alpha magazine fall 2013

1 Delta Sigma Pi | Alpha Magazine | Fall 2013

The Business of

WITH EXCLUSIVE CONTENT FEATURING

CLOTHING SPONSORED BY THE FLATIRON

BROOKS BROTHERS STORE

PLUS Six things to look out for

when updating your interests

on your resume

Featuring an interview with

CO-FOUNDER & CEO OF

Presented by NYU Delta Sigma Pi

SOCIAL MEDIA

ANDREW KORTINA

MAGAZINE

ALPHA A


Delta Sigma Pi’s Presidential Welcome

Dear Fellow NYU Stern Undergraduates, It is with my utmost pleasure that I greet you to our third issue of the Alpha Magazine. To our original readers who have continued to be with us since Spring 2011, welcome back. To our new readers just discovering new experiences in New York University, I hope this magazine can serve as a tool to help you take advantage of your four glorious years of college. When we set out to re-launch this magazine three years later, we wanted to provide a publication that helped guide students down their paths of excellence. We focused on articles that provide information for topics that are not discussed in the walls of a classroom, and tips that NYU Stern champions have been using for years to be successful. Although we are a fraternity judged by the success and actions of our brothers, we want to see every student in this school flourish. We hope through this magazine, we can inspire and encourage students to take new perspectives on new career choices, and learn valuable information that can help them advance in their careers. I also want to thank the amazing Delta Sigma Pi brothers for their dedication and passion for providing intriguing content to the Alpha Magazine. Working besides some of the most intelligent and driven students in New York University has always provided with infinite inspiration, and we hope you can capture some of that magic in this magazine. I hope you look forward to reading the contents of this volume, and it can help guide you in your paths to success at New York University.

Best of luck, Vijay Sumal Chapter President

Delta Sigma Pi | Alpha Magazine | Fall 2013 3

ISSUE NO. 3 | FALL 2013

the alpha magazine NEW YORK UNIVERSITY, DELTA SIGMA PI

The Brooks Brothers Image Jason Nickels and Anne Alcocer offer insight on how the NYC Flatiron Brooks Brother store ties Social Media into their business

A Glimpse at Venmo Andrew Kortina, co-founder of Venmo, shares his thoughts on his creation.

college years 4

Stern’s Concentration Overview With 9 concentrations to choose from, the Alpha Magazine summarizes and clarifies each of the concentrations to Sternies.

Featured Concentration: Accounting Accounting unraveled with additional insight from PwC Recruiter, Mary Zachos

Club Spotlight: Marketing Society Words of advice from the executive board of 2013 ICC Club of the year.

Study Abroad Profiles NYU prides itself on being a global campus. Decide on where you want to go after reading through profiles for each location.

Taking Paris by [Brand]Storm What it was like to represent DSP and the USA in an international marketing competition sponsored by L’Oreal.

propelling your career 19

The (Career) Path Less Traveled (at Stern) Detailing the path Nick Wang took to follow his passion and dream career in consulting.

Building Your Interests The question that you are never prepared for is to talk about your interests. Learn what to do to beef up your interests for recruiting.

Dressing for the Occasion Brooks Brothers offers up their expertise in styling yourself for every occasion.

focusing on your life 26

A Review: DBGB Kitchen and Bar A NYC Restaurant Week 2013 experience broken down explained.

Recommendations in the City James Yang reveals some of his favorite restaurants since coming to NYU.

Disclaimer The opinions expressed in this publication are the views of the writers and interviewees and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of The Alpha Magazine, their employers, the Stern School of business, or New York University as a whole. Contact the Magazine Jackson Sheng [[email protected]] – Editor-in-Chief Angela Xu [[email protected]] – Managing Editor

features 14


college years

Stern’s Concentration

Overviews by Angela Xu

Sample Electives Regression and Multivariate Data Analysis Forecasting of Time Series Data Life Contingencies Undergraduate Program Advisor Professor Aaron Tenenbein Department Website www.stern.nyu.edu/ioms

Sample Electives Topics of Emerging Financial Markets, Behavioral Finance Department Website www.stern.nyu.edu/economics

Sample Electives Debt Instruments, Behavioral Finance, Investment Banking, Mergers, Acquisitions, and Restructuring Undergraduate Program Coordinator Professor Jennifer N. Carpenter Department Website www.stern.nyu.edu/fin

Sample Electives International Financial Management Department Website w4.stern.nyu.edu/gbi

Actuarial Science Actuarial Science consists of training in a variety of disciplines, which include mathematics, probability, statistics, economics, and finance. Actuaries evaluate and measure risk associated with individual and company insurance by determining the premiums for different insurance policies, designing pension plans, and managing insurance assets. Upon graduation, students who chose an actuarial science concentration begin work in organizations such as insurance companies, actuarial consulting firms, and government agencies like the Social Security Administration. It is important to note that a person must be certified as an actuary by passing a series of tests. Stern’s actuarial science concentration prepares students for the first three examinations and three VEE (Validation by Educational Experience) areas.

Economics Stern offers two official economics areas: business economics and economic theory. Switching between the two areas can be complex. The economic theory program is the formal study of economic reasoning, emphasizing techniques of economic analysis. As the name suggests, economic theory relies on higher levels of abstraction in comparison with business economics. Students who are looking into a professional career in economics, graduate study in the subject, or opportunities in highly quantitative fields can consider the economic theory program.

Finance The most popular concentration in Stern, finance paves the way for careers ranging from credit analysis to apprentice floor trading. Students who graduate with a concentration in finance usually find jobs in banks, consulting firms, government agencies, and corporations, where they make analyses to advise profitable business decisions. Finance is made up of two subfields: investments/capital markets and corporate finance. The first field involves the pricing and valuation of financial instruments and strategic investment. The second field concerns financial decision-making in corporations and financial intermediaries.

Global Business (co-concentration only) Students looking to make Global Business their co-concentration must first fulfill the requirements for another concentration (e.g. Marketing, Information Systems). Then, students will apply their acquired knowledge and skills to the international marketplace. Global Business students are encouraged to take foreign languages, which can count as one of the two electives in the course requirements. Students can also take advantage of NYU’s study abroad opportunities to develop an in-depth knowledge of different cultures and different methods of business.

ACTUARIAL SCIENCE

ECONOMICS

GLOBAL BUSINESS (co-concentration only)

FINANCE

http://www.stern.nyu.edu/ioms

http://www.stern.nyu.edu/economics

http://www.stern.nyu.edu/fin


Sample Electives Electronic Communities Social and Digital Media Analytics Data Mining for Business Intelligence Undergraduate Program Advisor Professor Norman White Department Website www.stern.nyu.edu/ioms

Sample Electives Managing People and Teams Managing Innovation Managing in Creative Industries Undergraduate Program Advisor Professor R. Kabaliswaran Department Website www.stern.nyu.edu/Management/

Sample Electives Advertising Management Internet Marketing Media Planning Sales Management Undergraduate Contact Professor Sunder Narayanan Department Website

w4.stern.nyu.edu/marketing/

Sample Electives Forecasting of Time Series Data Mathematics of Investment Regression and Multivariate Data Analysis Undergraduate Contact Professor Aaron Tenenbein Department Website www.stern.nyu.ed/ioms

Information Systems Information Systems tries to answer one central question: Why do some organizations get value from their information technology investments while others do not? This concentration at Stern teaches students to understand the relations between information technology and changes in markets and businesses. Strong skills in management and information systems are very valuable when moving from an entry-level position to high-level positions. Typically, Information Systems students are interested in supporting the technology requirements, infrastructure, and strategy of different business areas.

Management and Organizations Management and Organizations focuses on the problems faced by management and their possible solutions. Students learn about group dynamics, strategic positioning in business, and the environmental conditions affecting management decisions. The Management and Organizations concentration prepares students to become effective managers. Since management must involve social interaction, management courses are often focused on human behavior and the forces that influence behavior in a work environment.

