Jack M. Pullara, Graduate Career Management Center Advisor   This tale illustrates the idea that we can improve our ability to influence others and achieve our objectives by modifying our messages. Building this skill requires first understanding the idea and then practicing the behavior until it becomes a habit. Pragun and Nina, two associates working overtime at the global accounting firm K&D, decided to take a break from their busy season schedules and try a new local Indian restaurant. The restaurant seemed to be inspired by the small family-run places often found in the neighborhoods in the south of India, which is where Pragun and Nina were from. They had become fast friends after finding they were from the same area. Pragun and Nina were excited to indulge in the house special, banana leaf curry, the restaurant’s big city adaptation of a traditional dish. At the restaurant, Pragun informed the waiter – who was also one of the owners – that Nina and ...

  Fred Burke (Director, Graduate Career Management Center) Fred Burke comes to the Zicklin School of Business with over 15 years of experience in higher-education career services. For the last six years, he was the Executive Director of the Career Center at Hofstra University. Prior to his role at Hofstra, Fred was the Associate Director of Career Development at Vassar College for almost seven years. Before his time at Vassar, Fred worked in human resources, where he managed the college recruitment efforts for Westfield Companies outside of Cleveland, Ohio. In his role, he traveled to 25 schools in 15 states to recruit talent for entry-level positions. Fred began his career in the Career Planning and Placement Office at Miami University in Oxford Ohio, where he worked as an assistant director and career counselor. He finds great joy in helping students discover their career plans and implementing those plans into actual internships and jobs. Fre...