Alexis Fasseas ’10
Previous employer & Internship employer: Metrobank Group
Title: Vice President of Strategic Initiatives

What have been your favorite classes/professors at the Law School and Kellogg?
Thus far, my only experience at the law school was first year. While I have not had an opportunity to explore many electives, I really loved my Entrepreneurship Law course (taught by Esther Barron and Stephen Reed). I am looking forward to customizing my course load this year around business law.

I particularly enjoyed my time at Kellogg and have already been able to successfully incorporate some of the theories and practices in my family’s business. Victoria Medvec was an incredibly inspirational professor and gave us a very comprehensive management overview in MORS 430. I have taken her insights on performance management and put them into practice in our business. Managing Turnarounds with James Shein and Managing the Strategic Change Process with Ithai Stern were both courses that I feel every future corporate decision-maker should take — relevant content taught by engaging professors. Regardless of career path, a basic understanding of finance is essential and without real world application, it is difficult to absorb concepts. Financial Decisions was an excellent course choice and Vefa Tarhan was excellent at applying concepts to real cases and the current economy.

Why did you choose the JD-MBA program?
I think that the combined degree is the best possible education for individuals who are looking to not only manage but lead business in the future. Professionally, in community banking, I have seen how the law permeates every critical business decision and how knowledge of the law is essential to guiding your attorneys, who are often blind to your business’s needs. At the same time, MBA courses teach how to assess and address those business needs, focusing on leadership, strategy, finance, operations and accounting.

Lydia Hill ’11
Previous employer: Secretary of Administration and Finance for the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts

Why was the JD-MBA program the right fit for you?
The JD-MBA program was right for me because I could achieve both degrees in three years. I was in the workforce for six years before starting, so time away from work had become a factor for me. Also, the quality of both programs is hard to duplicate. I was surprised during my first year about how much I actually enjoyed law school, and how welcoming the law administration was to the JD-MBAs.

Michael Vondriska ’10
Previous employer: Citi Corporate and Investment Banking
Internship employer: U.S. Bankruptcy Court; Citi Sales & Trading
 
How have you been able to get involved at both the Law School and Kellogg?
Both the law school and Kellogg offer amazing opportunities for students to take leadership roles. During my time at Northwestern, I have been an active member of several student organizations at both schools. At the law school, I served on the alumni committee of the JD-MBA Association, which plays an important role in bringing together current students and JD-MBA alumni around the world. I was able to meet several prominent alumni at events in both Chicago and New York, and began to build a great network on which I can rely after graduation. At Kellogg, I serve as the co-president of the Gay and Lesbian Management Association. In that role, I help develop and execute the club’s strategic objectives, and work closely with Kellogg students, faculty and staff. Leadership roles at both the law school and Kellogg are important parts of the Northwestern experience, and have been very important in my personal development.

Given your desired career path (please state), why did you choose the JD-MBA program?
My career objectives are two-fold. Immediately following completion of the JD-MBA program, I plan to pursue a career in finance. The joint degree will provide me with a unique skill set and an understanding of all aspects — business and legal — of complex financial transactions. Later in my career, I hope to move into the public sector, pursuing positions either in government or non-profit management. Again, the joint degree provides unique training not only in the legislative process, but also in strategy development, negotiation and leadership — all of which are important to success in the public sector. My choice of the JD-MBA was the best decision that I made when considering graduate school, and it has opened up many opportunities for me.