Marketing Marketing involves the study of consumer needs and the development of a competitive product or service. Stern’s Marketing concentration helps students to develop a competitive strategic mindset. Students will learn how to anticipate competitor entry, respond proactively, and develop competitive advantages. The marketing process is fun: developing a product, launching it, and witnessing consumer choice. Marketing involves quantitative skills, in addition to creative processes.

Statistics Statistics is an excellent co-concentration, because strong quantitative reasoning builds an important foundation for other majors. Statistics students learn the organization, analysis, and presentation of data. For students graduating in Statistics, the pharmaceutical industry is one of the largest employers. Statisticians are important in the design and evaluation of drug testing protocols.

INFORMATION SYSTEMS

MARKETING

MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATIONS

STATISTICS

http://www.stern.nyu.edu/ioms

http://www.stern.nyu.edu/Management/

http://www.stern.nyu.ed/ioms


college years

Featured Concentration:

Accounting by Angela Xu

By enabling the effective management of businesses, accounting is an

important aspect of the business world. There are many rewarding career opportunities in the accounting field and numerous job opportunities for students who choose Accounting as a concentration. Upon graduation, General Accounting students can pursue careers in investment banking, securities markets, corporate financial management, personal financial planning, etc. The Accounting field allows flexibility and choice, as accountants can work for companies of all sizes and within both private and public sectors. Accounting careers can involve extensive communication with many clients or little interpersonal contact.

Accounting is not only about number crunching, which is a process made easier by accounting software and technological improvements. Accountants and controllers for companies or private accounting firms do not spend their days taking care of basic bookkeeping. Instead, there are a lot more opportunities for critical thinking and teamwork in discussing financial strategies and advising management. In the end, accounting is a profession that requires attention to detail and a passion for numbers, but also values communication and problem solving skills. These versatile abilities are transferable to jobs in other fields (e.g. Finance) as well.

Stern offers a General Accounting program and a BS/MS in Accounting program. The latter prepares students to sit for the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license exam, and students will graduate with the Bachelor of Science degree in general accounting and the Master of Science degree in accounting.

Word from Mary Zachos

THE APPEAL OF PwC PricewaterhouseCoopers is one of the “Big Four” accountancy firms, and is currently headquartered in London, United Kingdom. Operations are global, and encompass three main service lines: assurance services, tax advisory, and advisory. Ms. Zachos was first drawn to PwC when she had a wonderful experience speaking with recruiters and employees during the recruiting process. PwC has a very people-focused culture. Not only providing for training and coaching needs, PwC went above and beyond to care for its employees. For example, the New York office shipped out generators in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.

THOUGHTS ABOUT ACCOUNTING Every company needs an accounting team, no matter the field. There are numerous opportunities to grow your career. You could choose to work for a public company, a private firm, or even open your own partnership. You could also branch out into other related fields, which could benefit from your previous accounting experience. No matter what path you forge for yourself, remember that a CPA is extremely valuable and adds credibility to your work ethic and abilities.

Concentration Requirements Managerial Accounting Financial Statement Analysis Three Advanced Accounting Electives Sample Electives Financial Reporting and Analysis Entertainment Accounting Financial Modeling and Analysis Director of Undergraduate Program Alex Dontoh Website www.stern.nyu.edu/acc

Mary Zachos is an on-campus recruiter for PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). She first joined PwC as an intern in the Boston office, and later transferred to the New York office, where she is currently the Campus Recruiting Manager.

http://www.stern.nyu.edu/acc


forge for yourself, remember that a CPA is extremely valuable and adds credibility to your work ethic and abilities.

IMPORTANT SKILLS Recruiters value stronger interpersonal skills and communication, which are very important in client interactions. Attention to detail and creative problem-solving skills are also helpful. You are expected to utilize critical thinking and develop unique solutions; don’t always do things “by the book”.

GUIDE TO SOCIAL MEDIA With so many different options of connecting with people online through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, web chats, etc., don’t forget to meet people and form real connections in person! If your face-to-face interactions with people are truly memorable, then go ahead and connect with them on social media outlets as well. Just be careful of ‘friending’ everyone you greet, because you might come across as a random stranger if the interaction was brief and generic. In person networking is still the best method, because it is so personal. Be careful of what information you choose to publish on your social media sites. Recruiters have been known to look up candidates on Facebook. Even after you’re hired, you want to be mindful of how you present yourself over the Internet. Remember that as an employee, you also represent the company. However, don’t be afraid to use social media to your advantage. Polish up your LinkedIn profile and keep it updated. You want to be consistent when you create your personal brand. What defines you in your career? How do you want to present yourself to future employers? Make sure your social media profiles fits with your personal brand.

ADVICE, ADVICE, ADVICE 1. Build your network as much, and as soon, as possible. These connections can also help you throughout your entire career, so never stop strengthening and expanding your circle of friends, acquaintances, and mentors. 2. Make sure your connections are reasonable. Build comfortable relationships. Thank you letters are awesome, but excessive emails are not. 3. Start building and editing your resume. Employers only have a page to get a sense of whom you are, and you only have one page to stand out. PwC offers resume-building workshops during the school year! 4. Balance out your resume with a strong GPA with a well-rounded extracurricular schedule. Show employers that you know how to manage your time! Internships and work experience are all valuable, but make sure you emphasize the transferable skills in the description. 5. Add unique interests to your resume. You have one line to differentiate yourself and your experiences. Just make sure it’s appropriate! 6. Don’t be afraid to be yourself. Too much preparation and rehearsal for interviews detracts from the conversation. Remember to ask questions, because interviews are a two-way street. You want to find out whether or not the firm is a good fit for you.

PricewaterhosueCoopers (PwC), formed in 1998 from a merger between Price Waterhouse and Coopers & Lybrand, has a history in client services that dates back to the nineteenth century. Both accounting firms originated in London during the mid 1800s. Today, PwC serves 26 industries worldwide.

Deloitte, KPMG and Ernst & Young round out the mix with PwC and together, form the Big Four in Accounting.


college years

Club Spotlight

Interviews with President Stan Rosenberg

and Vice President Jacqueline Allen

by Janet Lee

[The Alpha Magazine]: What kind of events does Marketing Society have and what got you to join? [Stan Rosenberg]: Marketing Society is the only club at NYU Stern dedicated to all things marketing. The club meets every Wednesday during Common Hour and features speakers, workshops, panels, and networking opportunities with companies in advertising, consumer behavior, market research, and more. Some companies that are slated to come in for this Fall include Nielsen, L'Oreal, and New York Festivals. I joined Marketing Society my Freshman year as a way to get more exposure to the world of marketing before I took classes for my Major during my Junior Year. The club provides a great opportunities for Freshman and Sophomores to discover what topics in marketing interest them. [Jacqueline Allen]: I joined at the beginning of my freshman year after seeing the Marketing Society table at the club fair. Coming into Stern I thought I wanted to study marketing but wanted to learn more about the opportunities available after graduation in marketing. The people in Marketing Society were a big part in why I joined; they are welcoming and friendly. [AM]: Can you tell us how your involvement with the club has changed year by year and how you worked to get to your position? [SR]: During my Freshman year, I was a Gold Member of the club; I attended almost every weekly meeting and some additional networking events. Sophomore year I was Webmaster, running the club website and social media accounts and last year I was Vice President. This year, I am the President of the Club. In the Marketing Society, it is quite easy to move up the ranks as long as you are dedicated and passionate about the club; don't be afraid to ask questions, recommend speakers, and participate on committees when available. [JA]: I started attending Marketing Society regularly in my freshman year and became a Gold Member. Freshman spring I was on the branding committee and helped market the club’s events by posting flyers around Stern. At the end of my freshman year I applied for an eboard position for sophomore year and was selected to be a co-Intercollegiate Conference Director. As Conference Director I planned the Marketing Mix, the first undergraduate marketing conference held at Stern. This year I ran for and elected Vice President.

[AM]: What are some goals and plans you have for Marketing Society regarding events, membership and presence on campus for the coming year?

