Alumni & Student Success Stories
Preparing You for the Management Careers of the Future
Because the management skill sets we teach and the leadership knowledge we impart are universal in nature, the MS in Management (MiM) prepares students and graduates for careers across industries and around the world. The education they receive provides the insights, intuition, and innovation needed to be successful in a rapidly evolving business environment. Our graduates are highly sought after for their ability to drive strategic direction, improve performance and collaboration, support organizational growth, and increase efficiency and competitiveness.
The alumni and student profiles below provide a snapshot of the diverse individuals who chose the MS in Management (MiM) to build their confidence, enhance their résumé, and increase their career options.
Where Our Alumni Work:
Accenture • Allstar Innovations • Beacon Hill • Big Brothers Big Sisters of NYC • Blue Owl Capital • China International Capital Corporation Limited • Colgate-Palmolive • Con Edison • Department of Health and Mental Hygiene • Financial Times • Fordham University • Four Points Manhattan Midtown West • Fox News Media • Guotai Junan Securities Co. • Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP • Jesuits in Southern Africa • J.P. Morgan • Maimonides Medical Center • Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center • Neiman Marcus • New York Army National Guard • Osaic Wealth • Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College • Swatch • and more!
Maria Grazia Crea
(GABELLI ’26)
Current MiM Student
For Maria Grazia Crea, a native of Rome, Italy with a master’s degree in law, her Gabelli School of Business journey began during a visit to New York City while she was writing her graduate thesis. A conversation with an Italian student enrolled in the MS in Finance program introduced her to Fordham University and she quickly discovered that the MS in Management program aligned perfectly with her evolving career goals.
Although she was trained in law, Crea’s professional interests shifted after gaining experience in marketing while working closely with a manager who sparked her curiosity about business strategy and decision-making. “I wanted to understand how strategic decisions are made and how businesses really operate,” she noted. Seeking to build a strong foundation in business without a traditional background, she chose the MS in Management for its comprehensive curriculum and emphasis on sustainability. “The program gives you a broad managerial perspective while consistently integrating sustainability, which was very important to me.”
Prior to applying, Crea’s experience communicating with staff and faculty members at the Gabelli School confirmed her decision that it was the right fit for her. “I immediately felt that people genuinely cared about the students,” she recalled. Throughout the application and visa process, Gabelli School administrators checked in regularly and offered guidance at every stage.
Since arriving in New York in August 2025, Crea has embraced the collaborative, discussion-driven classroom environment, as well as the program’s strong networking culture. “The classes are very interactive, and professors regularly invite guest speakers from industry, which makes the learning experience incredibly practical,” she noted. Working as a graduate assistant has further strengthened her connection to Fordham, while studying in the heart of Manhattan has helped her to forge professional connections that will assist in advancing her career in a new field. “From the beginning,” she added, “the Gabelli School community has offered the support I need to create opportunities for the future.”
Qijie (Harry) Wang
(GABELLI ’19)
Vice President (VP), Investment Banking Department of Guotai Haitong Securities Co., Ltd.
For Qijie (Harry) Wang, earning an MS in Management at the Gabelli School of Business was a professional milestone that is also a requirement for succeeding in China’s competitive finance sector. Having earned his undergraduate degree in economics in the United States, he searched for a program with a comprehensive curriculum, global perspective, and a prime New York City location that would prepare him for a career back home. “Shanghai is an international city, and employers value global experience,” he explained. “A degree from Fordham gave me a chance to grow my network in the heart of the financial world.”
Wang also was drawn to the program’s content, which offered more than management fundamentals. Courses in finance, accounting, and organizational leadership gave him a holistic picture of how different functions of a business operate and helped him to understand what kind of roles he wanted to pursue. He was inspired by the program’s hands-on learning, particularly the international immersion trip to Brazil, during which he had the opportunity to visit major companies and see global operations, firsthand. “We didn’t just learn from textbooks,” he noted. “We saw how real factories and international firms worked, which made a big difference in understanding and applying the course content.”
