Costello College of Business Alumni

Master's in Finance Program

Students step into the world of investment banking through Costello Fellows on Wall Street

Katelynn C Hipolito — Wed, 13 May 2026 14:52:31 +0000

Students step into the world of investment banking through Costello Fellows on Wall Street Katelynn C Hipolito Wed, 05/13/2026 - 10:52

To learn through experience and gain a competitive edge, finance and accounting students from the Costello College of Business at 91�� participated in the Costello Fellows on Wall Street program, connecting with major financial services firms and alumni in New York City. What has become an annual tradition continues to grow, with participation expanding significantly—from 10 students in previous years to approximately 30 this year.

Costello College of Business alumni networking. Photo by Alina Alam

Using his extensive connections, the trip this past April was organized by Derek Horstmeyer, an instructional professor of finance at the Costello College of Business, who is also the co-founder and director of the Montano Student Managed Investment Fund (SMIF). SMIF is an all-equity fund administered by select finance students at Costello. Those selected as officers are responsible for managing a $492,000 portfolio.

Additionally, Costello offers a SMIF course taught by Horstmeyer, where students learn about the decision-making process involved in managing the fund. Along with other students who seized the funded opportunity to visit Wall Street, many of the participants were members of SMIF.

“A lot of these firms will give you the same experience by flying you out to private recruitment events, but those programs are really competitive, and sometimes they don’t consider you because of your major, year, or some other location factor.”

—Alina Alam, current accounting student at the Costello College of Business at 91��

Costello College of Business alumni reception signage. Photo by Alina Alam.

Alina Alam, a senior studying accounting, first learned about SMIF as a freshman and decided to get involved. She was accepted through the rigorous interview process for her final semester as an undergraduate student. As SMIF’s director of marketing, she documented the trip, capturing photos and moments to share across the organization’s rapidly growing social media platforms.

Over the two-day event, the group moved quickly from firm to firm with a packed itinerary. On the first day, they visited Raymond James, Oppenheimer, and S&P Global, and attended an alumni mixer in the West Village organized by the Costello Alumni Chapter featuring a panel of firm representatives—Manya Vij, BS Finance ‘21; Jannat Bhinder, MS Business Administration and Management ‘18; Megan Farina, BS Management Information Systems '01; and Michael Marino, BA ‘11. The next day consisted of visits to Wolfe Research (an equity research firm), J.P. Morgan, and BMS Capital.

Costello College of Business alumni panel. Photo by Alina Alam.

Many of the students participating in Costello Fellows on Wall Street rank among the top of their class and are applying—or planning to apply—to internships at firms on the trip itinerary. Experiencing the offices firsthand and engaging with professionals across varying levels of seniority provided invaluable insight into the careers they are preparing to pursue.

“A lot of these firms will give you the same experience by flying you out to private recruitment events, but those programs are really competitive, and sometimes they don’t consider you because of your major, year, or some other location factor,” says Alam.

She found tremendous value in the office visits in terms of networking and sharing information with other students. “The students who were on the trip, even the really shy, introverted ones, opened up, and they made friends with the people on the trip,” she says. “If you know people within your major, it gives you an upper hand in so many ways because you know exactly how to get more involved with on-campus organizations like the SMIF once you return from the trip.”

Costello Fellows on Wall Street program student participants. Photo by Alina Alam.

For students interested in working in the highly competitive world of investment banking and equity research, Costello Fellows on Wall Street offers a highly impactful experiential learning opportunity. Throughout the trip, the students learned from finance professionals—many of them alumni—and from each other about the actions they need to take to become stronger job candidates and stand out from the crowd. They are not waiting for firms to come to them—they are blazing a pathway and meeting them where they are.

To get involved with the SMIF, follow them on Instagram @smifgmu or access their official website www.smif.business.gmu.edu to learn more.

In This Story

Derek Horstmeyer

Explore the Costello College of Business

Topics

Costello College of Business Alumni Chapter

Costello College of Business Career Services

Innovation takes center stage at this year’s Patriot Pitch Competition

Katelynn C Hipolito — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 18:12:27 +0000

Innovation takes center stage at this year’s Patriot Pitch Competition Katelynn C Hipolito Fri, 04/24/2026 - 14:12

On Thursday, April 9, 2026, students, faculty, alumni, and other stakeholders from across the 91�� community gathered to cheer on the final teams of entrepreneurs competing in this year’s Patriot Pitch Competition, including those featured in the competition’s newly introduced Regional Showcase.

