The Lubin Link

Thinking about a career in the entertainment industry—or just trying to survive college? This episode of The Lubin Link is packed with advice for aspiring performers and future entertainment pros.

Jonna Hagglund ’19 shares her journey from a musical theatre student to Talent Success Manager at Spotlight in London, where she now supports performers across the UK. A graduate of Pace University’s Arts and Entertainment Management program, Jonna interned in different areas of the entertainment industry during college, experiences that helped her pivot from performing to working behind the scenes in the entertainment business.

We talk about:

🎤 Career paths in performing arts and entertainment

📍 How to break into the industry (with or without performing)

🎓 Internship insights and networking advice

🌍 Jonna’s experience earning a master's in musical theatre abroad

Whether you’re an arts major, a performer, or a student figuring things out—this episode is for you

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Andrew Neiderman ’09 joined us for this episode of The Lubin Link podcast to discuss his evolution from a Pace student with big ideas to a successful entrepreneur in marketing and media production. After earning his degree from Lubin in 2009, Andrew launched Fill in the Brand, a marketing agency dedicated to crafting powerful and memorable brand identities. Alongside this agency, he also runs Beyond Werds, a video production team focused on creating engaging micro documentaries.

While at Pace, Andrew was an active member of the ad team and had already begun laying the groundwork for his company, which started with website development before expanding into the flourishing business it is today. In this episode, Andrew shares his experiences building his brand, his perspective on effective storytelling, and what it takes to establish a thriving creative business.

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Gabriella Ferrara ’16 joined us to share her journey fromfinance to sales leadership. After graduating summa cum laude from Lubin with a degree in Finance, Gabriella launched her career at PwC before transitioning to her current role as Vice President of Sales at Scorpion.

During her time at Pace, she was deeply involved on campus,serving as President of Beta Gamma Sigma, leading the Student Government Association as President of the Lubin School of Business, and actively participating in various student organizations.

In this episode, we discuss her experiences at Pace, how shenavigated career transitions, and her approach to building meaningful professional connections.

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Semii '16 joined us for the January episode of The Lubin Link podcast to share her incredible journey as an entrepreneur in the entertainment industry. From founding Rare One Records to launching Heir Aura, Semii is making waves with her record label and creative agency.

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Sasha Alston '20 is on a mission to ensure that young women and girls know the importance of coding and STEM-based industries. Equipped with her BBA in Information Systems and a minor in marketing from the Lubin School of Business, Sasha has authored children's chapter books highlighting the STEM adventures of her main character, Sasha Savvy. In this episode, Sasha also discusses her role as a Business Analyst at JPMorgan.

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Cindy Nguyen '17 is a true go-getter. As a Lubin School of Business student, Cindy started Pace University's first fashion club and held nearly a dozen internships with major fashion brands, setting herself up for a successful career in a very competitive industry. As a Senior Client Events Manager at Louis Vuitton, Cindy now gets to travel the world while living her dream in the fashion industry.

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After graduating from the Lubin School of Business with her BBA in Arts and Entertainment Management, Emma Wannie '23 was immediately rubbing shoulders with music legends. As an Assistant Shooter/Editor at Madison Square Garden, Emma shoots concerts and events at the world's most famous arena...But it's the internal events that truly capture her heart.

On this episode of The Lubin Link, Emma discusses Lubin's AEM program, how she turned her dreams into reality, and her favorite shoots so far.

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When he came to the Lubin School of Business, Seyi Fakoya '23 already had a head start in the business game. However, as he pursued his MBA in Business Analytics from Lubin, his passion and knowledge in business continued to grow. On this episode of The Lubin Link, Seyi shares his journey to Lubin, how his business, Gamr, is taking off, and the resources he utilized on campus to find success.

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Isaiah Jimenez '23 embodies what it means to be an entrepreneur - and not just because he graduated from the Lubin School of Business with a BBA in Entrepreneurship. Before starting his career in real estate, Isaiah sold Pokemon cards as a kid, started his first business as a teenager, then continued to explore other entrepreneurial ventures throughout college. In this episode of The Lubin Link, Isaiah discusses his passion for entrepreneurship, why he believes business students should take art classes, and his advice for fellow aspiring entrepreneurs.

