Mentor Coaches

Jonathon Alexander, 2011 Mentor Coach

IntraLinks, Sales Executive

Georgetown University, BA, 2007

Being a Mentor Coach is rewarding every time that you meet with Fellows at NYNY. NYNY is an organization where you can see the effects of hard work, dedication, and enthusiasm each and every day. There were many people that helped me as I navigated the transition from college to the real world. Making a contribution to NYNY is one way that I can give back a small percentage of the mentorship that I benefitted from over the years.

Anneka Anand, 2010 Mentor Coach

AEA Investors, Associate

Private Equity

University of Pennsylvania, BA, 2007

Many people have served as mentors in programs where mentees did not put forth the full effort required to improve. NYNY is unique in that Fellows are extremely ambitious, motivated, and hard working. The time you spend with them results in readily apparent impact. I suggest becoming a Mentor Coach if you want to develop meaningful relationships with bright, inspiring Fellows who are willing to put in all the work necessary to advance their career and professional development.

LeAnne Armstead, 2011 Mentor Coach

Lord & Taylor, Advertising Coordinator

Marketing / Media

Villanova University, BA, 2008

Becoming a Mentor Coach for New York Needs You (NYNY) means living a new experience, helping to bridge talent with opportunity, while also passing on what I've learned to others. My Fellow intends to pursue a career within the Creative/Arts field; I hope the knowledge I've gained through previous publishing internships, and in my current role as Advertising/Creative Services Coordinator at L&T, will help her navigate this field, and ultimately acquire an internship in display advertising, design or in a curatorial position. I hope to continue recharging my professional and personal growth with NYNY.

Marissa Ballan, 2010 Mentor Coach

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., Associate Director, Owner Services

Barnard College, BA, 2001; New York University, MA, 2003; University of Pennsylvania, MBA, 2008

As someone who has made several career changes, from finance to real estate and hospitality, I have found that the key to a successful transition is identifying one’s core skill sets and emphasizing their universality and relevance. Similarly, as the Fellows transition from school and internships to a career, I hope to draw on my experiences to help them recognize the inherent value in all of their experiences and be confident in the strengths and skills they have gained.

Vincent Barr, 2011 Mentor Coach

Triumvirate Environmental, Marketing Coordinator

College of William and Mary, BA, 2008

I became a Mentor Coach to help the NYNY Fellows achieve their career aspirations. For one Fellow this may mean helping them to recognize their personal and professional strengths and, for another, it may mean expanding their view of the career opportunities available to them. Or, maybe it's just having a Mentor Coach around to motivate and encourage them. In hindsight, I recognize how valuable a mentor would have been in curating my own goals and identifying the most efficient steps to reach them. There are a lot of stops, hooks, and snags between the day one receives a diploma and the day one receives an offer letter – many of which are magnified for first-generation college students. I am excited to be a part of the program that reverses a considerable opportunity gap through an enriched community and well-planned curriculum. It is very rewarding.

Ken Biberaj, 2011 Mentor Coach

Russian Tea Room, VP

Restaurant & Commercial Real Estate

American University, BA, 2002; Harvard University, MPP, 2004; New York Law School, JD, 2008

I became a Mentor Coach because I like making connections, and believe deeply in NYNY's mission of connecting ambition with opportunity. NYNY puts a premium on selecting amazing Fellows and Mentors and putting together workshops that are substantive and interesting. As I have opened up my network to NYNY, I have already started seeing results and know that I am making a difference for the Fellows. This is why I became a Mentor Coach and also why I will remain involved with NYNY.

Joshua Bowen, 2011 Mentor Coach

CrowdTwist, Inc., COO & Co-Founder

Online Media

Cornell University, BS, 1998

Hopefully, sharing my experiences changing industries and careers to find something I love doing can help others find something they are passionate about. I'm excited to be a 2011 Mentor Coach and look to help in any way possible.

George Crichlow, 2011 Mentor Coach

Liquid Labs, Associate Planning Director

Georgetown University, BS, 2003

I’m a Brand Strategist interested in the intersection between people, culture and technology. I help companies develop insight, ideas and inspiration. My job is to look for patterns in things that seem at odds, craft brand stories and create new products and services. I will apply these same skills to help Fellows find their passion, tell compelling personal stories (in their resume and on interviews) and inspire them to be and do more than they think possible.

