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Student Perspectives: Tech in Public Service

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Mariana Futoro de Lima (MS Business Analytics, Data Analytics) I am currently an intern at the Office of the State Comptroller (OSC) in the Information Technology Unit. Some of my duties included data analysis and assist in Artificial Intelligent Audits. Although I learned many important skills in the internship, the one I appreciated the most was data analytics and how I was able to apply them to real-world operations. From the beginning, my team took the time to understand my goals as a Business Analytics student and supported my learning. I shared my interest in gaining hands-on experience on it in a real office environment, and they provided me with training in tools such as SQL and Alteryx. This helped me build skills that I can carry into future roles and confidently speak about in interviews, and I am very grateful for this experience After this experience, I’m interested in continuing to grow in the areas of Data Science and Data Engineering. These fields align closely with m...
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Student Perspectives: What I’ve Learned from My Internship? Growing Through Curiosity, Connection, and Innovation

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Cristel Zuniga (MS Business Analytics ‘25) Internships are often described as the bridge between the classroom and the professional world, but what you learn during that experience can go far beyond technical skills. During my internship, I discovered lessons that shaped not only my professional development, but also my confidence, mindset, and approach to teamwork. The Most Important Lesson I’ve Learned One of the most valuable insights I gained is the importance of public speaking and communication in the workplace. The way you approach people, how you present yourself, and the confidence you project all make a difference in how effectively you collaborate with others. Something I realized early on is that you don’t need to know everything to be good at your job. What you do need is curiosity, openness, and the willingness to ask questions. Many mistakes in the workplace stem not from a lack of skill, but from hesitation; hesitation to speak up, to clarify expectations, or to a...
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Student Perspectives: Clear communication truly is the foundation of getting things done.

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Qianli Tang (MS Quantitative Methods and Modeling), Source-to-Pay (S2P) Analyst Intern at American Airlines What has been one of the most important things you’ve learned at your internship? It’s all about communicating. In my role on the Procurement Excellence team, where I help implement policies and streamline processes, I learned that the most important skill is delivering the message clearly and influencing others to provide the information needed and follow the right processes. Clear communication truly is the foundation of getting things done. How have you approached networking at your internship? Share any one specific example that has been impactful for you. Sometimes it’s as simple as letting people know my intention and showing that I want to learn from them. I’ve found that most people are willing to help, especially when they see someone new who is genuinely interested in their work or their area of expertise. That openness has made it much easier to build connections and ...
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Student Perspectives: What I Learned Working at FBN Securities

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Akash Karmakar, MS Finance, FinTech ‘26 Interning at FBN Securities this semester has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my graduate journey so far. Working at the intersection of finance and technology helped me discover how innovation truly shapes decision-making in the markets. One of the biggest things I learned during my internship is the importance of building systems that scale. When working with large volumes of earnings-call video and transforming it into structured insights, the quality and consistency of the workflow becomes essential. I gained a deeper appreciation for automation and engineering practices that ensure the data analysts rely on is trustworthy and delivered efficiently. I made it a point to connect beyond just the tasks assigned to me. One moment that really stood out was when I reached out to a developer on a different team to learn how the datapoint platform should work. That conversation not only helped me improve my work on transcription-bas...
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From Math Teacher to VP Global Commercial Banking: Lessons from Salman Poonawala’s Career Transition

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Salman Poonawala, a master's in finance graduate from the Zicklin School of Business (Class of December 2022), shows that bold career pivots are possible with passion and perseverance. A former eighth-grade math teacher at New Heights Academy Charter School in Harlem, Salman now serves as a Vice President in Global Commercial Banking at Bank of America, supporting clients in healthcare, education, and the nonprofit sector.   In this blog, he shares his journey from teaching to finance—his pivot process, early banking challenges, key lessons from Baruch, and the payoff of staying focused and prepared. Salman also reflects on his future goals and how he hopes to continue making meaningful, purpose-driven impact.   From Teaching to Finance   Salman spent four years teaching eighth-grade math at a school serving largely low-income , Spanish-speaking students. “It was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life,” he said. “My students made real progress. Many passed the...
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