2024-2025 Cohort Speakers
Session 1: Career Election, Development and Advice: Jeffrey Schlosser (WG'01, Ernst & Young LLP)
Since graduating from Wharton with an MBA degree in 2001, Jeffrey Schlosser has had an illustrious career in the field of mergers and acquisition, advising hundreds of corporate and private equity clients through the deal cycle of buying and selling companies, from pre-acquisition due diligence and planning, to post-acquisition performance improvement. With more than 20 years of broad industry experiences regarding supply chain, operations, and the creation and transformation of enterprise and business, Mr. Schlosser currently serves as the Global Client Service Partner at Ernst & Young, a global consulting firm.
On a personal level, Mr. Schlosser is a music fanatic, especially when it comes to getting it in kids’ hands, as well as being a proud dad to two serious drummers.
Session 2: Sports Management: Adam Sloan (W'95, CAA Sports)
Adam Sloan is an Executive in the Property Representation Group at CAA Sports, a division of Creative Artists Agency (CAA), where he represents sports and entertainment properties for their global brand partnerships. Prior to joining CAA in 2011, Mr. Sloan was the Executive Vice President of Sales and Strategic Partnerships for Tribeca Enterprises, whose media properties include the Tribeca Film Festival. Before Tribeca, Mr. Sloan was a technology executive at IntraLinks, a billion-dollar financial technology company. IntraLinks had been financed by Apax Partners, where Mr. Sloan was a venture capital investor at the time. Prior to that Mr. Sloan was an Associate at a strategy consulting firm which was later acquired by Oliver Wyman. Mr. Sloan holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business, where he is an active member of the Alumni community.
Session 3: Financial Literacy: Pamela Perskie (W'97, Seven Mile Advisory)
Pamela Perskie is the Founder and CEO of Seven Mile Advisory. Previously, she was a managing director and the head of the New York office of SCS Financial, a director at BBR Partners, and an investment advisor at Morgan Stanley in the firm’s Private Wealth Management Group. Ms. Perskie received her bachelor’s degree in economics with a concentration in finance from The Wharton
School in 1997, from which she graduated summa cum laude. She received her MBA from the Harvard Business School. She is the President of the Wharton Club of New York; a board member and the Treasurer of Project Write Now; and a member of Impact 100 Jersey Shore, a local giving circle. She previously served as the Vice Chair of the Board of Girls Inc. of NYC.
Session 4: Wealth Management: Sara Clark (W'09, Mission Wealth)
Sara Clark serves as the Director of Client Relationships at Mission Wealth and is responsible for leading firm initiatives and special projects to create a world-class client experience. Ms. Clark partners with the Wealth Advisors and internal stakeholders to refine the firm's internal and external advisor resources to deliver bespoke solutions to clients. Previously, Sara served as the Director of Relationship Management at AdvicePeriod, an RIA acquired by Mariner Wealth Advisors in June 2021. She also served as a Senior Vice President in the office of the CEO at Kanye Anderson Capital Advisors, L.P. where she was responsible for supporting the CEO and liaising with the Executive Committee to spearhead strategic initiatives and cross-functional projects. Ms. Clark earned a Bachelors of Science in Economics from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and graduated from Deerfield Academy in Deerfield, Massachusetts.
Session 4: Wealth Management: Divya Krishnan (WG'16, Charles Schwab)
Divya Krishnan is a Director supporting offer management for Schwab Personalized Investing Solutions for Charles Schwab & Co. In her role with the Wealth & Advice Solutions organization, Ms. Krishnan defines the offer strategy and client experience for innovative, best-in-class new product & experiences across a client's financial journey. She is currently responsible for the strategic product roadmap and go-to market launch and enhancements for Schwab Personalized Indexing, a separately managed account that offers a customizable direct indexing strategy. Prior to joining Schwab in 2020, Ms. Krishnan was a Director and the Head of Institutional Products at Motif Investing (Motif). She also spent several years at Citigroup in the institutional client group prior to Motif, focusing on trading and structuring equity derivatives and structured products. Ms. Krishnan earned a Master in Business Administration at the University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor of Science in systems engineering from the University of Pennsylvania.
Session 5: Corporate Finance and Corporate Law: Jeffrey Hellman (W'90, PVH Corp.)