Wang now works in Shanghai at Guotai Haitong Securities Co., Ltd., one of China’s top securities companies. As a Vice President (VP) in the Investment Banking Division, he helps firms to navigate the complex process of initial public offerings, which need to be packaged and submitted to the Chinese government for approval. The role demands precision, teamwork, and the ability to coordinate with many stakeholders, including accountants, lawyers, and regulatory agencies. “The management training at the Gabelli School prepared me to lead teams, manage third-party partners, and structure workflows under high pressure,” he commented.
Beyond academics, Wang emphasized that the Gabelli School’s alumni network in Shanghai is stronger and more connected than many other business schools. “The alumni community has helped me stay connected to New York, which is important as I think about my career long term,” he added. Looking ahead, he hopes to dedicate his professional strength to help businesses showcase their core value and contribute to the financial sector worldwide.
Lauren Nurse
(GABELLI ‘23)
AVP, Real Estate and Strategic Development, Maimonides Medical Center
From a young age, Lauren Nurse sensed that she would pursue a career in healthcare. What began as a childhood dream of becoming a pediatrician or neuroscientist evolved into a career devoted to helping patients through leadership positions in hospital operations. After completing a bachelor’s degree at Brooklyn College and exploring numerous administrative career paths, Nurse landed a job at Maimonides Medical Center where she has built a highly successful, 16-year career, assuming roles of increasing responsibility including her current job as AVP of real estate and strategic development. “I knew I wanted to have an impact on patient care, and after deciding that I didn’t want a medical career, I focused on other opportunities that would fulfill my desire to make a difference,” she noted.
Starting in the engineering department at Maimonides, Nurse was inspired by the critical, behind-the-scenes function of hospital administration. Over the years, she has supported crucial operational areas reporting directly to the chief operating officer. Her hands-on approach and ability to solve problems, while building relationships across the organization have earned her opportunities to work closely with C-suite, executives, contributing to major initiatives ranging from facilities optimization to real estate planning.
After more than a decade of dedicating herself to work and caring for her family, Nurse decided to focus on advancing her education. “I reached a point in my life where I asked myself, ‘What am I doing for me?’” She had always planned to pursue a graduate degree and decided this was her path forward. With the support of the leadership at Maimonides and inspired by a family legacy at Fordham, she enrolled in the MS in Management at the Gabelli School and took classes completely online.
The experience, she reflected, was transformative. “My professors were all very supportive as I completed the degree while working full time and parenting my son. I connected with our close-knit cohort and felt a renewed sense of purpose being part of the Gabelli community.” Even through personal challenges, including the loss of both grandparents during her first semester, she stayed focused and committed to investing in herself personally and professionally.
Today, she is utilizing the knowledge and leadership skill sets she has acquired to continue to advance in her career while playing a key role in making the patient experience the very best it can be.
Aaron Frager
(Gabelli ‘21)
Vice President, Recruitment & Outreach, Big Brothers Big Sisters of NYC
By the time Aaron Frager began considering graduate programs in management, they had already earned three undergraduate degrees and had built a career working in nonprofit organizations. Already focused on becoming an inspiring leader, they wanted a program that would strengthen their leadership in the nonprofit sector while accommodating the realities of a full-time workload. After exploring a number of graduate education options, Frager chose the Gabelli School’s MS in Management program for its focus on humanistic principles and encouraging support, which also provided options to explore career paths that best suited their future ambitions. “What stood out immediately was how intentional and supportive the admissions team was,” Frager recalled. “They took the time to walk me through every detail of the program helping me to envision how it could fit into my life as a working professional while becoming the leader I wanted to be.”
Commencing the program of study during the early months of the pandemic, Frager quickly adjusted to learning in a fully online environment, enjoying a strong sense of connection with classmates and professors despite the distance. Faculty members and administrators were deeply committed to student success, providing steady encouragement and flexibility when challenges arose. “You just had to ask,” Frager said. “The support was always there.”
The MS in Management cohort became a close-knit community they had bonded in a way that has lasted far beyond graduation. The humanistic management courses and a focus on social responsibility had an especially lasting impact, shaping both their leadership style and their approach to community engagement— all of which helped them take on the VP of recruitment and outreach role at Big Brothers Big Sisters.
Frager’s new, additional position as an admissions manager at the Gabelli School brings their educational experience full circle. “I’m excited to help prospective students understand what this program can offer,” they explained. “It changed how I lead, how I work, and how I show up for others.”