Welcome to the Grad CCD Podcast! Whether you’re launching a startup, pivoting careers, exploring new industries, or navigating the job market, this podcast is your go-to resource for all things career.
Hosted by Grad CCD Associate Director, Erica DeBiase, each episode features insights from entrepreneurs, industry leaders, Babson alumni, and career experts on topics like career transitions, lifelong learning, internships, job hunting, and the future of work. Tune in to get inspired, informed, and empowered to take the next step in your professional journey!
Season 3
Season 3, Episode 1
Join host and Grad CCD Associate Director, Erica DeBiase, as she chats with Drin Govori, current MBA student and founder of the Intrapreneurship Initiative at Babson College F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business, and Fabian Schmidt, 2023 alum and global entrepreneur-in-residence, about what it really means to be an intrapreneur.
Season 3, Episode 2
Coming soon!
Season 3, Episode 3
Coming Soon!
Past Seasons
Season 1
Susanne Schneider-Kivelitz on the Power of Storytelling
March 25, 2023
At some point in our lives, there’s only one story we’ve been told that really stuck with us. Whatever these stories are, they probably have something in common: the way they were told, how we related to the topic, or just how different it was from anything we’ve ever heard before. This is the power of storytelling. Crafting your story, especially when it comes to your career, can feel like a daunting task but it doesn’t have to be. Susanne Schneider-Kivelitz chats with Lily Awad aroudn the power of storytelling and what to consider when crafting your own, memorable story.
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Margaret Jones and Lily Awad on the Behavioral Interview
April 12, 2023
The behavioral interview is based on the idea that past performance can predict future behavior. Behavioral interviews have been used by companies for decades as the way to assess candidate fit. In this episode Margaret Jones and Lily Awad discuss this kind of interviewing, and what to expect when given one. They will also share how best to prepare for them, and the dos and don’ts we should all be aware of.
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Kenza Qermane MSBA ’21 on Business Analytics
May 18, 2023
The field of business analytics has grown exponentially. Strong data analytics candidates are very hard to find and many colleges in the U.S. have caught onto this gap to offer specialized degrees in analytics including Babson’s Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA). Babson’s MSBA pedagogy combines a data scientist skillset with an entrepreneur’s mindset. In this episode, Kenza Qermane MSBA ’21, discusses how she combines and applies these skills to her role as a business analyst at Nasuni. Kenza shares a plethora of helpful tips for those considering a career in analytics as well as insights on how her academic experiences at babson led up to her career today.
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Jeremy Hill ’04, MBA ’20 on Consulting
May 30, 2023
Landing in a coveted role in consulting after Graduate School is not an easy road. Babson alumni Jeremy Hill chats with Erica DeBiase from the Graduate Center for Career Development abotu the path he took to get there. Jeremy is a Senior Consultant at Vantage Partners and has recently launched his own coaching practice called the Dream Job Network. He sheds light on the most exciting things about the industry, a dya in teh life, and what it takes to be successful. He also shares about the challenges and the “dark side” of consulting, and what you can really expect to see on the job. Hear about why he finds this field so rewarding. For those interested in pursuing a career in the field, this is a must listsen!
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Nukul Jain MBA ’20 on Product Management
June 6, 2023
“I think the primary function of a product manager is to create music in chaos.”
Have you considered a career in product management? If so, this episode is a must listen. Nukul Jain MBA ’20 and Senior Product Manager at Amazon, unpacks a week in the life of a Product Manager, what he did to land a job in product, and how he continues to learn and grow in his role. In this episode, you’ll learn about the importance of radical prioritization, organize and genuine networking, and transparent and succinct communication, among other valuable tips from Nukul.
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Season 2
Marc Cosentino on the Case Interview
September 13, 2023
Marc Cosentino, CEO of Case Questions and author of Case in Point: Complete Case Interview Preparation joins Erica DeBiase, Associate Director at the Graduate Center for Career Development, to discuss the case interview and what a candidate can do to prepare when an interviewer is looking for solutions to a real-world scenario. For three decades, Marc has been the voice of case interview prep worldwide. He has advised and coached over 100,000 students and has written five books on the topic of case interviewing and consulting. His book, Case in Point, has been the best-selling case interview focused book for 20 years, and was referred to by The Wall Street Journal as the “MBA bible.” Hear from the case interview guru himself on how to prepare!
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Shankar Das MBA ’14 on AI
October 20, 2023
Shankar Das MBA ’14, Principal Product Manager for AI Products at Amazon, shares his expertise in the field of AI including why no industry is “AI resistant,” how AI can “supercharge our imaginations,” and why soft skills matter. Shankar also provides insights on how to manage an AI-focused team and how to stay up to date on this fast-growing technology. No matter where you are on your AI journey: novice, intermediate, or experienced, this episode will provide some great suggestions!
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Phillip Lachman MBA ’15 on Business Development, Start Ups, and Angel Investing
November 14, 2023
What do start ups, the role of business development, and angel investing all have in common? Phillip Lachman MBA ’15, unpacks this for us as he shares what it takes to survive in an ambiguous start up environment, why business development is essential for any organization (and how to do it effectively) and how to become an angel investor. You don’t want to miss this episode packed with insightful tops, interesting examples, and plenty of resources.
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Dominique Miles MBA ’24 on Lifelong Learning for Career
December 4, 2023
Dominique Miles MBA ’24 began her professional career as a recruiter and has enjoyed the past 10 years of working with international institutions to place talent in new positions which support development and growth. In addition to her work in international development, Dominique ran a small business which provided notary services for loan closings in D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. She managed a team of 5 notaries and was honored by the Alexandria SBA as a 40 under 40 leader.
Dominique chose to pursue an MBA at Babson as a committed entrepreneur to expand her knowledge base and pivot into finance. She will join Goldman Scahs as a Private Wealth Management Associate upon completing her MBA. Her role at Goldman supports her belief and commitment to deploying capital in ways which make the world a better place.
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Brian Dardy on Campus Recruiting
January 16, 2024
Ever wondered why some people get invited to an interview and others don’t? Or what tips the scales in favor of those who receive offers and others who don’t? Then this episode is for you.
Brian Dardy, Inclusion, Engagement, and Community Talent Acquisition Leader at MathWorks, pulls backs the curtain on the inside world of recruiting, addressing key topics such as—critical dos and don’ts of successful job hunters, how to leverage tools like LinkedIn, HireVue, and Generative AI.
Brian Dardy on Campus Recruiting (Part 2)
January 29, 2024
Ever wondered why some people get invited to an interview and others don’t? Or what tips the scales in favor of those who receive offers and others who don’t? Then this episode is for you.
Brian Dardy, Inclusion, Engagement, and Community Talent Acquisition Leader at MathWorks, pulls backs the curtain on the inside world of recruiting, addressing key topics such as—critical dos and don’ts of successful job hunters, how to leverage tools like LinkedIn, HireVue, and Generative AI.
Melissa Castro on her role as Chief of Staff
February 12, 2024
What does a Chief of Staff do and why could that be an interesting career opporunity for you?
In this episode, Melissa Castro MBA ’19 and Chief of Staff at Graffito SP, a Boston-based retail real estate advisory and investment form, unveils the mystery of this often overlooked business role. She shares with us how she foudn her true professional passion and turned her career into a more community focused environment.
Her perspective as a woman of color on DEI topics and learning on how to forge a career in corporate America are truly insightful and valuable for all Babson students and alumni.
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