The Graduate Baruchian

By Beidi Sabrina Ma (MS Statistics ’14)

As a graduate student who has a background in information technology, having Credit Suisse visit Baruch’s Subotnick Financial Services Center (SFSC) on October 17, 2013 was a terrific experience. The event they joined was a collaboration between Credit Suisse and Baruch’s Zicklin Graduate Career Management Center and Starr Career Development Center, along with the graduate student club Zicklin Women in Business and Richard Holowczak, associate professor of computer information systems and director of the SFSC.

The event featured three Credit Suisse panelists who discussed career options available to students in financial services information systems, from application development to business analysis and infrastructure. The panel was made up of Ms. Marinela Tudoran (Equities IT co-head and managing director), Ms. Antoinette O’Neill (Fixed Income IT CIO and managing director) and Mr. Dan Collins (Prime Services IT head and managing director). With the conversation led by Baruch’s Linda Weiser Friedman, professor of statistics and computer information systems, the panelists shared how they created their own career paths, insights on information-technology implementation in the banking industry and their advice for women looking to forge a career in information-technology in the banking industry.

Panelists Dan Collins, Marinela Tudoran and Antoinette O’Neill, and discussion leader Prof. Linda Weiser Friedman (from left to right)

Ms. Tudoran was born in Romania, and achieved extensive academic excellence in Europe. After graduation, she worked for years in academia before making a decision to take an information-technology role in Japan. A few years later, Ms. Tudoran was contacted by Credit Suisse Japan and joined the firm’s information-technology team. She remarked that her global exposure to different cultures and environments ultimately benefited her communication skills in her daily Equity IT responsibility at Credit Suisse New York. She also encouraged the female students in the audience to always chase their career dreams.

Ms. O’Neill finished her education and started her career in Ireland. Before joining Credit Suisse, she had no experience in finance or banking. Credit Suisse provided her a great platform to do on-the-job training and become more familiar with the finance and banking environment. In answering a question from the audience about Credit Suisse’s IT analyst program, Ms. O’Neill suggested that students take more information-technology related courses and understand information-technology functionality in the banking industry if they have a real interest.

Credit Suisse guests Victor Barb, Heather Chun, Ian Davidson and Luis Rojas (from left to right)

Mr. Dan Collins has been at Credit Suisse for 3 years, with 21 years’ industry experience in banking information-technology services. As a New Yorker, Dan highlighted Credit Suisse’s global exposure and diversity in the New York office compared to his previous experience.

In addition to the panelists, individuals from Credit Suisse’s Equities IT team were also in attendance to meet with the students who participated. This included Victor Barb and Heather Chun (chief of staff, Equities IT), Ian Davidson (Equities IT strategy delivery management), Matt Jenkins (Equities IT strategy), and Luis Rojas (HR business partner, Equities IT).

Mr. Rojas encouraged all interested students to apply for Credit Suisse’s Analyst Program by going to www.credit-suisse.com/careers and applying by January 6, 2014. Students graduating in December 2014 or May 2015 are eligible for summer internship programs, and the program hires into several roles including application development, business analysis, infrastructure, and support.

For all of the students, the presentation was particularly informational. What students gained most were insightful and thoughtful ideas in building a career path in banking industry information technology service, and for me personally, what it’s like for female professionals working directly in the industry as integral team members.

Baruch College graduate and undergraduate students attending the panel

 The Graduate Career Management Center contributed to this article.

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