Attendees explore the tables at the Regional Showcase. Photo by John Boal Photography.

As a core component of the Patriot Pitch Competition, the Regional Showcase expanded the event’s reach by highlighting innovation from George Mason alumni, previous pitch competition teams, and community entrepreneurs who have graduated from entrepreneurship training programs led by the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) within the Costello College of Business at 91��.

“The Patriot Pitch Competition is an event where innovation takes center stage. It is a time when 91�� students, faculty, and staff come together in collaboration with our alumni, business community, sponsors, and many others to support our emerging entrepreneurs—many of whom will go on to play key roles in the vibrant and thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem that is driving the growth of our regional economy.”

—Cheryl Druehl, interim dean of the Costello College of Business

Cheryl Druehl, interim dean of Costello College of Business. Photo by John Boal Photography.

“The Patriot Pitch Competition is an event where innovation takes center stage,” said Cheryl Druehl, interim dean of the Costello College of Business. “It is a time when 91�� students, faculty, and staff come together in collaboration with our alumni, business community, sponsors, and many others to support our emerging entrepreneurs—many of whom will go on to play key roles in the vibrant and thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem that is driving the growth of our regional economy.”

Omar Solimon joins a keynote discussion with Jabs Totonji, BS '12. Photo by John Boal Photography.

Omar Soliman, co-founder of College H.U.N.K.S. Hauling Junk and Moving, published author, TV personality, and entrepreneur, joined Jabs Toto nji, BS ’12, chief investment officer at Golden Eagle Group Inc., for a keynote discussion about Soliman’s entrepreneurial journey—from his participation in a business pitch competition at his alma mater, to his appearance on the first episode of Shark Tank, to building his company into one of the fastest-growing franchises in the nation, employing more than 10,000 people. In addition to answering audience questions, Soliman emphasized the importance of hiring people with positive attitudes who get things done and healthy conflict in yielding positive results.

Of the 63 applications submitted for this year’s competition, eight teams advanced to the final round—two finalists in each of the four competition tracks—while 16 businesses competed for prize money in the Regional Showcase, all vying for a share of the $60,000 total prize pool.

For each of the four competition tracks, two finalist teams delivered five-minute pitches before a panel of judges and a packed room of spectators, followed by five minutes of Q&A from the judges.

While the judges were deliberating, attendees explored the Regional Showcase and cast votes for entrepreneurs who hosted tables and were competing for prize money. Audience members also voted for the Patriots’ Choice Awards, with ArcAid and EduVerse each earning an additional $5,000 on top of their first-place winnings and bringing their total awards to $13,000.

MBA student Bailey Mahoney presents his pitch for AgentForge, Inc. Photo by John Boal Photography.

Once deliberations were completed, the final prizes were announced. In the Innovative Ideas track, AgentForge, Inc. (Bailey Mahoney and Sahger Lad) took first place, while ExcelATC (Noran Megatheh, Alana Khem, Nathanael Davis, and Zach Cacace) earned second place. In the Social Impact track, ArcAid (Hocine Filali, Nesma Khalafalla, Alan Garcia, and Amr Hamza) won first place, followed by CareAble (Britney Orellana-Ochoa, Amy Mayeaux, and William Echols) in second. DealFax (Khaled Alkurd) received first place in the Future Founders track, with PawNutri360 (Supreet Singh and Conor Mangum) placing second. Finally, in the Early-Stage Ventures track, EduVerse (Jagan Yetukuri) took first place, and Rumi Legacy Schools (Wida Saber, Ahmad Khaled, and Noori Shukria Saber) earned second.

Each of the winning teams was welcomed to the stage by awards ceremony emcee George Schindler, a member of the 91�� Board of Visitors, where they posed for photos with sponsors, the George Mason Patriot mascot, and their giant checks.