[SR]: Although the Marketing Society has a long history of bringing great speakers on campus, we are looking to add additional career development and internship resources. This year, we are partnering with about a half dozen companies to provide resume books of our members and hold additional events throughout the year. One event may make a student interested in a company but the more exposure we can provide, the better opportunities for our members to land jobs. [JA]: To keep up the trend of bringing great speakers to Marketing Society and adding additional events, like career workshops, that will help our members get jobs within the marketing industry. [AM]: Many people now know about Marketing Society after the Marketing Mix this past year. Can you explain to those who don't know what it was and any plans you have for that? [SR]: The Marketing Mix is an undergraduate marketing conference that is taking place on Friday November 1st from 9am-5pm. The event will feature speakers from Ketchum, Nielsen, Pepsi, DoSomething, American Express, IMG, and more and provide a great opportunity for students to learn more about marketing in one action-packed day. We had the first conference last year and it was a huge success; this year, we are adding more networking opportunities and additional Stern alumni. For more information as the event approaches, please visit www.mktsoc.com [JA]: I was one of the two Intercollegiate Conference Directors who planned the Marketing Mix. It was the first undergraduate marketing conference held at Stern. It was a conference focused on Advertising, Brand Management and Marketing Research. The goal is to introduce students to the marketing industry and the opportunities available in marketing. The event was a success with 30 professionals speaking to students and was attended by over 75 students.

http://www.mktsoc.com/


[AM]: What's the most valuable thing you got out of the Marketing Mix as a member of Marketing Society that you wouldn't have if you weren't in the club. [SR]: The Marketing Mix allowed me to understand all of the different specialties one can go into with a Marketing Major. We had speakers covering social media marketing, entertainment marketing, sports marketing, brand strategy, and more! [JA]: Through my experiences being on the Eboard and planning the conference, I gained leadership skills and was able to make contacts within the marketing organizations that attended the conference. Members of Marketing Society got an inside look at which companies were attending the Conference and the first chance to buy tickets. But the great thing about the Marketing Mix is that you don’t have to be a member of the Marketing Society to attend the Conference and it is a great introduction to the marketing industry. It serves as an introduction to the industry for freshmen and sophomores who want to learn more about Marketing and a networking opportunity for juniors and seniors who are looking for a job in marketing.

[AM]: How have your experiences in Marketing Society helped you in the professional world? [SR]: This past summer, I had a client associate internship at Dunnhumby USA, a customer sciences and market research company. I actually found out about Dunnhumby through an event the Marketing Society had on campus. If it wasn't for the event, there's no way I would have found out about and applied for this opportunity. [JA]: My experiences in Marketing Society have helped me in the professional world in several ways. First, thanks to attending the weekly meetings I have gained exposure to the marketing industry and learned more about marketing companies. Second, my leadership experiences with Marketing Society have helped me develop my leadership skills by planning the Conference. This experience has given me the skills to spearhead projects on my own and this helped me during my internship this past summer as at ArtsBoston. [AM]: Are there any last words of advice you'd like to leave for our younger readers? [SR]: Don't wait until Junior or Senior year to start networking; there's no reason you can't start doing so as a Freshman. All of the clubs in Stern, whether it is Marketing Society, or one of the others, provide ample opportunities to meet new students, past alumni, and top corporations. You never know what connection may help you land that dream job or internship one day. [JA]: Join student clubs! Whether it’s Marketing Society or another club, student clubs give you opportunity to learn more about the different aspects of business and learn what recent graduates are doing. Club meetings also give you the chance to meet other students who share your interests. Upperclassmen can be a great resource for you, to answer your questions about school or anything else.

Stan Rosenberg is a senior in Stern majoring in Marketing

and Economics with a minor in Social Entrepreneurship.

Jacqueline Allen is a junior in Stern majoring in Marketing

and Management with a minor in Entertainment, Media &

Technology.


college years

Study Abroad Profiles By Jackson Sheng

From the minute you apply to NYU, you hear about its focus on being a global university. With the addition of NYU

Shanghai as a portal campus, following the opening of NYU Abu Dhabi in 2010, NYU now has three campuses worldwide with countless study abroad locations as well. With all these options, it is hard to decide which is better than the other. This section features a few profiles from those who have already been abroad that will make your decision easier!

Shanghai – Kathy Hong

with many other people who weren't proficient at Chinese either, luckily it's really not that difficult to travel, communicate and function in Shanghai while only knowing English. What is one must-do others should check out? Outside of Shanghai, I would say to travel to Guilin. It was the most beautiful trip that I was able to go on and it's reputation of being the most beautiful mountain and water travel destination does not disappoint! Travelling isn't too expensive and there are so many amazingly beautiful places in China, all of which that are so different from New York. What advice would you give to others going to Shanghai? Two things: Make sure to bring all the normal American toiletries and medication that you are used too... simple things like deodorant and Tylenol are a lot harder to find, more expensive, or very different from what you're used too. Also, always carry a pack of tissues with you for the bathroom, because a lot of the bathrooms, whether they are squatters or not, will not have any toilet paper! Have you ever regretted going abroad? I did at first, because at first I was sad about missing people, events, and things still in the city. I wondered whether I had chosen to go abroad at the wrong time. But after the first couple weeks, I started to really appreciate it and realized that it didn't really matter when or if I had or hadn't gone abroad because I would have been missing out on something in any situation and this was something that I'm glad I didn't miss out on. Right now I honestly just wish that it was one year in the past at this time, so that I could go abroad and have that experience all over again. It was absolutely amazing.

beautiful trip that I was able to go on and it's reputation of being the most beautiful mountain and water travel destination does not disappoint! Travelling isn't too expensive and there are so many amazingly beautiful places in China, all of which that are so different from New York. What advice would you give to others going to Shanghai? Two things. Make sure to bring all the and medication that you are used too... simple things like deodorant and Tylenol are a lot harder to find, more expensive, or very different from what you're used too. Also, always carry a pack of tissues with you for the bathroom, because a lot of the bathrooms, whether they are squatters or not, will not have any toilet paper! Have you ever regretted going abroad? I did at first, because at first I was sad about missing people, events, and things still in the city. I wondered whether I had chosen to go abroad at the wrong time. But after the first couple weeks, I started to really appreciate it and realized that it didn't really matter when or if I had or hadn't gone abroad because I would have been missing

normal American toiletries and medication that you are used too... simple things like deodorant and Tylenol are a lot harder to find, more expensive, or very different from what you're used too. Also, always carry a pack of tissues with you for the bathroom, because a lot of the bathrooms, whether they are squatters or not, will not have any toilet paper! Have you ever regretted going abroad? I did at first, because at first I was sad about missing people, events, and things still in the city. I wondered whether I had chosen to go abroad at the wrong time. But after the first couple weeks, I started to really appreciate it and realized that it didn't really matter when or if I had or hadn't gone abroad because I would have been missing out on something in any situation and this was something that I'm glad I didn't miss out on. Right now I honestly just wish that it was one year in the past at this time, so that I could go abroad and have that experience all over again. It was absolutely amazing.