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Leo Krkuti '17 knows good pizza - not just because he's a native New Yorker, but because he comes from a family of successful pizzeria owners. When it came time to graduate from the Lubin School of Business, Leo had to decide if he wanted to join his family in business or start his own. Equipped with a BBA in Advertising and Integrated Marketing Communications from Lubin, Leo decided to pave his own path to pizza success and open Traditas Pizza. Less than a year into business, he open a second location and secured a raving review from an A-list celebrity.

Connect with Leo:

leo@traditaspizza.com

Find Traditas Pizza:

What was supposed to be a one-semester exchange at the Lubin School of Business turned into a full school year from Mariama Diallo '20. As an international student from France, Mariama quickly got involved on campus, joining the Lubin Sales Team (and becoming captain!) and getting internship opportunities that would eventually help her land her current role as a Commercial Sales Manager at State Farm. On this episode of The Lubin Link, Mariama discusses the importance of networking and following your passions.

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As she pursued her BBA in Marketing at the Lubin School of Business, Rebecca Sikar '19 interned at major fashion agencies and brands from PR Consulting to Louis Vuitton and Bottega Veneta. After graduating in 2019, Rebecca worked her way up at different agencies before landing at 3.1 Phillip Lim as the Global PR Manager. On this episode of The Lubin Link, Rebecca discusses her path in the fashion industry and her successful four years at Lubin.

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After graduating from the Lubin School of Business with his BBA in Arts and Entertainment Management with a minor in Queer Studies, Sean Gray '19 worked at at the corporate level of Equinox and at a creative boutique agency, RRR Creative. However, after facing furlough due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Sean tapped into a new industry: real estate. Now, he works with an award-winning team at Douglas Elliman, selling homes in The Hamptons. Thanks to his love for the arts and a few fellow Pace graduates, he still manages to find creativity in his all-queer boyband, OutLoud. 

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For Lloyd Duberry Jr. '09, '15, Pace University's Lubin School of Business wasn't always on his radar. However, after a strong recommendation from his mom, Lloyd landed at Lubin - not once, but twice. In 2009, Lloyd graduated from Lubin with his BBA in Finance, and in 2015, he took home his MBA in Financial Management and International Economics. In this episode of The Lubin Link, Lloyd details how staying resilient helped him throughout his career and land his current role as a Fixed Income Trade Operations Manager at Capital Group in California.

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As a Gen-Z graduate of the Lubin School of Business, Julia Melissinos '20 grew up with social media at her fingertips...But it wasn't until she landed at Lubin and started interning at marketing and digital agencies that she realized she could pursue a career that incorporated her favorite platforms. Now, as a research analyst for Everybody At Once, Julia handles strategy, insights, and measurements for social media clients. As she continues to excel in her field, Julia is also working to create a thriving environment for fellow Gen-Z social media professionals. 

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Before graduating from the Lubin School of Business with her Master's in Taxation, Ashia Thompson '18 already had a job lined up at Big 4 firm PwC - but she didn't stop there. After a successful career at PwC, she secured another position at another Big 4, Deloitte. Ashia quickly realized she was ready to tackle the world of accounting on her own and started her own firm, Top Tier Accounting. As Ashia continues to excel as an entrepreneur, she's also focused on giving back to the Pace University community. 

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Lubin School of Business alumna Ginny King '20 had her post graduation plans figured out...That is until the COVID-19 pandemic put all of her plans on hold. Luckily, her internship at NBC counted for something more than just experience: a former supervisor reached out, asking if she'd be interested in a position - something Ginny never thought would happen, as companies around the world suddenly faced hiring freezes and layoffs. More than two years later, Ginny is still with NBC and was also able to incorporate her passion for fitness into her daily life as a group fitness instructor at Equinox. On this episode of The Lubin Link, Ginny is sharing the importance of hard work, perseverance, and of saying "yes" to any opportunities that come your way. 

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Lubin School of Business alumna Leah Gaffney made a name for herself on campus by getting involved with several different clubs, teams, and organizations. Now, she's sitting down with The Lubin Link to discuss her journey from busy college student to accomplished Brand Strategy Analyst. Tune in to the latest episode of The Lubin Link to hear how Leah landed several different leadership positions on campus, how she created opportunities for herself, and her words of advice to current students navigating school, work, and life.

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On our first episode of The Lubin Link, Lubin School of Business alumna Kimberley Jarrett discusses her passion for the beauty industry, how Lubin inspired her to find her footing in the business world, the messages from Lubin she still holds close to her today, and more. 

Connect with Kimberley: 

Email: kimberley.jarrett@gmail.com