Posts in BT Events
Refining Leadership: Maria Piastre’s Gold Standard in the Precious Metals Industry

"In our industry, I don’t want people who just push numbers. I want a team that’s always looking for the next improvement, that isn’t afraid to challenge the numbers when they don’t make sense,” Piastre explained. Holding the title of  the prestigious "Woman in Manufacturing" STEM award and leading the creation of the most modern and complete precious metals laboratory in the United States, she attributes her accomplishments to the people who helped make it possible. “Innovation is something we can only achieve when we have the right people in place,” she said.

Read More
The Power of Trust and Legacy: A Conversation with FW Cook CEO Dan Ryterband

In the past 40 years, compensation for CEO’s has increased by 1000% inflation-adjusted. Ryterband explains that it’s simply a product of that paramount economic law: supply and demand. Exceptional talent is scarce, and the market for it is always expanding. Executive leadership, Ryterband says, is not like a TV, where paying less buys you slightly lower resolution; the difference between a good CEO and a great one is the difference between failure and success for a company.

Read More
Knopman Marks Revolutionizing Financial Education Through Innovation and Equity

Parker is keenly aware of the inequities that exist in standardized testing and professional exam preparation. “We need to standardize how we teach and provide information so it’s accessible to anyone, regardless of their background,” he says. This philosophy drives Knopman Marks’ outreach efforts, including partnerships with historically Black colleges and universities and other under resourced communities.

Read More
Navigating Careers in a Transforming Landscape: Insights from Paul Webster

Webster shared how he transitioned from studying law to mergers and acquisitions, and ultimately to executive search. This journey, he explained, underscores the non-linear nature of many successful careers. “The most successful professionals often navigate unexpected turns with adaptability, always maximizing value from their current roles while staying open to new opportunities,” he said. This adaptability, paired with judicious risk-taking, has been a defining trait of individuals who thrive in competitive fields. Webster emphasized that career plans are crucial, even if they evolve over time, as they provide focus and increase the likelihood of long-term success.

Read More
From Numbers to Networks: Latha Vairavan’s Evolution in Biotech Finance

“The finance world is small,” she said. “It’s crucial to build and maintain strong connections throughout your career, both inside and outside of your company.” Vairavan attributes much of her career success to the mentors she’s had along the way, particularly those who helped guide her through difficult decisions and transitions.

Read More
Robert J. Khoury Leads Finance Internship Advice Seminar For Students

Entrepreneurship doesn’t always have to start on a grand scale. For instance, he said, you could approach a family member in a business and say “Hey, I'm a social media expert, but I'm going to help you grow your business. And you give me 20% of the increase.” The journey of entrepreneurship will reveal who your true friends are. “You notice who’s a real cheerleader.”

Read More
Business Today Seminar: Harvard Professor Gregory Mankiw

 A Business Today seminar featured Dr. Gregory Mankiw’s distinguished career in a moderated discussion by Princeton economics Professor Alan Blinder ’67. A graduate of Princeton University from the class of 1980, Mankiw has been a Harvard professor of economics for 40 years and served as the Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers (CEA) from 2003 to 2005 under President George W. Bush.

Read More
Inside BT: Founding Boost and Building Networks

On this episode of Inside BT, we speak with Emily Cheston, the Director of Boost, a new program she started within the club early this summer. Boost seeks to elevate Black executives and provide mentorship for Black students. Emily speaks to the significance of such a program for the BT community and the students we serve at large. Inside BT is a series that was launched to reflect on how Business Today, a nonprofit that's entirely run by undergraduates, has adapted to the new digital normal created by COVID.

Read More
Inside BT: Expanding a 300 Student Conference into the Digital Realm

The International Conference is one of Business Today's oldest programs and is in its 46th year of operation. During this episode, we chat with Felipe Bickenbach, the Director of this year's conference, on his experience transforming the flagship event into a weeklong digital event to serve three hundred students across the globe. Felipe shares the challenges and tribulations he encountered while also providing advice for students thinking about hosting digital events themselves. Inside BT is a series that was launched to reflect on how Business Today, a nonprofit that's entirely run by undergraduates, has adapted to the new digital normal created by COVID.

Read More
Inside BT: Maintaining Accessibility and Equity in Virtual Recruiting

In this episode of Inside BT, we sit down with Katie Dykstra, the Director of Human Capital for Business Today, and hear about the changes Business Today has made towards preserving accessibility and equity in recruiting new members. Inside BT is a series that was launched to reflect on how Business Today, a nonprofit that's entirely run by undergraduates, has adapted to the new digital normal created by COVID.

Read More
Inside BT: Fundraising Over Zoom

Corporate Contacts, Business Today's flagship internship program, is key to BT's finances and operations. Traditionally an internship program that takes undergraduates on road trips across the country to pitch to CEOs for sponsorship and participation, this summer's program was transitioned into a virtual format. Vignesh Panchanatham, this year's Director of Corporate Contacts, speaks to the frustrations he faced and takeaways he learned in this episode of Inside BT. Inside BT is a series that was launched to reflect on how Business Today, a nonprofit that's entirely run by undergraduates, has adapted to the new digital normal created by COVID.

Read More
The Exciting Future of Medicine with Pablo Lapuerta

Pablo Lapuerta, the Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, focuses heavily on genetics and drug development. He discusses the messaging that the pharmaceutical industry needs to do in order to help the public understand the extensive processes behind bringing new drugs to market, improvements that could be made in the FDA’s drug approval process, and a novel drug that he and Lexicon have developed to treat Type I diabetes.

Read More
Gary Briggs, Digital Director for the Bloomberg Presidential Campaign, on the 2020 Elections, Marketing, and the Importance of Family

“I have never been good at the ‘what do you want to be in five years?’ question,” said Gary Briggs, whose prolific career includes time in senior positions at eBay, Google, Facebook, and most recently as the digital director of Michael Bloomberg’s presidential campaign. For Briggs, it is genuine person-to-person connections that matters at the end of the day.

Read More
Mario Gabelli and the Importance of Understanding the World

Mario Gabelli, founder and CEO of Gabelli Asset Management Company Investors (GAMCO Investors), delivered a keynote speech at Business Today’s 45th International Conference. He spoke on a range of topics, from ETFs causing him to be an “endangered species” to an unexpected crash course in geography, in order to stress the importance of pursuing knowledge and global awareness.

Read More
A Conversation With Debi Chirichella, EVP & CFO at Hearst Magazines: "We Are As Good As The People Who Work For Us"

Debi Chirichella is executive vice president, chief financial officer and director of global operations for Hearst Magazines, one of the world's largest publishers of monthly magazines, with 25 U.S. titles and close to 300 international editions.

Read More
Jon Weiss, Senior Executive Vice President of Wealth & Investment Management at Wells Fargo, On What Makes Banking So Special To Him

Jon Weiss is the Senior Executive Vice President of Wealth & Investment Management at Wells Fargo. In an interview with Business Today, Weiss shares how he got his start in banking, and why he has stayed with the company for so long.

Read More
Gerrard Schmid, CEO of Diebold Nixdorf, Shares the Highs and Lows of Being a CEO

Gerrard Schmid was appointed CEO of Diebold Nixdorf two years ago in early 2018. But already, he has made important changes for the company and has bigger plans for the future. In an interview with Business Today, Schmid shared some of those goals and how he hopes to accomplish them.

Read More