Tia Cummings, 2011 Mentor Coach

L'Oreal, Marketing Director

Marketing

Hampton University, BS, 2002; Purdue University, MBA, 2004

Being a Mentor Coach is so rewarding! I've always enjoyed working with young people, but this is my first experience with college students. The Fellows are so motivated! They continue to amaze and inspire me at every workshop. And, with the focus on professional development and networking, I feel like I'm getting just as much out of the program as the Fellows. That's what makes NYNY different from every other mentoring organization I've worked with, and I'm so glad to be a part of it.

Leslie Delery, 2011 Mentor Coach

American Express, Business Development

Global Pricing and Revenue Management

University of Virginia, BS, 2005; Columbia University, MBA, 2009

I would recommend becoming a Mentor Coach because you get to meet amazing people. Both the Mentor Coaches and Fellows come from diverse backgrounds that bring new perspectives and different types of support. People are positive, eager, and smart, a great combination for learning and giving back. Both sides involved come away with impactful results. 

William Demas, 2011 Mentor Coach

Macquarie Capital, Senior Associate in the Power, Utility and Renewables Group

Harvard University, BA, 2005

I have always appreciated the value of others who have helped guide me to the place where I am now and cannot imagine this journey without their sound input. I feel an obligation to offer myself in the same capacity to others going through similar experiences and I found the NYNY program a great platform for doing so. I have consistently faced new situations that have pushed me to expand my thought process and approach. I hope this perspective can help our Fellows succeed as well.

Natasha Desai, 2011 Mentor Coach

The Mount Sinai Hospital, Resident Physician

Emergency Medicine

University of California, Los Angeles, BS, 2005; George Washington University, MD, 2010

I think it’s important to pay forward all the advice and lessons I learned in my struggle to achieve my career goals. Participating as a Mentor Coach for NYNY allows for just that and more. It is very fulfilling to help guide these very driven and motivated first generation college students. It pushes me to be at my best as I want to be the ideal role model for my Fellow.

Christin Drake, 2011 Mentor Coach

Christin Drake, M.D., Psychiatrist

Medicine

New York University, BA, 2002; Columbia University, MD, 2006; Cornell University, Psychiatry Residency/Chief Residency, 2011

Being a Mentor Coach with NYNY has been a wonderful experience thus far! I leave every workshop inspired by the Fellows' ambition and heartened by their progress. As a psychiatrist and a mentor, I tend to believe in the particular importance of a personally supportive and confidence-building environment. NYNY has certainly succeeded in providing this for both Fellows and Mentor Coaches.

Michael Duignan, 2011 Mentor Coach

Columbia Law School, Student

University of California, Berkeley, BA, 2003; Columbia University, JD, 2012 (expected)

Research Fellow, Center for Transatlantic Relations at Johns Hopkins School for Advanced International Studies

Mentorship was at the core of my early development. I benefited greatly from compelling persons in my life whose advice and friendship helped me make the most of each new opportunity that came my way. I am grateful for their involvement and recognize the value of passing on similar guidance to those who seek it. At New York Needs You, my Fellow and I share visions of what a bright, professional future looks like. I look forward to standing alongside him as he works to make that vision a reality.

Larry Erwin, 2011 Mentor Coach

Proclivity Systems, Product Manager

University of Texas at Austin, BBA, 2005

Being a NYNY Mentor Coach is an entirely gratifying experience. Each interaction I share with my Mentor Coach colleagues and Fellow provides an amazing opportunity for both learning and personal growth. Whether it is working one-on-one with my Fellow on essays or sharing insightful lessons learned from teachable moments to the entire organization, I am proud to work with a committed community of diverse and passionate people who exercise a bias towards action and making a difference.

Elliot Feldman, 2011 Mentor Coach

Barclays Capital, Equity Research Associate

Lehigh University, BS, 2009

Becoming an NYNY Mentor Coach has afforded me the opportunity to work with some of the most passionate and driven young college students in New York City. Though professionally I reside in the financial services industry, working as a healthcare industry analyst, along with my deep personal connections in the medical and research fields, will allow me to leverage these networks to guide my Fellow on his career path of scientific research.