Jeffrey Hellman is the Senior Vice President and Assistant General Counsel at PVH Corp. PVH Corp. is a global apparel company whose brand portfolio consists of nationally and internationally recognized brand names, including Tommy Hilfiger and Calvin Klein. He is also an adjunct professor at Fordham University Law School, where he teaches Fashion Law & Finance, and also serves as pro bono counsel to the Fashion Scholarship Fund, a non-profit organization that provides scholarships to college students planning to pursue careers in the fashion industry, a member
of the Board of Directors of Comprehensive Youth Development, a non-profit organization that partners with New York City public high schools to prepare young adults for successful futures. Mr. Hellman holds a J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School and a B.S. Economics, Finance from the University of Pennsylvania.
Session 5: Corporate Finance and Corporate Law: Melanie Marein-Efron (W'91, WG'96, Urban Outfitters Inc.)
Melanie Marein-Efron earned a BS in Economics from Wharton School of University of Pennsylvania with a concentration in accounting and decision sciences in 1991. Then, she returned to Wharton In
1996 and earned an MBA from Wharton School with a concentration in finance. She has nearly 30 years of experience in roles of increasing responsibility at General Motors, Campbell Soup Company and Godiva Chocolatier, where she helped drive top line growth and financial returns. She currently serves as Chief Financial Officer of Urban Outfitters, Inc (a portfolio of global
brands such as Urban Outfitters, Free People, Anthropologie and Nuuly), a position she has held since 2020. In 2022, she joined the board of directors of Bloomin’ Brands (the parent company
of Outback SteakHouse, Carrabba’s Italian grill, Bonefish grill and Fleming’s Steakhouse) where she currently chairs the compensation committee. As the CFO of Urban Outfitter’s, Ms. Marein-Efron oversees finance, accounting, tax, business
development, strategy, and loss prevention.
Session 5: Corporate Finance and Corporate Law: Timothy Harrod (WG'88, ex-Moody's Investor Service)
Timothy Harrod is a retired High Yield Credit Analyst with 30 years of experience in leveraged loans, high yield bonds, and collateralized loan obligation (CLO) management. Mr. Harrod spent his last 15 years at Moody’s Investors Service where he evaluated and monitored the creditworthiness and ratings of high
yield companies primarily in the North American automotive supplier industry through 2 major U.S. recessions. His portfolio represented over $150Bn in total revenues and over $54Bn in rated debt. Prior to Moody’s, Mr. Harrod's career included managing the performance and analytical team for $500 million CLO for HVB Credit Advisors, and managing the credit process for portfolios within the U.S operations of Credit Lyonnais (K/N/A Credit Agricole CIB). Mr. Harrod holds an MBA from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, and a B.S. in Operations Research from the College of Engineering at Cornell University.
Session 6: Private Equity, Private Debt, & Hedge Fund: Uzair Dossani (WG'05, Rally Equity Partners)
Uzair Dossani started his career at Bain & Company in Boston and has spent the last 25 years in private equity, with a focus on mid-market industrials and services businesses. In 2025, he co-founded Rally Equity Partners. He was previously an investment partner at Warburg Pincus, Harvest Partners, and ICG. Mr. Dossani has a BS in Systems Engineering from the University of Virginia, where he was a Lawn Resident, and an MBA with Honors from The Wharton School. In his free time he enjoys playing tennis, skiing, and camping. He is a fan of the Washington Capitals and the Commanders, all UVA sports teams, Lewis Hamilton, and the Boston Red Sox.
Session 6: Private Equity, Private Debt, & Hedge Fund: Natalya Michaels (W'98, Paine Schwartz Partners)
Natalya Michaels is a Managing Director and the Head of Investor Relations at Paine Schwartz Partners. Ms. Michaels joined Paine Schwartz Partners in 2022 and is also a member of the firm’s Sustainability Committee. Prior to joining, she was a Managing Director at MidOcean Partners, responsible for Marketing and Investor Relations of its private equity and credit products. Prior to that, she was a Managing Director at Artisan Partners, where she served as the Head of Business Development for the Thematic Equity Team. Previously, Ms. Michaels spent nine years on the Marketing and Investor Relations team at Eton Park Capital Management, a large multi-strategy investment firm. She began her career at Goldman Sachs in 1998 where she worked in New York and London in the investment banking and private equity businesses of the firm. Ms. Michaels is a graduate of The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania (Bachelor of Science in Finance and Marketing, magna cum laude).