What was the reason why you chose Shanghai? I've been to China before, but only with my family, to visit family. So I know that there's a ton of amazing places to go visit and things to do, but just have never gotten the opportunity too. So it was amazing to be able to go to such an exciting and fun place with my friends. What was the best memory you had while abroad? This is probably THE most difficult question, because I can honestly say that there were tons of amazing, hilarious, interesting memories from every single week that I was there. Really, many of my favorite memories involve food. The food in Shanghai is delicious and cheap. Since there was so much amazing food, we never needed to cook. But for Thanksgiving, we wanted to be able to do something special, because we were all away from our friends and family at home. In total, almost 20 of us got together, went to the supermarket, prepared, and eventually ate the most elaborate Chinese Thanksgiving meal ever! It was just a really great memory because we were all together, buying and cooking food and just hanging out and celebrating Thanksgivings Day, even though we were in China and away from our families. We were even able to end it with a delicious pumpkin pie, something that's not so easy to find in Shanghai! What was the hardest thing to get used to? Chinese.... I've never taken Chinese before, so I didn't know how to read any of the signs and my Chinese verbal communication skills

able to do something special, because we were all away from our friends and family at home. In total, almost 20 of us got together, went to the supermarket, prepared, and eventually ate the most elaborate Chinese Thanksgiving meal ever! It was just a really great memory because we were all together, buying and cooking food and just hanging out and celebrating Thanksgivings Day, even though we were in China and away from our families. We were even able to end it with a delicious pumpkin pie, something that's not so easy to find in Shanghai! What was the hardest thing to get used to? Chinese.... I've never taken Chinese before, so I didn't know how to read any of the signs and my Chinese verbal communication skills were not that amazing either. I was really nervous for a while because I was scared that I would somehow get separated from my friends or teachers and get trapped in a situation where my language skills would be insufficient and then somehow get detained in a Chinese jail. But then I realized that, along


Prague – Philip Chan

London – Tandy Cheng

What was the reason why you chose Prague? To be honest, I chose Prague as the location to go to after searching up Prague landmarks on Google and seeing some amazing scenes that I just had to see for myself. Having grown up in New York and spending most of my life there, I was drawn to the chance to study in a location that people normally don't get the chance to visit. What was the best memory you had while abroad?

What is one must-do others should check out? NYU does its best to host some awesome trips (all-expenses paid for) at every study abroad location. I recommend everyone to attend at least one of these. These locations and events are chosen for a reason, as they are aimed to give you a unique experience for your site. What advice would you give to others going to Prague? While it is tempting to just stay at your location, I'd definitely suggest traveling somewhere new every single week. It may be a bit costly and the traveling may take its toll on your body, but in hindsight it will sure be one of the most worthwhile things you will ever do. Have you ever regretted going abroad? Not at all. Since then, I even go out of my way to take classes at NYU that give me the opportunity to go abroad. For example, I spent last Spring volunteering in Peru as part of a social impact course, and will also be visiting India in the Winter as a part of an economics course. Take advantage of these opportunities!

Aside from meeting some awesome people and eating some of the best food I had ever had, I would have to say that the scavenger hunt hosted by an NYU student was very memorable. It wasn't your typical scavenger hunt, and it had some interesting things to do that you wouldn't be able to do in the U.S. unless you were 21+...but I guess there’s a reason why the scavenger hunt was named "Naughtier in Praha [Prague]". What was the hardest thing to get used to? Mentally calculating the currency conversion to USD everywhere you went, just so you can keep track of how much money you have left to blow.

scavenger hunt was named "Naughtier in Praha [Prague]". What was the hardest thing to get used to? Mentally calculating the currency conversion to USD everywhere you went, just so you can keep track of how much money you have left to blow.

What was the reason why you chose London? Like New York, London is also a financial center so it greatly appealed to an Economics student like myself. Plus it's a cultural hub so you can literally travel anywhere you want in Europe with relative ease. .

What is one must-do others should check out? Scotland. Hands down. It is only a short train ride away from and affords you the rare chance of getting to see Nessy! It is also a beautiful place that will amaze you. What advice would you give to others going to London?

definitely suggest traveling somewhere new every single week. It may be a bit costly and the traveling may take its toll on your body, but in hindsight it will sure be one of the most worthwhile things you will ever do. Have you ever regretted going abroad? Not at all. Since then, I even go out of my way to take classes at NYU that give me the opportunity to go abroad. For example, I spent last Spring volunteering in Peru as part of a social impact course, and will also be visiting India in the Winter as a part of an economics course. Take advantage of these opportunities!

the opportunity to go abroad. For example, I spent last Spring volunteering in Peru as part of a social impact course, and will also be visiting India in the Winter as a part of an economics course. Take advantage of these opportunities!

What was the best memory you had while abroad? I have had so many good memories that it’s hard to choose. However, if I had to pick on it would probably be all the time I made new friends and went out to local pubs on the whim. What was the hardest thing to get used to? The pound. Foreign exchange is the worst.

London? Once you figure out your class schedule, start planning out your entire semester’s weekend trips/spring break as soon as possible. You don’t want to end up regretting not traveling as much as you could have when the semester ends. Have you ever regretted going abroad? Never, and neither should you.


college years

Taking Paris by

[Brand]Storm by Jenny Li and Jinna Wang

So, What Exactly is Brandstorm? [Jenny]: Essentially it’s a marketing strategy competition hosted by L’Oreal across universities worldwide. Each year, they focus on one particular brand from their vast portfolio and present a situation that brings about an innovation opportunity. [Jinna]: For this year’s competition, the brand was L’Oreal Paris under its specific hair care and hair styling category. The rapidly growing and increasingly significant ASEAN (Alliance of Southeast Asian Nations) Zone was the opportunity presented to us. The case was to create a new product to be launched within this region, and to build a full-fledged marketing campaign that would help extend L’Oreal Paris’ share in the market and capture new consumers.

Forming the Dream Team: How Miss

Alpha Came to Be [Jinna]: It’s actually quite interesting, seeing how at the beginning, we only vaguely knew each other. We all went to hear about the competition details at the Brandstorm orientation in Wasserman separately. But despite our interest, it all hinged on finding a team of three. I probably would have been on the fence of participating at all if it weren’t for Jenny reaching out to me via Facebook chat. [Jenny]: And this is where being a Deltasig was really brought into the mix. I mean, after all the group work that comes with taking Stern classes, you start to realize how vital it is to find teammates that can complement each other. And since Jinna is part of the Kappa class, one right after mine, I had gotten to see examples of her motivation and work-ethic during pledging. Our third teammate was recommended to me by a few of my pledge brothers. So based off of this, I felt pretty confident that I was reaching out to some really intelligent girls with whom I could build a convincing case. Lucky for me, they more or less felt the same way, came onboard, and there you have it. [Jinna]: And if you’re wondering about our team name (and trust me, coming up with one is always the hardest part), the “Alpha” comes from the fact that we’re all part of the alpha chapters of our fraternities. There’s also a (don’t judge) Korean girl-group called “Miss A” that we simply felt accurately reflected the fact that we were all Asian females. [Jenny]: and it doesn’t hurt that it adds a bit of sass.

accurately reflected the fact that we were all Asian females. [Jenny]: and it doesn’t hurt that it adds a bit of sass.

FYI: An Overview on Competition

Logistics [Jinna]: After the team got together, we began working on the first round/pre-case – to create a two page PDF in which we choose an existing product out of L’Oreal Paris’ global portfolio that would be ideal for the ASEAN zone. In January, we competed with seven other teams during the NYU round, which was a ten-minute presentation followed by a five minute Q&A session. We had about four months to work on our national presentation, which challenged us to create an entirely new product or product line that would be perfect for the ASEAN zone. We met up three or four times a week, to brainstorm ideas, compile market research, create our products, and come up with an innovative marketing strategy – all while running around the city to meet with our coaches and professionals. In the national round, which took place in April, we were up against teams from six other schools from around the U.S. It was interesting to see that we had all created dramatically different products based on the same prompt, but in the end, our marketing strategy set our team apart, and we were bale to take home the win.


Deadlines, Midnight Oil, and

Hurricanes [Jenny]: To be sure, the overview skips through a lot of what our team faced through the process. The many late nights spent at Stern, the frenzied craze leading up to a deadline (resulting in the consumption of a lot of Starbucks cake-pops), and probably the most unexpected – Hurricane Sandy. It was a pretty unique experience for most of Manhattan, but it ended up being a huge factor in bringing our team closer. We just happened to be at the right place at the right time when one of my pledge brothers invited us to stay at his parents’ house in Brooklyn. The next couple of days were spent huddled together with about five other people, trying to ration every last drop of the buggy wifi, and taking the occasional break to play a game of charades. It was a tough situation we were able to share that helped us to really get to know each other – for the benefit of the team, as well as our quickly forming friendship. Even in a general context, it is especially important to find that synergy with your team and understand everyone’s strengths and weaknesses in order for each member to find their role within the group.