Benjamin Felt, 2011 Mentor Coach

The Invus Group LLC, Associate

Private Equity

Yale University, BA, 2007

Throughout my academic and professional journeys, I have been fortunate to benefit from outstanding and generous mentors who have guided me through the tough choices and obstacles on the way to my career today in private equity investing at The Invus Group. I hope that through New York Needs You, I can provide the same valuable guidance to my Fellow as he looks to forge a fulfilling career in the business world.

Robyn Finker, 2011 Mentor Coach

MSL New York, Vice President

American University, BA, 2008

I was not a first generation college student; however, I am the first person in my family to truly join the ranks of corporate America. As I needed to learn the ropes on my own, I joined NYNY to help the future of America follow the same path I did, but with some help.

Caitlyn Fox, 2011 Mentor Coach

The Rockefeller Foundation, Strategy Associate

Strategy

Brown University, BA, 2007

Serving on NYNY's Young Leadership Board, I've had an amazing experience getting to know our Fellows and am excited to take on the new role of Mentor Coach!  I can leverage my experience at Rockefeller to advise Fellows interested in the non-profit sector and international development.  Prior to Rockefeller, I worked in management consulting, so I hope to be helpful to those interested in consulting as well.

Adrienne Gaffney, 2011 Mentor Coach

Wall Street Journal, Associate Editor of WSJ Magazine

Trinity College, BA, 2007

Becoming a Mentor Coach is by the far the best decision I've made in the past year. Getting to know my Fellow has been wonderful. At each workshop, I am constantly impressed by how bright, insightful and motivated she is at such a young age. I can't wait to see all the things she will achieve and I am excited to impart whatever knowledge I may have.

Alana Gardner, 2011 Mentor Coach

Legal Support Personnel, Contract Attorney

Johns Hopkins University, BA, 2000; Loyola University of Chicago, JD, 2004

I became a Mentor Coach because I truly believe in what NYNY aspires to achieve. I am thankful for the family and friends who supported me and wish I had an organization like NYNY when I was choosing my career path. Being a Mentor Coach has renewed my passion to create my own path to success and not just follow the one set out for me. I may be an attorney by profession, but I have a wide array of experience that allows me to give well balanced advice and support.

Jasmine Georges, 2011 Mentor Coach

New York City Law Department, Office of the Corporation Counsel, Assistant Corporation Counsel

Duke University, BA, 2004; Fordham University, JD, 2007

I became a Mentor Coach because I know the value of having guidance in setting and achieving goals, and I felt it was my turn to give back what I have received. As a Mentor Coach, I have learned from the insights of the Fellows and it is enriching to know that I am helping to guide someone towards achieving her career goals. I encourage other professionals to become Mentor Coaches because you will learn things about yourself in the process and grow in your own career as well.

Cesar Gonzalez, 2011 Mentor Coach

Wexford Capital LP, Analyst

Metals and Mining

University of Southern California, BS, 2005

I became a Mentor Coach to help students that I feel are underserved by existing mentor programs. Through the NYNY program, I am making an impact on my Fellow's life, but my Fellow is also making an impact on my life by inspiring me to work harder to continue to advance my own goals. The NYNY program is well structured and meaningful to both the Fellows and Mentor Coaches. I realize that I can contribute to the career development of the Fellows as I was once where they are and I am now where some of them want to be.

Isabel Gonzalez, 2010 Mentor Coach

The Port Authority of NY & NJ, Manager, Airport Business and Property Development

Aviation Infrastructure

Arizona State University, BA, 2000; Columbia University, MPA, 2007

When I look back at my educational and early professional trajectory, I attribute my accomplishments to some hard work and a lot of luck.  As a first-generation American and college student, it made all the difference to come across the right people and programs at the right time.  As an NYNY Mentor Coach, I have become a formal part of the support system the outstanding NYNY Fellows will need to succeed through college and beyond.

Jay Gormley, 2011 Mentor Coach

MJHS, Vice President of Planning, Research and Innovation

Health Plans, Hospice, Home Care, Housing and Nursing Homes

Hamilton College, BA, 2001; Sage Graduate School, Masters of Health Service Administration, 2005

I began as a volunteer last fall and am excited about continuing this year as a 2011 Mentor Coach. Working with NYNY is a wonderful way to give back. I use my contacts as the VP of Planning for MJHS, one of the largest not-for-profit integrated health systems in NY, to expose Fellows to the health care field. MJHS is dedicated to "caring every minute, every day" and involvement with NYNY gives me an opportunity to continue this mission in my personal time—putting my core values into action.