Erinn received her MBA in finance and non-profit management and shares below how Questrom prepared her for her career.
Q: How did your Questrom education prepare you for your current role?
A: The team-based approach taken at Questrom was critical in preparing me for today’s business world. The ability to effectively collaborate and to encourage a diversity of thought and participation of all parties to ultimately arrive at the best outcomes for our clients and/or company, is a skill that was emphasized. Being on a team means leading at times and listening at others. It also requires a delegation of tasks and trust, with the goal of arriving at cohesive outcomes. Additionally, the sizable international student body exposed us to multiple perspectives and how to embrace cultural differences. Working on a team is especially rewarding when everyone is invested in and focused on the same outcome. It makes all the hard work that goes into a project that much more rewarding when you can share the results and celebrate with others.
Q: What is a class or skill that you participated in while at Questrom?
A: I am eternally grateful for Professor Shaked’s corporate finance class. Not only did he teach the analytical tools for researching and valuing a company, Professor Shaked focused on how to question the data and information presented. He encouraged a rigorous analysis that dug deeper when things didn’t quite add up, or when they added up too perfectly… A continual search for answers until we were satisfied that both the data and the story aligned.
Q: Do you have advice on how to build a network?
A: Building a strong network is critical to long-term business success. It is a small world and the better networked you are the more connectivity you have to people and developments in your industry. Building a network takes time – you must prioritize the time to do it. I have found that joining professional societies, volunteering on committees where I have an interest, and simply going the extra mile to stay in touch with people I meet makes a difference. It is not enough to simply add contacts to your LinkedIn network, you need to connect more meaningfully – a recommendation for a restaurant or show, introducing them to a new job opportunity or area they expressed interest in, and staying in touch periodically with meaningful touch points. My network has played a large role in the success I have had, through mentorship opportunities and referrals/additional connections in the industry. It has also been helpful as we have looked to hire and add new talent to our team.
