Northwestern Intersections

Most first-year Northwestern students come into their undergraduate studies with a vague idea of what they want to do post-graduation. Neal Taparia came into Northwestern with what would become a research management tool staple for his peers and students after him: EasyBib.com. Developed with a friend in high school, EasyBib—acquired by education technology Chegg-- was just the start of Neal's entrepreneurial career.

In this episode of Intersections, Neal shares the importance of hustling, the valuable advice he has gotten throughout his career, and the ways he stays connected to young entrepreneurs on campus.

Neal is now exploring how classic games can help with brain and memory training with his new initiative Solitaired.

Since 1932, the Northwestern Alumni Medal has celebrated alumni who have had a transformative impact on their fields, who have performed exemplary volunteer service to society, or who have demonstrated an outstanding record of service and support to the University. In October 2019, three accomplished alumnae received the highest honor for the positive impact they have made in their careers and communities. This week, we'll hear, Bridgette Proctor Heller '83, '85 MBA, a senior executive with more than 30 years of experience with Fortune 500 companies.

Northwestern Intersections will be featuring all-female guests during the month of March in conjunction with the Women's History Month and the 150 Years of Women at Northwestern to honor those who have shaped and inspired the future of our community.

Since 1932, the Northwestern Alumni Medal has celebrated alumni who have had a transformative impact on their fields, who have performed exemplary volunteer service to society, or who have demonstrated an outstanding record of service and support to the University. In October 2019, three accomplished alumnae received the highest honor for the positive impact they have made in their careers and communities. This week, we'll hear from Yie-Hsin Hung '84, a top-ranking female operating executive at New York Life.

Northwestern Intersections will be featuring all-female guests during the month of March in conjunction with the Women's History Month and the 150 Years of Women at Northwestern to honor those who have shaped and inspired the future of our community.

Since 1932, the Northwestern Alumni Medal has celebrated alumni who have had a transformative impact on their fields, who have performed exemplary volunteer service to society, or who have demonstrated an outstanding record of service and support to the University. In October 2019, three accomplished alumnae received the highest honor for the positive impact they have made in their careers and communities. This week, we'll hear from Lisa M. Franchetti '85, who led several commands in support of US national security strategy.

Northwestern Intersections will be featuring all-female guests during the month of March in conjunction with the Women's History Month and the 150 Years of Women at Northwestern to honor those who have shaped and inspired the future of our community.

According to renowned American lyric soprano Amanda Majeski, understanding your personal definition of success is essential in any career, but even more so in the arts. Amanda gives us an inside look into the ins and outs of the opera world, as well as the unifying power of music and art. She shares how she befriended performance anxiety in a high pressure career and her strategies to managing it that will prove valuable for creative and corporate careers alike. She also emphasizes the importance of one's support networks, both personal and professional, in accomplishing goals.

As the Partner and U.S. Health Services Sector Leader at PwC, Gurpreet Singh has expertise in Health Information Technology and Digital Strategies that drive innovation. We get the inside scoop on some of the cutting-edge innovations the healthcare system is moving towards and the impact of Chief Digital Officers bring to an organization. Outside of work, Gurpreet serves on the Board at non-profit organizations in Chicago, IL with his two young rock star sons. He passes down to his sons what his father taught him: no one ever can take your education from you nor the experiences you have with others.

We brought back Melissa Donaldson to continue our conversation after her highly-praised webinar presentation on Intentional Diversity and Inclusion Practices, hosted by the NAA last month. Melissa, who is currently the Senior VP and Chief Diversity Officer at Wintrust Financial Corporation, dives deeper into the questions we all have when it comes to being a diversity and inclusion practitioner and supporter. You'll hear candid perspectives and personal experiences from both Melissa and Helen and you can click here to watch the webinar recording.

When life throws you curveballs, you can either hide or welcome the new changes into your life. In Jordan's case, he welcomed them and quickly adjusted to the changes to live out the most fulfilling life he can have. Major changes were part of his journey, which led him to become an Executive Coach who guides others to overcome uncertainty and discover what brings them meaning and fulfillment. Listen in to hear how you can step outside of your comfort zone in the midst of unforeseen changes and take control of your career path.

Welcome back to our new season of Northwestern Intersections. We're starting off the season strong by having Chelsea Hayes with us to talk about how we present ourselves in front of others. As an Executive Coach and Corporate Trainer for Fortune 500 companies, she emphasizes the importance of directly asking for what we want, giving ourselves the credit we deserve, and forming memorable relationships with your mentors/mentees. She also shares her experience of joining the Council of One Hundred and meeting incredible Northwestern women from all over the world.

Today's episode marks the last episode of 2019! As a way to celebrate, our podcast team went back and pulled out some of our favorite advice and insights from various alumni guests from 2019. We'll be back in February 2020 with our new season so stay tuned. Have a wonderful holiday season and go 'Cats!