Mentors and Getting the Chance to

Do REAL Work [Jinna]: Over the course of the competition, we worked with amazing professionals from L’Oreal and the McCann agency. Our creative guru Amanda Cho helped us create a stunning visual of the idea for the Total 360 hair line, while our McCann coaches helped us with the advertising campaign. Our marketing coach Jakiya was there for us every step of the way, and we could not have done it without the support from our professor mentor, Sunder!

Paris! [Jenny]: Hopping on a plane and flying to a different continent to compete with people from all over the world really is a rare opportunity for a college student. Every time we advanced to the next round, the competition brought a number of experiences that could never be found in a classroom. Presenting to a panel of judges of L’Oreal executives, getting exposure to the diverse and intelligent minds of other international students, and mingling with full-time employees were just a few of the great opportunities that opened to us through our trip. I only wish we had more time to explore a gorgeous and historic city like Paris (we all had full-time internships during the competition and couldn’t take too many days off), but I’m sure that we’ll find our way back one day.

Beyond Brandstorm [Jinna]: Being a part of Brandstorm has opened many doors for us in the marketing industry and beyond. After our Paris trip, Professor Lieberman reached out to Miss Alpha and invited us to present at Advertising Week 2013, an annual gathering of leaders in both the advertising and communication industries, consisting of over 200 distinct events happening right here in NYC. It’s an excellent opportunity to gain exposure in the field and network with more senior professionals. Also, I found it extremely helpful to talk about Brandstorm in my job interviews, as the competition has both marketing and consulting components to it. Overall, I would encourage everyone to participate in Brandstorm. The long hours are well worth the rewards!

Mentors and

Getting the

Chance to Do

REAL Work [Jinna]: Over the course of the competition, we worked with amazing professionals from L’Oreal and the McCann agency. Our creative guru Amanda Cho helped us create a stunning visual of the idea for the Total 360 hair line, while our McCann coaches helped us with the advertising campaign. Our marketing coach Jakiya was there for us every step of the way, and we could not have done it without the support from our professor mentor, Sunder!

an annual gathering of leaders in both the advertising and communication industries, consisting of over 200 distinct events happening right here in NYC. It’s an excellent opportunity to gain exposure in the field and network with more senior professionals. Also, I found it extremely helpful to talk about Brandstorm in my job interviews, as the competition has both marketing and consulting components to it. Overall, I would encourage everyone to participate in Brandstorm. The long hours are well worth the rewards!

the Total 360 hair line, while our McCann coaches helped us with the advertising campaign. Our marketing coach Jakiya was there for us every step of the way, and we could not have done it without the support from our professor mentor, Sunder!

about Brandstorm in my job interviews, as the competition has both marketing and consulting components to it. Overall, I would encourage everyone to participate in Brandstorm. The long hours are well worth the rewards!

‘Hurricane Sandy. It was a pretty unique experience for most of Manhattan, but it ended up being a huge factor for bringing our team closer’


feature: the business of social media

a glimpse at by Jackson Sheng

Early 2013, Venmo took NYU Stern by storm…or at the

very least the fraternities Delta Sigma Pi and Alpha Kappa Psi. I was first exposed to app when I saw a number of automated posts on Facebook that are generated when you blindly agree to link your Facebook account. The slew of apps these days that just want to use your newsfeed to get to the masses of people on the internet are mind-numbing. Half the requests you receive are for games you don’t want to admit you already play (I mean, what self-respecting person plays Candy Crush?) and the other half for advertisements for clothing sales or some new hot app.

Now taking a couple steps back, what does Venmo actually do? By downloading Venmo and linking your bank account, debit card or credit card, you can transfer money to any other friend that has Venmo as well. If you use your linked bank account or debit card to make the transfer, there are no fees associated with the transaction, no strings attached. However, if you’ve linked your credit card to your Venmo account, you’ll have to pay a small 3% fee on each transfer of money out of your account (But honestly, if you’re presented the option of free transfers versus a 3% fee, you’ll forget your credit even exists and link everything but that to your account). This works even if you’re banking with Chase and your best friend has a Bank of America account, trumping the usefulness of the hard-to-use Chase QuikPay as well.

So what does all this mean for you? This means that whenever you head anywhere on a cab with friends, sdfsdfsd

that whenever you head anywhere on a cab with friends, you no longer have to bolt out of the cab when you arrive in fear that you’ll be stuck paying a tab that your friends will never chip in on again. It also simplifies paying for checks at restaurants that only take a limited number of cards or people conveniently forget to bring enough money with them. In each of these situations, one person just has to pay first and can request money or “charge” their friends the amounts owed.

While Venmo is a savior for those who always get stuck paying for the bills and are never fully paid back, it really only works if all your friends have it. The worst feeling I get these days is when I go into the app and look up a friends name to charge them the amount they owe me to see that they’re not on the app. I then silently swear to myself and start hounding them to 1. Pay me back and 2. Get the app as soon as possible so I’ll never have to deal with that again. The simplicity of the app and intuitive user interface sets Venmo apart from competitors like Paypal or Google Wallet that offer virtually the same exact functions. If you take a look at the brief Q&A we had with one of Venmo’s founders, Andrew Kortina, you’ll see that he explains it in the same exact way. Once you get on the app and start using it you’ll know exactly why everyone else is using it. Just make sure you get all your friends in on it too or you’ll never experience how great the app is and how much more willing you’ll be to go out with friends now that you’ll always get paid back.


[The Alpha Magazine] What is Venmo? How does it work? [Andrew Kortina] Venmo lets people make and share transactions. The Venmo iPhone and Android apps connect your phone with your bank, debit or credit card, and you can instantly send money to anyone for free. When you receive money, you can withdraw it to your bank account overnight. [AM] Where did the idea for Venmo come from? What was the vision you had for your company? [AK] About 3 years ago, Iqram (my cofounder) was visiting me in New York for the weekend. He forgot his wallet, and ended up writing me a check to pay me back for everything we did. We both thought, “why aren't we (and more importantly, why aren’t all of our friends) using Paypal or some other app to pay each other back? We should be.” But when we looked around, all of the options we found were clunky and awkward for using with friends, and more appropriate for checking out on some website. So we designed Venmo, and made it fun, conversational, and social, just like all the other apps we saw our friends using. [AM] What are some cool features of Venmo that simple users wouldn't be aware of? [AK] One of my favorite features of Venmo is one that is more frequently used by people who have been on our service for a longer time: trust. Here's how it works: on Venmo, you can request money from anyone, we'll send a notification to their mobile asking them to confirm the payment, they tap one time, and we move the money. This is pretty easy, but we went a step further by allowing users to establish a trusted relationship with their closest friends: when two users enter into a trusted relationship on Venmo, it's almost like entering into a joint bank account, and when they request money from each other, we move the money instantly and automatically, without requiring a confirmation, and we just send mobile notifications to each user as the payment happens. It's incredibly convenient, kind of like opening a tab or having a house account with someone else.

‘made it fun, conversational, and social, just like all the other apps we saw our friends using.’