“We’re proud to celebrate the makers, dreamers, and doers shaping our region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem,” said Patrick Soleymani, associate dean for outreach and strategic engagement at the Costello College of Business. “Innovation has always been humanity’s greatest team sport—and here at Costello, we’re playing to win.”

The Patriot Pitch Competition reached new heights this year, drawing more than 275 attendees—an achievement made possible through a true team effort. In addition to the dedicated work of the Costello and CIE staff members, there were nearly 200 individuals and organizations actively engaged in the program, including pitch teams, mentors, judges, emcees, speakers, and sponsors.

This year’s Patriot Pitch Competition was led by the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship within the Costello College of Business and was presented by 22nd Century Technologies Inc. Funding for the competition was provided through a subsidiary of the Donald G. Costello Declaration of Trust and the Sara Costello Exempt Trust, Joseph J. Contrucci, Trustee. Among the distinguished business and community supporters in attendance were Joe and Peg Contrucci; Sara Costello; and Anil Sharma, CEO of 22nd Century Technologies Inc., all of whom were able to witness the impact of their investment in supporting George Mason’s emerging entrepreneurs.

This year’s Patriot Pitch Competition was also made possible through the generous support of sponsors that included:

Innovative Ideas Track: College of Engineering and Computing, 91��
Social Impact Track: Lynn Alexis Lee Corey Prize for Social Entrepreneurship
Future Founders Track: Fairfax City Economic Development Authority
Early-Stage Ventures Track: Char’d
Patriots’ Choice Award: Costello College of Business Alumni Chapter, 91��
Patriot Sponsor: Fairfax County Economic Development Authority

Beyond rewarding bold ideas and emerging business ventures, the 2026 Patriot Pitch Competition celebrated the innovative spirit that continues to define the Costello College of Business and 91�� entrepreneurial communities.

Topics

Patriot Pitch Competition

Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Costello College of Business Alumni Chapter

Campus News

entrepreneurship

Women in Business Initiative

In This Story

Cheryl Druehl

Patrick Soleymani

Learn more about the Costello College of Business at 91��

Women in Business at Mason hosts inaugural spring conference

Katelynn C Hipolito — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 15:59:04 +0000

Women in Business at Mason hosts inaugural spring conference Katelynn C Hipolito Tue, 04/07/2026 - 11:59

With more than 300 members and growing, the Women in Business at Mason student organization at the Costello College of Business, empowers women who are majoring, minoring, or interested in the world of business. Through networking and personal and professional development events, they aim to expand upon members’ skillsets as well as their networks inside and outside of 91��.

Women in Business at Mason. Photo provided by Women in Business at Mason.

During the spring 2026 semester, the members put their heads together and pooled their resources to host their first-ever Women in Business Spring Conference. Featuring 34 speakers from across industry and academia, the conference successfully positioned the group as leaders in elevating women’s voices, fostering meaningful connections, and inspiring the next generation of business leaders.

"The goal was to make this a real, recurring opportunity for women to connect with each other and with professionals who have a lot to offer, and I’m so happy to say our team achieved that and beyond.”

—Akanksha Padheriya, president of Women in Business at Mason

The spring conference kicked off with a keynote speaker—Lisa Leander, founder and CEO of Where Imagination Builds Excellence, a global community that began as Women in Business Education championing women in higher education leadership, and has since expanded its reach to business education leaders ready to reimagine what’s possible. Through stories and a hands-on networking activity, she addressed how attendees can build real connections, as well as grow, nurture, and draw strength from the people already around them.

Following the keynote, attendees broke into sessions focused on the professional development skills they wanted to strengthen, such as interviewing skills and case solving. Then they had the opportunity to sit in panel speaker sessions spanning a wide range of business fields, from technology to international business.

“We had so many people from different fields come in and it’s truly amazing,” said Katherine Guevara, speaker coordinator for the conference. “When I was sitting in my moderating sessions asking them questions, I was taking in every single bit of information and just learning about their field, how they got there. If they were George Mason alumni, how their experience at George Mason helped them grow to the person they are today.”

“Everyone had a smile on their face because they were happy to be there and learn from these panelists and amazing women,” said Faria Alam, director of operations for the conference.