Session 7: Venture Capital and Startup: Tomer Meir (WG'18, Fractional C-Level
Tomer Meir is a senior leader with a proven track record of scaling high-growth startups, leading and growing cross-functional teams, developing new revenue channels, and driving operational efficiency at scale. He holds an MBA from Wharton and has 11+ years of operating experience, focusing on sales, operations, and product management. Currently, Mr. Meir is a startup advisor and venture scout, working with various companies and VCs, including FirstRound Capital, Techstars, AV, Primary Ventures, and NextView Ventures. Mr. Meir has hands-on experience as an operator, from managing a B2B SaaS vertical, owning a P&L, building, hiring, and training an enterprise sales team, growing sales by 8x to $10M+ ARR, and scaling his team 10x to 20+ direct reports, to sourcing and contracting nationwide partnerships generating $10M+
in new revenue. Before his tech career, Mr. Meir served as a Search and Rescue Officer in the Israeli Defense Forces and volunteered as an EMT first responder, where he treated hundreds of patients and saved the lives of dozens.
Session 8: Media & Entertainment: Samira Qureshi (W'97 & C'97, ex-Wavemaker)
Samira S. Qureshi is living proof that a love for storytelling can turn into a dynamic career. With over 15 years in media and entertainment, she’s helped drive revenue for hit shows like Mad Men, The Walking Dead, and Breaking Bad at AMC Networks, launched global music campaigns at Warner Records, created social impact initiatives for National Geographic/Disney, executed product integrations in WCW, NASCAR, and movie franchises at TBS/TNT, and most recently, led brand-funded content strategy, production, and experiences at Wavemaker/WPP. Key clients have included brands like Nike, BMW, P&G, Novo Nordisk, Stella Artois, and many more. When she’s not shaping the future of marketing, Ms. Qureshi mentors students, produces indie films and theater, and supports the arts—all while living in NYC with her polydactyl cat, Bubs. Her journey shows how passion, creativity, and big thinking can lead to a career that’s as exciting as it is meaningful.
Session 9: Portfolio Management: Andrew Galligan (WG'96, American Century Investments)
Andrew J. Galligan, Jr. has been in the Investment Management industry since graduating from Cornell University in 1991. He began his career in the Fixed Income division of The First Boston Corporation as an Analyst in the Mortgage Markets division. He then spent a year in Switzerland providing transatlantic Merger & Acquisitions advice for a boutique firm, McDaniel S.A. After graduating with an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, he researched
Semiconductor manufacturers as an Associate at Lehman Brothers in 1996. Mr. Galligan moved to the “Buy Side” in 1998 as a Small and Mid-Cap Technology Analyst for Fiduciary Trust Company. He then co-founded TimesSquare Capital Management, once the largest small cap manager in the country, where he was a Portfolio Manager and responsible for the firm’s Technology investments and also managed a concentrated All-Cap portfolio. He presently is a Senior Analyst at American Century Investments where he is responsible for the firm’s investments in Small and SMID cap Technology companies. Mr. Galligan is a member of the CFA Institute and has served on boards at Cornell University.
Session 10: LinkedIn Workshop: Beth Sprole (W'87, MedNovations)
Beth Sprole is an executive with expertise in creating scalable revenue growth across the healthcare, wellness, Consumer Package Goods, Beauty, and professional services sectors. Her leadership has generated over $1.3B in revenue growth through business strategy, marketing, and product innovation. She’s held leadership roles for top-tier companies including P&G, Guinness, Revlon, CVS Health, and Philips HealthTech. Ms. Sprole serves as Board Advisory and Fractional Chief Marketing Officer at
Mednovate Connect, a digital health medication management start-up. As a lifelong learner, Ms. Sprole holds an MBA in Finance and International Business from NYU's Stern School of Business and a Bachelor of Science in Economics and Marketing from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, among other certifications. Ms. Sprole has served as a PENN Women in Business Undergraduate Mentor since 2022. She regularly coaches and teaches other undergrad students in job search readiness.
