John Fishback
Hometown: Rochester, NY
Undergraduate College: University of Rochester
Undergraduate Degree: B.S. in Mechanical Engineering
Previous Company: (current) Naval Surface Warfare Center
Previous Industry: Department of Defense (Research and Development)
Interests: baseball, golf, Kogod Graduate Ambassadors, Graduate Business Association
While I would love to see more of the world, I have a long way to go. I have only traveled outside of the eastern time-zone once to San Diego.
Ivory Harris
Hometown: Newport News, VA
Undergraduate College: Virginia Commonwealth University
Undergraduate Degree: B.S., Economics
Previous Company: Weinstein Properties
Previous Industry: Real Estate
Interests: Food (nom nom), Sports, Music, Consulting Club, Toastmasters, NBMBAA
I was once t-boned by a van that was traveling 45 MPH. Scary stuff. Somehow, I managed to escape without a scratch on my body…I cannot say the same for my new Ford Explorer. The first cop on the scene told me, “Young man, I’m not sure if Superman would have survived that one.” At that moment it hit me: although I can’t be a literal superhero (queue theme music), if I tackle life with the zeal of someone fighting for the greater good, I can be a hero in my own right. Ambitious? Absolutely. But we all have opportunities to become something special, and I want to take every opportunity I can.
Megan DiPaolo
Hometown: Churchville, PA
Undergraduate College: Muhlenberg College
Undergraduate Degree: BA in Music
Previous Company: Virginia Arts Festival (Currently employed with the Kennedy Center)
Previous Industry: Performing Arts Management
Interests: Music (obviously 😉 ), cooking and baking, traveling, Kogod Marketing Club
Being horrible at all sports growing up, I spent most of my life doing theater. Lucky for me, I’ve had some pretty memorable roles throughout the years including both a pink sparkly sheep and a larger than life piece of corn, costumed out of yellow painted bubble wrap. I’m still haunted by the sound of my colleagues “popping” me backstage! At least there’s no fear of stage fright during case presentations!
Luis Lizarazo
Hometown: Staten Island, NY
Undergraduate College: Lehigh University
Undergraduate Degree: International Relations, Minors: Russian and Economics
Previous Company: The Washington Center, MiraMed Institute, Firefly Children’s Network
Previous Industry: Nonprofit Management
Interests: GBA, Hispanic MBA, Marketing Club, Karaoke, Cooking, Movies
During undergrad I studied abroad in Russia. During part of my trip, the entire group was stranded on frozen Lake Baikal with a disabled hovercraft. When we made it to shore we had to walk toward the lights in the distance along a gravel path to find our hotel. That night was scary, exciting and ultimately one of my most memorable. Now I try to keep the same sense of adventure in everything I do.
Follow Luis on Twitter: @luislizarazo
Sudipa Shrestha
Hometown: Kathmandu, Nepal
Undergraduate College: Tusculum College
Undergraduate Degree: BA, Business Administration
Previous Company: (current) Beed Management
Previous Industry: Portfolio Management & Management Consulting
Interests: Graduate Business Association, Accounting Club, Soccer, Tennis, Travel
Being a Libra, I search for a balance in most things in life. This is probably why the field of accounting naturally appeals to me. The duty of an accountant calls for balancing the debit and credit sides of financial statements. In essence, I find the process fair, consistent, and certain…which could get boring once in a while. To escape such routines, I like to venture out and experience a bit of adrenaline rush by trying out new sports. I have bungee jumped from the second highest bungee jumping bridge in the world. I have trekked up to the base of the Annapurna, a series of peaks in the Himalayas. Finding the equilibrium between having fun and pursuing my ambition has always been an integral part of my life. With my time at Kogod, here’s to hoping that I manage to balance my future financial, emotional, and social debits and credits!
Julie Jones
Hometown: Raleigh, NC
Undergraduate: North Carolina State University
Undergraduate Degree: Media Communications
Previous Company: Wachovia/Wells Fargo Bank
Previous Industry: Banking
Interests: Graduate Business Association, family, friends, running
Adjusting to fast paced city life has been a roller coaster ride; I love the diverse population in the city and abundance of entertainment but the traffic has taken time to get used to. In my free time, I love hosting friends and family at my house, hiking, running, and these days sleeping!
Previously, I worked for Wachovia Bank as a personal banker, where I developed an interest in investments, which led me to my concentration in finance. Last summer, I interned in the Wealth Management Department at Wells Fargo Bank, in Charlotte, N.C. My experience at Kogod has allowed me to grow both personally and professionally and I look forward to my future.
Kogod Graduate Insider 