Mentor Coaches

Geraldine Aine, 2012 Mentor Coach

Liberty Mutual, Counsel

Legal Department

Trinity College, BA, 2002; University of Connecticut, JD, 2005

As a first generation college graduate and the child of immigrant parents, I have faced some of the challenges and issues Fellows may experience. For this reason, and more, I decided to provide the guidance that I could have used when I was going through school. As a member of the NYNY family, I am surrounded by people who are committed to helping individuals grow personally and professionally. Such an environment motivates me to give back even more!

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

Shiseido Cosmetics America, Associate Manager

Marketing

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.

Trina Assur, 2012 Mentor Coach

Oppenheimer & Co., Analyst

Investment Banking

University of Pennsylvania, BA, 2010

Thomas J. Watson Academic Scholarship

I attended a NYNY event the year I moved to New York after graduating college. Meeting the other Mentor Coaches and the Fellows they influenced inspired me to want to get involved.  I think NYNY is an influential force in New York and I am happy to be able to be part a team doing so much good.

Jade Auzenne, 2012 Mentor Coach

J.P. Morgan, Credit Analyst

Private Bank

Emory University, BBA, 2010

Volunteering with NYNY over the past few months has been a tremendously rewarding experience, and I am excited to continue this year as a 2012 Mentor Coach. I attribute many of my accomplishments to the guidance that I've received in the past from mentors in my life. It is an honor to be able  to pass on that guidance as a Mentor Coach and help the Fellows to achieve their goals.

Marissa Ballan, 2010 Mentor Coach, 2012 Mentor Coach

Starwood Hotels and Resorts, 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.

Paola Benavides, 2012 Mentor Coach

LeFrak Organization,

Information Technology

Binghamton University , BS, 2007; Hofstra University, MBA, 2012

Every Fellow is special and they are so because they're defeating odds every day. My sincerest wishes are to support them in their journey to stardom. Being the first in my own family to reach graduate school I feel blessed to be able to participate in the lives of other students like myself moving through academic and professional waters never before chartered by anyone in their families. 

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.

Deborah Boone, 2012 Mentor Coach

Deutsche Bank, Analyst

Asset Management

Hampton University, BS, 2010

Although I am not a New York City native, I am excited to have the opportunity to impact the life of a college student and mentor with New York Needs You. As a young professional working in financial services, I have benefited from mentorship and I am thrilled to help a Fellow cultivate her current skills and reach goals. Thus far, my experience with NYNY has been both motivational and inspirational and I am excited to be a part of the new Mentor Coach class.

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.

Faullin Brannon, 2012 Mentor Coach

Financial Services,

Binghamton University, BA, 2010

The privilege of mentorship is profound, and necessary for the development of our youth. In the context of first-generation college students, as professionals we have a civic obligation to extend opportunities to underserved high potential individuals. I believe the NYNY movement will be infectious, in terms of demonstrating the societal benefit of providing opportunities to individuals from challenging backgrounds.   

Christina Brown, 2012 Mentor Coach

Siren Public Relations, Social Media Specialist

University of Pennsylvania, BS, 2009

I joined New York Needs You because of my passion for supporting first-generation college students who want to succeed in the creative industries. As a first-generation business school graduate, I wasn't always aware of my options and the ability to merge my passion with my career. I truly believe with proper guidance, anyone can achieve their optimal goal of being happy and successful in a career they love. They just need a helping hand.

Jennienne Burke, 2012 Mentor Coach

Family Centers Inc., Community Health Educator

Care to Care

SUNY at Buffalo, BS, 1986; New York University, MPH, 2001

I became a Mentor Coach because a mentor taught me that a career is not always planned but with the right support and opportunity, steps to a successful career can be created. It's about developing resourcefulness and accepting each experience as a lesson. I take great pride in reaching back to guide and encourage others to create their stepping stones. I hope to encourage Fellows to explore STEM careers and community advocacy.

Melanie Carr, 2012 Mentor Coach

Consultant, Investigator and Mitigation Specialist

Harvard University , BA, 1997

Echoing Green Fellow

I am a consultant, investigator and mitigation specialist working on civil rights and death penalty cases. I am excited about mentoring promising young people who are interested in careers in public interest, social justice, and civil rights work. I enjoy mentoring because it is so rewarding.

Michael Chow, 2012 Mentor Coach

GoldenSource, Director

Marketing and Corporate Development

Stanford University, BS and MS, 2007

Mayfield Fellow

I have been incredibly fortunate to have had invaluable mentors along the way in my academic and professional career. Getting involved with this organization and group of first-generation college students aiming to do great things was an easy decision for me to make.

Jenn Chu, 2012 Mentor Coach

Bloomingdale's, Associate Planner

Handbags - Bloomingdales.com

Columbia University, BS, 2004; University of Pennsylvania, MBA, 2010

After graduating college, I worked in investment banking and was able to make the career switch to retail merchandising. I became a Mentor Coach because I want to help others find the right career path, and understand that there are always other options to pursue. I have also received a lot of guidance from mentors in my life, and would love to do the same for someone else.

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.

Alicia Criner, 2012 Mentor Coach

Amazon, Marketing Manager

Media & Technology

Howard University, BA, 2008

I became a Mentor Coach to guide the next generation of professionals, just as my own mentors have supported me. NYNY's development programs guarantee the Fellows' success in academic matriculation, graduation and career placement. Working in the media and technology industries, I look forward to exploring the Fellows' passions and developing the next crop of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) trailblazers.

Sonya Crosswell, 2012 Mentor Coach

Carver Federal Savings Bank, Vice President

University of Pennsylvania, BA, 1999; University of Pennsylvania, JD, 2002

I fully support NYNY's mission and I believe that hard work and determination, a strong support system, an influential network of mentors and access to resources are the keys to a successful career. I became a Mentor Coach because I feel that my legal background and experience at two international law firms and in-house at a community bank will allow me to pass on valuable knowledge and insight that I have learned along the way to a Fellow aspiring towards a legal career.

Carlos Cuevas, 2012 Mentor Coach

Urban Health Plan, Administrative Fellow

Executive Office

Columbia University, BA, 2005; Columbia University, MPH and MPA, 2012

I was born in the South Bronx of New York City, but attended one of New York’s finest educational institutions for both my undergraduate and graduate studies. These experiences have given me a unique view of these different milieus in society. My educational, work and life experiences have prepared me to help foster the intellectual and social development of future leaders.  

Gilbertson Cuffy, 2012 Mentor Coach

Reckitt Benckiser, Innovation Brand Manager - Finish Detergents

Marketing

University of Miami, BA, 2002; Nova Southeastern University, MBA, 2004

I believe that mentorship bridges the divide between lack and access. Mentorship, as I have seen it, truly creates opportunities for those who, by normal circumstances, may not have had them. It has truly been a catalyst towards accelerated career advancement and extending educational pursuits. I’d only wish that I too had programs like NYNY growing up. It is staggering to imagine how much further in my career I could have been and if not then how many pitfalls I could have avoided along the way.

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, Director, 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.