Many of the speakers found the conference to be just as rewarding. “I was incredibly proud to see these young women take the initiative to design and deliver such a meaningful experience for their community by bringing people together to connect, celebrate, and learn from one another,” said Suehaila Nabulsi, BA ‘00, senior project manager at IBM. “I was truly inspired by their thoughtfulness and curiosity. Through both the women in consulting panel and individual conversations I had with many, I encouraged these extraordinary women to create and follow their own paths while resisting the urge to measure their journeys against others.”

Another George Mason alum, as well as President’s Circle donor, Phyllis C. Pajardo, MEd '93, retired superintendent of City of Fairfax Schools, was impressed and proud to see the students organize such a successful event. “Not only did the conference display the varied strengths and professionalism of the university students, the conference showcased the amazing talent, leadership journey, and the remarkable fortitude of successful women throughout the Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia area,” she said. “It was a pleasure to serve as a panelist; moreover, it was an even greater joy to see our current and future women business leaders in action.”

The afternoon concluded with networking, where attendees could connect with one another and also with the speakers to ask any follow-up questions. In addition to the speaker sessions and networking, several companies had tables where students could stop by to learn about the opportunities they had for them.

“Planning this conference was a very challenging task to take on, as we started with basically just an idea and had to figure out a lot as we went, since nothing like this had existed before at George Mason,” said Akanksha Padheriya, president of the Women in Business at Mason. “More than anything, I wanted to set something up that future members could actually use and build on. The goal was to make this a real, recurring opportunity for women to connect with each other and with professionals who have a lot to offer, and I’m so happy to say our team achieved that and beyond.”

Women in Business at Mason is excited to build on the success of the inaugural spring conference—including the professional connections forged—to create additional high‑value events in the future. The organization not only prepares female students to succeed in business but also serves as a home for cultivating friendship, support, and a strong sense of belonging at the Costello College of Business at 91��.

Topics

Building ideas and inspiring others, Amazon recruiter embodies Costello’s entrepreneurial spirit

Katelynn C Hipolito — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 15:35:36 +0000

Building ideas and inspiring others, Amazon recruiter embodies Costello’s entrepreneurial spirit Katelynn C Hipolito Fri, 03/27/2026 - 11:35

91�� alumnus Rayan Rahman, BS Management ’17, has achieved an impressive amount in a short period of time. Now a senior recruiter at Amazon, he has founded two companies—Changing Bangladesh Foundation and Airposted—the latter of which he sold during the COVID pandemic when it had reached a gross merchandise value of approximately one million dollars.

Rayan Rahman. Photo provided by Rayan Rahman.

Airposted had more than 60,000 active registered users during his exit and he scaled it to one of the top ten ecommerce platforms in Bangladesh. Remarkably, he launched both ventures while still a student at the Costello College of Business at 91��.

“Growing up, it was something I was always passionate about—just solving problems and seeing what kinds of problems I could tackle in everyday life,” he says.

While at Costello, he recognized a need to have goods shipped internationally at a low cost. From that idea, Airposted was born. Despite the late nights and long hours, the balance between running a startup and managing his coursework never bothered him—he was fueled by his passion.

“The fear of failing shouldn’t be something a student worries about—there is no failing. George Mason provides a great platform, and students should take advantage of it rather than worrying about what might happen if they don’t win. You should go for it.”

— Rayan Rahman, BS Management ’17

Rahman encourages students with entrepreneurial ideas to find a strong mentor.

“Could be out of school, could be within the school, could be a professor, could be anyone,” he says. “But it should be someone who has literally done it and seen some of it.”

Committed to supporting the next generation of Costello entrepreneurs, he has returned in recent years to serve as both a judge and mentor for the Patriot Pitch Competition—the same event that helped him launch Airposted when he was a student.

The Patriot Pitch Competition, led by the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, returns to George Mason’s Fairfax Campus on Thursday, April 9, with a total of $60,000 in prize money up for grabs. Rahman is impressed by how far the competition has come, attracting far more sponsors and publicity since its introduction.

“The fear of failing shouldn’t be something a student worries about—there is no failing,” he says. “George Mason provides a great platform, and students should take advantage of it rather than worrying about what might happen if they don’t win. You should go for it.” This year, Rahman is mentoring a team in the semifinals.