[AM]: How do you ensure security through Venmo? [AK]: All communication happens over SSL connections, sensitive financial data are encrypted, and the system monitors for and triggers alerts when suspicious activity occurs. Attaching the additional identity information of a phone number with every transaction is also hugely important in helping to identify fraudulent transactions. [AM]: What do you consider the greatest success to date for Venmo? [AK]: We see people using Venmo as a verb. [AM]: What differentiates Venmo from other payment options such as Paypal and Google Wallet? [AK]: Try it out, and you'll feel the difference ;) [AM]: Have there been any issues or problems with app? How were these resolved? [AK]: We're always trying new things, listening to what users ask for, and watching how they behave. There have been many times when people struggle with a certain flow, and we just constantly refine and improve it until we don't have any more questions about it or people getting stuck. [AM]: What exactly does the company name Venmo mean and where does it come from? [AK]: When we brainstorming names, one of the roots we were exploring for inspiration was the Latin, vendo/vendere, "to sell." As soon as we said Venmo, we liked it because it was short and made for a good verb: "Just Venmo me for dinner." So, to us, Venmo is a verb that means using the Venmo app to pay someone. [AM]: Anything new that you guys are working on for Venmo's expansion or growth? [AK]: Lots coming soon, but you'll have to wait and see ;) Andrew Kortina graduated Summa Cum Laude from University of Pennsylvania in 2005, majoring in Philosophy and English with minors in Logic and Computer Science. Andrew went on to work with OMGPOP, Carrot Creative and bitly before co-founding Venmo


feature: the business of social media

The Brooks

Brothers Image So I think social media is an interesting thing for most brands today because one of the reason why it’s challenging is that it can fit into several different buckets in an organization or a hierarchy. And depending on where it sits, really drives its function and its primary mission. So let me start by giving you the four buckets that I think social media functions today in the larger space.

Branding and Advertising Catherine Martin, academy award winning designer and wife of the director of The Great Gatsby, Baz Luhrmann, did research and found out that men wore Brooks Brothers during Fitzgerald’s time. And Fitzgerald himself used to be an adamant Brooks Brothers shopper. So Catherine came to Brooks Brothers and we ended up doing all of the men’s costumes for the film. So when you think about this from a social perspective, this is a branding campaign. Yes, we had a small collection that came aside with it; but, we’re not frankly going to make or break our year by selling Great Gatsby products. What we’re doing instead is getting people like yourself to say, “That’s so cool that the outfits were all from Brooks Brothers!” So all in all, that’s an instance of branding and advertising. We would take things like historical, archival pieces or shots and stills from the film with Leonardo DiCaprio wearing a bowtie. We would then go into each social space to figure out how to best amplify that. We’re taking that message and pushing it into the social space. For instance, Facebook is as simple as optimizing for the space such as resizing the image so that it’s properly displayed on the mobile or the desktop, or coming up with some fun content and driving an experience on the website.

Public Relations One of the reasons why I come out and do such interviews is because PR is another place I can report into. I’m the editor in chief of Brooks Brothers’ blog, Of Rogues and Gentlemen. So I do a lot of the editorial events and a great deal of what happens on twitter is that we are able to have these one to one relationships and conversations. And you could end up wind up tweeting with Leo or tweeting at the movie theater. Most press releases now are also being released through tweets instead of traditional channels.

Reputation Management Reputation Management would essentially be customer service. Because Millennials, such as yourself, use Twitter to get stuff they want taken care of. If you have a bad experience at a store, you are far more likely than our sdfsdfsdfs

current customer base to turn to Twitter to ask for help. It happens all the time, especially internationally. Actually, we have a huge client base in Asia even though we don’t have an International site for China or various other Asian countries. They have questions about conversions, size fits, and they tweet us these questions from abroad. Up until this last year, we had more domestic stores than International stores, but that balance has tipped recently. Our mission in our values is very strict and we have to make sure we find the right partners to engage with outside of the U.S. We’re in the process of completely transforming ourselves to be a more global-centric organization. So I guess, simply put, we’ve found the right partners abroad. Of course, men and women need professional wear wherever they go.

All original content Flatiron and what Anne and her team do here is what we try to emulate online socially. You often hear that Brooks Brothers is your ‘’Dad’s Store” and it can come off that way many times perhaps because even the physical space can come off as intimidating. If you check out a real traditional Brooks Brothers store like our Madison Avenue store, you’ll see that it’s an impressive space. And if you’re going in for your first suit, I have to say, I would be a little freaked out. I still make sure I’m properly attired when I go up to the fifth floor because all those people up

Featuring words from Jason Nickels

& an interview with Anne Alcocer


there have been selling suits for over 20 years. And there’s some young guys too, but we’ve got veterans up there who’ve helped all sorts of celebrities. And what Ann does here at Flatiron and what we want to do socially is break down those barriers. We want to make it easy and give you the education so you feel comfortable when you walk in, and you can answer the questions that a customer would be asked and you can be prepared. That’s a lot of what the blog tries to do as well.

If you were to describe Brooks

Brothers using only one word, what

would it be and why? I’m going to say “Accepting” because I’m drawing upon our Mission Statement. Essentially, the line that I pull out from it is “To make and deal in merchandise of the best quality, to sell it at a fair profit only and to deal only with people who seek out and are capable of appreciating such merchandise.” Brooks Brothers can kind of appear like a club, Harvard club or Yale club, where you have to earn admittance once you get in. And that’s actually not asdfasdfasdfas

necessarily the case with Brooks Brothers. So basically, we make and deal with merchandise of the best quality, which you can see and you can tell. We own and operate our own factories and we really make the best dress shirts anywhere. What I’m getting at is that to sell it at a fair profit only and to deal only with people who seek and are capable of appreciating such merchandise – what that actually means is that if you can get the fact that when you come into a store, the shirts are only going to be made a certain way, and you’re willing to learn, and you realize we don’t mark up our product, then we will teach you even if you don’t know anything about fashion or style. We’ll teach you how to tie a bow tie, or what suit to buy and wear to an interview, and much more. So we’re accepting; once you come into Brooks Brothers, you’re in. You’re absolutely in. It might appear foreboding but we’re absolutely accepting. You just have to be able to appreciate it. As long as you’re there and as long as you want to learn, we’re here for you and we’re happy to help.

Jason Nickels is the head of the Social Media department at the Brooks Brothers Flatiron Shop

[The Alpha Magazine] What’s the unifying trait among all Brooks Brothers stores that makes it different from other professional attire stores? [Anne Alcocer]: So the first one that comes to mind is that we’re the oldest clothier in America. Founded April 7, 1818 here in Manhattan. So the simple fact of the matter is we’ve been doing it longer than anybody else has in the United States. We’re known as a brand for classic dress. Some people refer to us as “always appropriate” – if you’re in Brooks Brothers, you’re always appropriate. And I would say that that comes from the fact that for almost centuries (we’re about to have our 200th Anniversary), we’ve been dressing American men, primarily. And then in the 50’s we launched a women’s collection. For every major occasion in their life. We’ve also dressed almost every single president since Abraham Lincoln, with the exception of four presidents. We’re the brand that people look to when they say “I want to look professional. I want to look grown-up (for lack of a better term). And I want to look my best.” We’re kind of that brand that people automatically say “For this big occasion, I’m going to go with Brooks Brothers.” [AM]: What do you think makes Flatiron Shop stores unique/different compared to other Brooks Brothers stores? [AA]: Flatiron Shop concept was launched in 2011 and we were launched for the express purpose of presenting the brand to a new generation of customers – not necessarily the next generation but a new generation. What I mean by that are people who either chose not to shop with us because they didn’t really feel comfortable or asdfasdasdfasdfasd

see themselves in our stores, or people who just didn’t know who we were. We wanted to present the brand in a way that made people say “This isn’t my dad’s Brooks Brothers. I see myself here in a more playful and fun environment that still pays homage to the Brooks Brothers history.” When you guys take a look around in the flatiron shop, you’ll see our archive wall. All of the photographs on the walls are replicas of archival ads and archival pictures, so we’re still very “Brooksy”, but in a way that says “Come in and hang out with us. You don’t have to be a lawyer or a banker to be a gentlemen of Brooks Brothers. You can be you and we can be the brand that helps you be the best-you.” [AM]: What are some features or services you have that are targeted for this newer generation? [AA]: I think the biggest feature is that we carry elements of all of our collections so all of the collections that Brooks Brothers makes are represented in the store. What we curate are assortment and that means that we literally sit with the merchants, buyers, and the designers and we hand-pick items that we feel represent the best of Brooks Brothers and will really excite our client and bring them into the store. We’re definitely dominated by a collection called Red Fleece, which was officially launched this past season. It’s an updated take on fit and proportion. It definitely has a more youthful attitude and it is slightly more fashion-forward; or at least conscious of the fashion trends out there. So, that collection is definitely geared towards a new generation of customers and it represents something that we haven’t really done so much in the past aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa


person to help you build a wardrobe. Especially coming in as a freshman, or even as a graduating senior, we understand that you guys can’t come in and buy an entire new wardrobe in one sitting. You want to develop a relationship with somebody who can help you understand what you already have in your closet that will work, and what are the first pieces you should invest in, and how to make it all work together. It’s kind of like you need a wardrobe advisor to plan out your transition from college kid to grown-up. That’s why my first tip is to come on over to Brooks Brothers, hang out with us for a bit, and we’ll facilitate a relationship that will set you up for success. The second thing is, in general, a rule that we say to follow: the way that you dress definitely affects the way that people perceive you. And our universes are not separate anymore – you’re not just in school. When you’re walking down the street of New York, you may actually run into your future boss. When you’re out on a date, you may be sitting next to the CEO of a startup that you