Session 11: Summer Internship Planning and Résumé Workshop: Jacqueline Kim (WG'04, McCombs School of Business)
Jackie Kim is a lecturer at The University of Texas at Austin’s McCombs School of Business. She serves as a BBA career coach on the Career Management and Corporate Relations team and teaches courses on career planning and professional development. She supports undergraduate students through career advising, programming, and education, with a focus on the Canfield Business Honors Program and students pursuing management consulting and investment banking. Before joining McCombs, she was vice president of business development at Avanza Healthcare Strategies, a private-equity-backed advisory firm. Earlier in her career, she served as a senior consultant and business analyst in the strategy and operations practice at Deloitte. Her professional background also includes corporate affairs and chief of staff roles across the nonprofit, education, and insurance sectors. Ms. Kim earned an MBA from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. She also holds an M.A. in sociology and a B.S. in biology from Stanford University.
Session 12: Branding and Marketing: Jessica Friedberg (WG'04, Pfizer)
Jessica Friedberg is a results-driven marketing leader with management experience in the pharmaceutical, medical device, and finance sectors. She currently leads the Access Marketing team for Pfizer’s $2B U.S. Rheumatology and Gastroenterology franchise, where she has successfully launched two pivotal drugs in the past 18 months. Prior to working at Pfizer, she held sales and global marketing roles at Medtronic, overseeing critical product launches for their Peripheral Vascular Stent business.
Earlier in her career, Ms. Friedberg worked in investment banking at Banc of America Securities. Ms. Friedberg holds a BSBA in International Business from Washington University in St. Louis and an MBA in Marketing from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
Session 12: Branding and Marketing: Stephanie Omo-Abu (WG'18, Moēt Hennessey USA)
Stephanie Omo-Abu is a Senior Brand Manager at Moët Hennessy USA, where she recently launched SirDavis, an American whisky brand created in partnership with Beyoncé Knowles-Carter. Previously, she was Brand Manager at Proximo Spirits, overseeing the relaunch of Three Olives Vodka and leading innovation for 1800 Tequila, including four successful product launches and a partnership with the Latin Grammy’s. Ms. Omo-Abu began her spirits career at Pernod Ricard, managing campaigns for Absolut Vodka and Altos Tequila. Prior to spirits, she gained experience in CPG, tech, and finance, bringing a well-rounded perspective to brand strategy and innovation. Stephanie has an MBA from The Wharton School and a BS in International Business and Marketing from Georgetown. She loves bringing creativity and strategy
together to build brands people love.
Session 13: Real Estate Investing and Financing: Jason Kirschner (W'97, Vornado Realty Trust)
Jason Kirschner provides financial leadership and strategic direction, enabling real estate firms to deliver strong results. His strength is to develop innovative financing solutions while managing risk with a disciplined analytical approach. He has negotiated and closed profitable transactions despite adverse
market conditions, cultural and language barriers, and contentious situations, in addition to being experienced in capital raising, corporate and project finance, forecasting and budgeting, asset
management, and capital markets. Mr. Kirschner has more than 20 years of experience in financing both existing buildings and new developments, particularly in Manhattan. During his career he has sourced and executed over $35 billion of real estate financings. Prior to joining Vornado, Mr. Kirschner was Managing Director – Finance & Capital Markets at Hudson Realty Capital, an RXR affiliate, for two years and previously served at Brookfield Properties for over 10 years, most recently as Senior Vice President – Finance & Capital Markets. Mr. Kirschner earned his undergraduate degree from The Wharton School at The University of Pennsylvania and an M.B.A., with a concentration in Real Estate, from Columbia Business School.
Session 14: Private Equity In Depth: Ameya Agge (WG'07, Assured Healthcare Partners)
Ameya Agge is a Managing Director and member of the Investment Committee. Mr. Agge has been involved in a range of investments across payor services and select provider and outsourced services segments, including AdaptHealth, ClearHealth Strategies (CHS), DeliverHealth Solutions, Advantia
Health and Bridge Home Health & Hospice. Prior to AHP and BlueMountain Capital Management, Mr. Agge was a Partner at Apax Partners where he invested across healthcare segments in the U.S. and Europe for more than a decade. Prior to that he worked for the CEO of Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories and as consultant with McKinsey & Company, where he specialized in advising clients in the healthcare sector. Mr. Agge received a Bachelor’s degree in Technology from the India Institute of Technology in Bombay, a M.S. in Chemical Engineering from M.I.T., and a M.B.A. in Health Care Management from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.