Not only did Patriot Pitch help launch Rahman’s company, but it also validated his hard work and vision at a time when that kind of affirmation is especially important for students. “Having your peers and professors come in and rally for you, it helps a lot.”

That transformative experience has brought him back to volunteer and share his expertise. In addition to working with Patriot Pitch, he serves as a friend of the board for the Costello Alumni Chapter.

For Rahman, success is measured not just by the ideas he has brought to life, but by the people he inspires to take risks and pursue dreams of their own. From student entrepreneur to mentor and Amazon recruiter, he reflects the innovative spirit of the Costello College of Business.

In This Story

Rayan Rahman, '17

Topics

Patriot Pitch Competition

Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Costello Scholarship Luncheon

Costello Scholarship Luncheon showcases growth in named scholarship funding

Katelynn C Hipolito — Wed, 17 Dec 2025 20:39:51 +0000

Costello Scholarship Luncheon showcases growth in named scholarship funding Katelynn C Hipolito Wed, 12/17/2025 - 15:39

The Costello College of Business at 91�� recently announced a significant increase in scholarship money awarded to students—$1.3 million for the 2024-25 academic year—$500,000 of which went to named scholarships. Over the past five years, both the total amount of scholarship funding and the number of students who have received Costello scholarships have more than doubled.

Costello scholarship recipients. Photo by Hannah Patterson/Costello College of Business.

As outlined by Ajay Vinzé, interim provost and executive vice president of 91��, priority number one at Costello is student readiness and career preparedness. “Scholarships play a huge role in the success of our students,” he said.

Costello celebrated donors and scholarship recipients on November 18 at the annual Costello Scholarship Luncheon. The luncheon featured an inspiring lineup of speakers whose lives and careers have been shaped by scholarship support. Mitchell Cho, BA '99, founder and CEO of FedWriters, Inc. (FWI), shared his journey. As a student, he said, he was not the overachiever some might assume. What he did have was persistence and grit. Today, as a member of the Corporate and Community Partners Program, Cho views scholarships as an investment in the future. “Supporting scholarship is not just about philanthropy for us,” he said. “It’s about investing in the future.”

Longtime donor Jim Beers, retired managing partner of Beers & Cutler, encouraged students to keep pushing forward toward their dreams. “It’s so important what you’re doing now—and it will be even more important after you graduate,” he said.

Sandra Flores, BS Business Analytics ‘23, MS Business Analytics ‘25, Historian of the Costello Alumni Chapter, speaking at the Costello Scholarship Luncheon. Photo by Hannah Patterson/Costello College of Business.

Current students also shared their heartfelt reflections.

“Something I really appreciate about Costello is how it helps us grow,” said Iman Choudry, recipient of the Robert Amy Scholarship.

Historian of the Costello Alumni Chapter Sandra Flores, BS Business Analytics ‘23, MS Business Analytics ‘25, credited her donor’s generosity for making her dreams possible. “I made a promise that I would give back when I can,” she said.

“I made a promise that I would give back when I can,” she said.

— Sandra Flores, BS Business Analytics ‘23, MS Business Analytics ‘25, Historian of the Costello Alumni Chapter

While the speeches inspired and provided valuable insights, the luncheon’s greatest asset was bringing students and their donors together to express gratitude, network, and to ask questions. Many of the donors once stood in the shoes of the recipients, facing similar challenges.

Costello scholarship donors and Costello Alumni Chapter members. Photo by Hannah Patterson/Costello College of Business.

The Costello Scholarship Luncheon is a proud tradition, celebrating both student achievement and the generosity of donors. With the named scholarship funding continuing to rise, the Costello College of Business is sending a clear message that their business is student success.

Learn about Mason Now

In This Story

Ajay Vinzé, PhD

Sandra Flores, '23

Topics

Scholarships

Corporate and Community Partners Program

Costello College of Business Scholarships

Mason Now: Power the Possible

philanthropy

Tech Expert, George Mason alumna, and Costello Dean’s Advisory Council Member Kinsey Fabrizio talks about the AI Revolution and its positive disruption

Katelynn C Hipolito — Fri, 21 Nov 2025 17:23:17 +0000

Tech Expert, George Mason alumna, and Costello Dean’s Advisory Council Member Kinsey Fabrizio talks about the AI Revolution and its positive disruption Katelynn C Hipolito Fri, 11/21/2025 - 12:23

As president of the Consumer Technology Association (CTA)®, which represents more than 1,200 technology companies and owns and produces CES®—the most powerful tech event in the world, Kinsey Fabrizio, BA Government and International Politics; Spanish ’04, is a force in the tech world.