And that’s what we call our “House Collection.” And on top of that, the environment itself is geared towards the newer generation. We have a lounge area which most other Brooks Brothers stores don’t have. In Flatiron Shop you’ll often see fixtures that are authentic. For instance we have an actual antique trunk in the lounge area that we repurpose and use; downstairs, you’ll see other antique tables made from vintage suitcases; you’ll see real trophies that we use to display product. We try to use things that are real and authentic in a slightly more fun and playful way. We also have fun things from a foosball table to a photo-booth. We want customers to walk in and say “Oh my gosh, this is the most fun I’ve ever had clothes shopping! This is a really fun Brooks Brothers and I feel really at home here!” That’s the purpose for everything from the lounge area to the photo-booth to the way our associates interact with customers. We just want you to have a really good time.

there to explain to people what we stand for and who we are. It’s things like our involvement with ACE at NYU or doing wardrobe workshops for colleges and universities to help people understand how to dress professionally. One of the most exciting things that happened for us this past season was the launch of the student discount program and we’re really excited to offer this to you guys. [AM]: For the freshmen that are coming in at NYU, the might now know much about professional attire. Do you have any tips for them? [AA]: The first tip I would give to anyone would be to come to Brooks Brothers and to find an associate that you like and connect with. Don’t be afraid to really rely on that person to help you build a wardrobe. Especially coming in as a freshman, or even as a graduating senior, we understand that you guys can’t come in and buy an entire new wardrobe in one sitting. You want to develop a relationship with somebody who can help you understand what you already have in your closet that will work, and what are the first pieces you should invest in, and how to make it all work together. It’s kind of like you need a wardrobe advisor to plan out your transition from college kid to grown-up. That’s why my first tip is to come on over to Brooks Brothers, hang out with us for a bit, and we’ll facilitate a relationship that will set you up for success. The second thing is, in general, a rule that we say to follow: the way that you dress definitely affects the way that people perceive you. And our universes are not separate anymore – you’re not just in school. When you’re walking down the street of New York, you may actually run into your future boss. When you’re out on a date, you may be sitting next to the CEO of a startup that you someday want to work for. So you always want to have in mind that you should put your best foot forward whenever you leave your house. That means ‘no dirty jeans, no pajamas’ out on the streets. Even as a freshman, it’s not too early to think about how this stage in your life leads to next step in your career and so you’ll always want to be putting your best foot forward. You want to turn it up and think of always dressing professionally.

Anne Alcocer heads the Flatiron Brooks Brothers shop as Store Manager.

purpose for everything from the lounge area to the photo-booth to the way our associates interact with customers. We just want you to have a really good time.

[AM]: How is Brooks Brothers reaching out to this newer generation? What methods are you guys using to reach out to these people and let them know that you guys have such awesome features here?

guys have such awesome features here? [AA]: What’s really exciting is that we have a new chief marketing officer and we look forward to having her as a catalyst and an inspiration do even more marketing and more outreach. But we also have a fairly active social media department. It’s a very small department with only two people, but they are incredibly active. And we are on all the major platforms from Facebook to Twitter to Tumblr to Instagram, and even Google+. We actually have both Brooks Brothers and Flatiron Shop on Twitter and Facebook. And on the Flatiron Shop pages or on the Twitter feed, we try to reflect the environment of the store and be really interactive with our clients and our fans. We’ve actually done some cool experimentations in the past. For instance, a year or so ago, we’ve had a style-off between the first two Flatiron Shop stores. We each styled a look and fans voted on which style they liked more. Since that was so successful, we’re probably going to reawaken that since we have many more stores that we can involve. It’s a lot of things like that but I will also tell you that a lot of the Flatiron Shop stores are doing a lot of very grassroots efforts in terms of getting the word out

pieces you should invest in, and how to make it all work together. It’s kind of like you need a wardrobe advisor to plan out your transition from college kid to grown-up. That’s why my first tip is to come on over to Brooks Brothers, hang out with us for a bit, and we’ll facilitate a relationship that will set you up for success. The second thing is, in general, a rule that we say to follow: the way that you dress definitely affects the way that people perceive you. And our universes are not separate anymore – you’re not just in school. When you’re walking down the street of New York, you may actually run into your future boss. When you’re out on a date, you may be sitting next to the CEO of a startup that you someday want to work for. So you always want to have in mind that you should put your best foot forward whenever you leave your house. That means ‘no dirty jeans, no pajamas’ out on the streets. Even as a freshman, it’s not too early to think about how this stage in your life leads to next step in your career and so you’ll always want to be putting your best foot forward. You want to turn it up and think of always dressing professionally.

Anne Alcocer heads the NYC Brooks Brothers Flatiron Shop as Store Manager.


propelling your career

The (Career) Path Less

Traveled (At Stern)by Nick Wang

Consulting. Management Consulting. I wanted (and still want to do) management consulting. It’s not the typical finance type job the Stern mentality drives us towards, but then again, I’m not your typical student. First off, I want to say I’m not trying to convince anyone to follow the path I took. There are plenty of rewarding career paths to be taken, all of which are valid if you enjoy the work you do and want to pursue it. That being said, the path I took is not the conventional path taken at Stern, so I wanted to shed some light on it and open a few eyes so people are aware that it is an option. While everyone else was participating in investment banking case competitions and learning about reverse tax mergers in their free time, I was learning how to use Photoshop so I can mess with my friends profile pictures in hopes of publically humiliating them. Photoshop was just one of the interests I pursued in my time spent figuring out what I wanted to do. I did however know what I did not want to do. Investment banking. Don’t get me wrong; it’s a great career that sets anyone up for a great future. The skill set and knowledge obtained on the job are virtually unparalleled compared to other jobs a 22 year old can get. However the hours and time spent staring at a screen was a huge turn off for me. I need my weekends to play tennis and see my friends. I need to be talking to people on the job, discussing issues and coming up with solutions. So, one day I had lunch with a family friend who had previously worked at Deloitte Consulting as a Business Technology Analyst. He was telling me about consulting as a potential career, and everything he said struck gold with me. Traveling?

Bring it on, I love going to new places, even if it is middle-of-nowhere Montana. Regular meetings with the C-suite? Heck yes. I want to hone my inter-personal skills. Weekends? I don’t have to be in the office? Awesome. But these were just the cherry on top. What attracted me to consulting the most was (and still is) the style of thinking it develops. Many of the top firms have very structured approaches in the way they approach problems. The branches to these structures are normally mutually exclusive but

collectively exhaustive (MECE). In other words, they cover all the bases, which allows them to solve virtually every problem they are presented with. So, I started looking at consulting firms and what the process to getting into one of these firms was like. That’s what I discovered the case interview. For those of you who don’t know, a case interview is where you are presented with a business issue and you have to solve it with the interviewer during the interview. I started practicing and practicing and found that I really enjoyed solving these problems! It was so satisfying to me to be able to isolate the certain issue of the case and provide well thought out solutions for a business.

Picture here. Use the one of him on the bench on Gould Plaza, one of his profile pictures that we used for the Nu Rush.

