want to learn. It's also great to learn from adjunct professors, who combine theory with practical application; they know what problems their industries are facing and what strategies they’re using. That real-world experience is quite valuable. There are also plenty of opportunities to work with startups as part of classes and independent study projects.  

Once you have your Columbia Business School degree, how will you conquer the world?
My MBA from Columbia Business School has provided me with a huge network of talented professionals, knowledge of a wide array of business topics, and leadership skills to manage most challenges. It’s also given me a powerful insight into my personal strengths and weaknesses, and it's made me reflect hard on where I want to work, the kind of person I want to be, and the goals I want to achieve. 

What is it like to go to business school in New York City?
In Italy, a lot of people commute to school and live at home. When I went to Georgetown as an undergraduate, I was basically always living on campus. I feel like being in New York City allows us to get the best of both worlds [at Columbia]. There are events that are independent of Columbia that offer us a chance to be inspired. On the same note, Columbia does still feel like a campus when I’m there.

What's been the most surprising thing about being at CBS?
There is a very strong sense of community. People go out of their way to help each other in a variety of ways—such as on personal issues, work, career, anything. When I arrived, I was a little bit worried, wondering, “Is it going to be very much a commuter school? Are the New Yorkers going to be very much living their own lives, away from school?” It’s funny because [what actually happens is that] people who live in New York operate as guides for those of us who are less familiar with the city. It’s just how collaborative everyone has been, generally—it’s an amazing culture. 

What class are you most excited about, or what class has been your favorite?
One of the classes I’ve taken that was very, very interesting and aesthetically amazing was called Leadership Through Fiction taught by Professor Bruce Craven. It’s not necessarily the first class you think about when you think about an MBA, but it was a great class that combined some more soft-skills elements with trying to develop as a person and as a leader.

How does being in New York City help you with your career goals?
I got three internships when I was at Columbia that I think were just a result of the fact that I was in New York. Being in New York allows you to do a semester’s work experience that other schools may not have access to just because of their location. [For example], I was able to take an internship at a tech startup and I’m working in a private equity fund [now]. The other thing is, New York City is a great place to network and get to know people. It’s one of the hearts of the world, and that’s a big plus at both a personal and a career level.

Once you have your CBS degree, how will you conquer the world?
I don’t think I would want to conquer the world, but I would want the world to conquer me. Meaning, I would love to be able to keep learning, opening my mind, and seeing all the diversity and the richness that there is in the world. At Columbia you live in a temporary microcosm that allows you to get to see a mix of many different people; I hope that going into the future, in my career, I will have the chance to keep learning about what’s around me: the different people, different experiences, different perspectives. That has been probably one of the biggest drivers of why I love Columbia.

"At the end of the day, it's a familiar face in the hallway, and it's a person you know you can trust."

The relationship between peer advisors and incoming students is a really wonderful one because being a peer advisor is not an event – it's a process. During Orientation, you build this rapport and camaraderie with new students, but then beyond that you're constantly a point of contact for them. You're a safety spot for the new students. They know they can always come to you after Orientation ends. 

Some of the things that peer advisors do after Orientation is over is follow up on assignments to make sure everyone is comfortable, that the learning teams are functioning efficiently, and that there aren't any problems with team dynamics. At the end of the day, it's a familiar face in the hallway, and it's a person you know you can trust. It's someone who has made you feel you're part of something really special.