Tuesday, September 21st at 7PM ET

Topic: “Transitioning to the workplace. Te graduaste y ahora qué?”

You might be thinking about what’s next after graduation or perhaps how to pivot in your career. You might be undecided about going into the corporate world, or academia, or straight to graduate school. Or you might be exploring options to change the direction of your career. Join this panel to hear some guidance and recommendations from other Cornell alumni on what to do when your immediate professional future is not clear.

Panelists:

MICHAEL COLLAGUAZO – Atlanta, GA
Cornell BS Biology & Society ’14
Emory University Master Public Health
Former IT Sr Consultant at EY
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mcollag/

Michael collaborates with technology leaders in various industries from healthcare to life sciences, focusing on implementing analytics solutions and driving values for success. He has served in various positions in the Cornell Alumni Association of Atlanta (CAAA) and the Cornell Association of Class Officers (CACO). Michael is also passionate about mentorship, fitness, volunteering, and community outreach. Currently, he is a Consultant at Microsoft where he delivers technical and business solutions using cloud technologies, data analytics and business intelligence capabilities. Michael has a BS in Biology & Society from Cornell University and a Master in Public Health, Policy & Management from Emory University.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mcollag/

ALEKSEJ AARSAETHER – Austin, TX
Cornell Industrial & Labor Relations ’17
Oxford MBA Candidate ’22
Breakthrough Coach at The Art of Applying and
Freelance Script Coverage Writer
https://www.linkedin.com/in/aleksej-aarsaether-9aa0319b/

AleksejAarsaether.com

Aleksej’s professional, volunteer, and artistic pursuits are driven by his passion for cultivating the next generation of entertainment leaders and artists, particularly from disadvantaged communities, whose unheard stories and unique insights must be heard. Aleksej is currently an MBA candidate at Oxford University and freelance script consultant (film, TV, and theatre). Previously he was the top performing Breakthrough Coach at The Art of Applying (the leading admissions consulting firm for non traditional applicants, which has helped 100+ applicants per year gain admission to the world’s top MBA, MPP/MPA/MIA, and JD programs with $12.3 million in merit scholarships to date) and has worked in theatres across the U.S. including Center Theatre Group, Shakespeare Theatre Company, and more.

MARLENE QUIJANO – New York, NY
Cornell BS Chemical Engineering ’85 –
Certified Quality Engineer, American Society for Quality
Former VP Research & Development Kraft Foods
https://www.linkedin.com/in/marlene-quijano-52859aa/

Marlene is a retired Research & Development engineer who built extensive experience in R&D and as a multi-functional organizational leader with a deep and varied background in the Food & Beverage industry. In several of the roles she has held he’s been known as a collaborative business Business partner who drives innovation platforms from concept through commercialization. Marlene is a continuous learner and strategic leader who balances long-term innovation with immediate delivery of goals and has experience assembling, integrating and leading high professional – high performing teams.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/marlene-quijano-52859aa/

LIHTEH WU – San Jose, Costa Rica
Cornell Arts & Sciences ’87
Tulane University School of Medicine ’92
Former President of the Sociedad Panamericana
de Retina y Vitreo
Former President of the Costa Rican
Ophthalmological Association
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lihteh-wu-1aa7624/

After Cornell, Dr. Lihteh Wu got his medical education at Tulane University School of Medicine (New Orleans, Louisiana, USA). He was awarded a Pew Research Fellowship that allowed him to spend a year at the Rockefeller University in New York. He then trained at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in New York City, the Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City, and the National Retina Institute in Baltimore under the mentorship of Drs. Bert Glaser and Robert Murphy (vitreoretinal fellowship). In 1999, Dr. Wu went to Costa Rica where he was appointed Associate Professor at the University of Costa Rica and the Director of the Asociados de Macula Vitreo y Retina de Costa Rica in San José, Costa Rica. He has authored and co-authored more than 100 peer reviewed articles, more than 46 chapters and has edited 5 books. He has been awarded various accolades by numerous societies and a highly-invited speaker in international meetings. In 2018 he was inducted into the Retina Hall of Fame. He also served two terms as President of the Costa Rican Ophthalmological Association.

MODERATOR

CLEMENCIA FONSECA – Silicon Valley, California
Cornell MBA ‘13
Cornell Latinx Alumni Association,
Communications Chair
Americas Marketing & Demand Generation Leader
at Cloudflare, CyberSecurity
Based in the Silicon Valley, California
https://www.linkedin.com/in/clemfons/

Clemencia has built her marketing experience working for several Hi-tech companies in the Silicon Valley. She is now the Marketing and Demand Generation Leader for the Americas at Cloudflare, CyberSecurity firm, where she and her team drive awareness around the different types of cyber attacks companies can face, helping them protect their business, their networks and their data. Clemencia has been committed to promoting Latinx talent in every regional and global organization she has built. She has been invited to be a panelist in several “Latins in Tech” meet-ups and has represented Hispanic women in university/college forums highlighting the opportunities for minorities in the Silicon Valley.