‘I need to be talking to people on the job, discussing issues and coming up with solutions’



What Are Your Interests? Tips on keeping your resume interesting by brothers of Delta Sigma Pi

Actually have an interest This might be the MOST important thing for some of you out there. It’s much easier talking about an interest of yours if you’re actually interested in something. The worst thing that could happen to you is that you get asked a question about your interest in basketball and you saying your favorite team is the New York Giants. If you sit down and find yourself struggling to fill this section out, it’s time you go out and find a new hobby. Just pick something, give yourself a deadline and become the master of whatever it is you choose. Go wild.

Elaborate on the basics Having an interest in food isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Try to go into the specifics in hopes of finding common ground with your interviewer. If you’ve got some sort obsession with certain foods you can spin them into fun talking points (I put down “Ethnic Food” on my resume but that just refers to my love of authentic Indian cuisine). Brunch is also an interest that many people can relate to that can bring many interesting stories into conversation.

Be as specific as possible If you have an interest in music or TV, try to get as specific as possible. When I say go as specific as possible, I don’t mean putting down the genre of music or admitting that you like medical dramas, it means writing down specific names of bands or shows that you really like. Putting down specifics will rarely hurt as people who also love what you wrote will immediately put an extra check next to your name while those who don’t will likely ask what it is. In the end, you’ll be surprised at how many other people listen to Ellie Goulding, have eaten at Quantum Leap or loved Zachary Levi in First Date or at the very least like to hear about it.

Avoid nerding out too hard Be careful with this section. While having an interest for technology is often seen as a good thing (as in you program things in your spare time, shoot and edit films, or enjoy editing pictures on Photoshop for your portfolio) you don’t want to send the wrong messages. While plenty of normal people who exercise and shower daily play World of Warcraft, you don’t want your interviewer to think that they’re potentially hiring a video game junkie who would rather interact with virtual friends than go out on a Friday night.

Yet again, quality beats quantity You don’t have to go skydiving everyday to have an interest in it. Having an interest just means enjoying doing something whenever you do it. If you have an interesting story of the first time you went skydiving or how it changed your life, this would be a great chance to air out some of the crazy things you do.

Don’t be afraid to expose yourself Face it, you’re not in high school anymore. Whether you’re a boy who likes to ballroom dance or a girl who enjoys watching NASCAR, you’ll be respected for the unique interest you have, not made fun of. In fact, interests like these will more likely than not be that extra push to put you ahead of the 10 other people applying with the same grades and internships you had.

When going into interviews, the people on the other end of desk will often read through your resume five minutes before you interview, looking for glaring mistakes or some eye-popping wow factor. A quick way to get yourself on the radar is to keep your interest section…interesting. Below are some quick tips to beefing up your “Interest Section” to catch the eye of anyone who reads your resume.


Dressing for the Occasion

by Janet Lee

dressed by the NYC Brooks

Brothers Flatiron Shop

Featuring Jocelyn Kuo

Rishi Majmundar



Men's Business Formal Look For business, Navy or Charcoal suits are best. We've chosen a classic navy suit for Rishi from our Red Fleece silhouette which is modern and trim. For interviews, the best choice is a white or light blue shirt with a spread (as seen here) or forward point collar. Lastly, a classic Repp tie keeps the attention on your resume and your interview answers rather than on what you're wearing.

Women's Business Formal Look We've paired a classic black skirt suit with a white collared shirt here for Jocelyn. Ladies have a little more flexibility with colors with shirts when interviewing but sticking with a solid suit in a dark color (navy, black, or grey) is your best bet.


Men's Business Casual Look Every gentleman (or those aspiring to be gentlemen) should have a navy blazer in his closet. That's the base for the look and that item can take you anywhere you want to go (except your first interview). We added a fun checked shirt and a colorful chino to show a playful side that still works for business. Notice our gent is still wearing a dress shoe as sneakers or athletic shoes are never appropriate for business.

Women's Business Casual Look Dresses are always a great option to look feminine and polished. Here we're seeing a neutral checked wool dress with lighter colored accessories to brighten the look. Just be conscious of the length of dresses (when you try them on make sure you sit down in them to check for possible wardrobe malfunctions in meetings). Simple, classic jewelry is always key and this gold chain is just the right touch of shine.


Men's Weekend Look One of the things we love this season is this quilted blazer. It's warm enough to be used as a jacket but it also looks dressy. A slim five-pocket cord pant should also be in everyone's wardrobe this season and cuffing it to show off a great boot and fun socks really show's you've got style.

Women's Weekend Look Chambray is everywhere this season and this shirt dress makes the masculine fabric feminine and playful. Just like for men, a blue blazer is essential for every woman and will really round out your wardrobe. Lastly, a great pair of boots like these ankle boots from the Vintage Shoe Company are funky enough to keep this from feeling too dressed up.


focusing on your life

A Review: DBGB by James Yang

Kitchen and Bar NYC Restaurant Week presents an opportunity for students on a budget to experience some fine dining that is but a distant dream for most of the year. However, at times one must wonder if some restaurants participate in Restaurant Week in desperation of more customers rather than as an opportunity to allow different groups to experience the best that they have. DBGB Kitchen and Bar seems to fit more into the first category. Stretching across Bowery between 1st Street and Houston, DBGB Kitchen and Bar has a grand entrance surrounded by glass and populated by small outdoor seating tables. I arrived with 12 others, many visiting New York and was prepared to experience the best that NYC restaurants had to offer. Perhaps we should have known from the half empty seats during primetime Sunday brunch or from the walls lined with beer and wine teasing us, that this group of underage students would not have the best experience. While looking over the menu, our waiter voluntarily brought us breadbaskets filled with warm and fresh pastries. We waited over half an hour for our appetizers to arrive which seemed long considering it was a fixed menu, but the pastry spread kept us occupied. They were delicious, but finding out that they were not complimentary when our bill arrived made them less so. For appetizers, the tomato salad was beautifully plated but not very satisfying and lacked dressing. The pate grand mere provided a new experience, and surprised us with pleasant and complex flavors many of us did not know could be found in chicken liver. For the main course, we ordered the heritage pork and emmenthal sausage, smoked mozzarella agnolotti, and the frenchie burger. The sausage was cooked well, with cheese leaking out in every bite. However, the potatoes paired with them were undercooked and hard. The agnolotti had great flavor, but the portion was so small it left us wanting more. The star of DBGB was the frenchie burger. Topped with pork belly confit, tomato-onion compote, arugula and morbier cheese on a peppered brioche bun, the most classic dish turned out to be most complex. We only hoped that the entrees and appetizers before it would have had this type of attention to detail. The experience we had might have been better if we had had a couple of those bottles of wine lining the wall, but in our sober state, and left with a check containing unexpected add-ons, it was one that we never hope to repeat.


Recommendations

also by James Yang In the City

Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steak House is a restaurant to go to for special occasions. Average entrees run about 60 dollars as is expected for top notch steak, and side dishes are around 20. The servers are attentive and know the menu well, and the steak was the most tender and delicious that I have ever had. Crabcake appetizers were filled with real crab meat and tasted very fresh. Definitely a worthwhile location to save for a special event.

One step below Del Frisco’s is Porterhouse, located in Columbus Circle. The servings are smaller and there is more variety, but they have just as much attention to detail. The filet mignon was cooked perfectly and has a rich red wine sauce. If you choose to go, try to get a window seat with a great view of Central Park.

Located downtown on Stone Street, The Dubliner is a great place for lunch on a workday or for a casual dinner. Prices are reasonable, with entrees ranging from 20 to 30 dollars. The plating and the food is done very simply but the taste is outstanding. Recommended items are the salmon risotto and the fried cod sandwich.

A dive bar at night, Milady’s on Prince Street turns into the best budget brunch place in the city. My favorite is the eggs benedict, with perfectly poached eggs and a side of home fries. Brunch items are usually less than 10 dollars, and because the location is not very well known, service is always speedy. A perfect place to spend a few dollars on some great food.


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