Kinsey Fabrizio, BA Government and International Politics; Spanish ’04. Photo by Hannah Patterson/Costello College of Business.

Since joining the association in 2008, Fabrizio has played a pivotal role in transforming CTA and CES. Fabrizio was awarded the Women in CT Legacy Award in 2023, recognizing her longtime leadership and contributions to the consumer technology industry. Most recently, Fabrizio was named one of Washingtonian’s 2025 Most Powerful Woman. She served on the Costello College of Business Management Advisory Council from 2023-2025, and is serving as a member of the Dean’s Advisory Council.

About George Mason

What made you choose 91�� for your degree?

I grew up in Winchester, Virginia, and what I loved most about George Mason was its capacity to really challenge me and expose me to diverse people, opinions, thoughts, and different ideas.

What was the most rewarding experience for you at George Mason?

I remember a class my senior year that centered on conflict resolution and international politics, and I loved it! That class connected me to an internship that led to my first job. I got trained in conflict resolution and as a mediator, and it was just this amazing door that opened. That was definitely a moment that I'll never forget, and I think about that class often.

You have served on Costello’s Management Advisory Council in the past, and have recently joined our Dean’s Advisory Council. What do you think is special about Costello?

Costello is special because of its unique focus on the intersection of innovation and business. It’s tech-forward, dynamic, and truly one-of-a-kind. The more I’ve learned about Costello, the more impressed I’ve become. I’ve been able to learn from the really brilliant people that are part of this group and get exposed to a different part of the university while being able to give back and volunteer my time.

Kinsey Fabrizio, BA Government and International Politics; Spanish ’04. Photo by Hannah Patterson/Costello College of Business.

About AI

Where do you see AI going?

AI is a foundational leap. It's as big a new technology and tool as the Internet. We're just at the very beginning of this AI revolution, but we're already seeing it improve lives. We're seeing it solve some of society's toughest challenges, from energy production to climate resilience to chronic disease management to efficiency for enterprises and businesses. AI is an amazing and powerful tool. Businesses are going to be able to optimize their strategy and their operations through AI by boosting efficiency and productivity. I don't think AI is going to completely replace a workforce, I think it's going to add value to the existing workforce. People using AI will make the workforce more efficient and more effective. You've probably heard it before, the saying that AI won't replace people, but people who use AI will replace people who don't. I think that's really important to keep in mind as we move forward. AI is something that we are going to integrate into our daily lives, helping us turn all kinds of data into action.

CTA supports establishing clear, effective guardrails for AI to encourage innovation while protecting consumers. What are your thoughts on the best approach to AI regulation moving forward?

We feel strongly about a light touch, risk-based approach to regulation that protects consumers, but also gives businesses clear rules of the road and doesn’t hinder innovation. One of the ways we think you achieve that is with a federal AI framework, rather than 50 different states with different sets of AI regulations. That is nearly impossible for companies, especially startups, to keep up with, and it would inhibit innovation. The AI Action Plan released by the White House this summer is a good blueprint. It looks at AI innovation in terms of acceleration and ensuring that the U.S. stays a leader. It focuses on streamlining outdated regulations and strengthening public/private partnerships, which is going to be great for AI advancement. It also rightly focuses on infrastructure and the need to modernize the energy grid.

Do you have any advice for higher ed when it comes to AI and technology?

AI is here to stay and it’s important to train students on how to effectively, efficiently, and ethically leverage AI because it is a powerful tool. AI could really accelerate research. It's important that higher ed leans into AI adoption and creates opportunities for students to learn and use these tools. Building AI into the curriculum is really important. So is training students on real world uses of AI , because when students graduate today and go into the workforce, AI is going to be a part of it. Preparing them in the best way possible is a responsibility of higher education.

The Costello College of Business is on the eve of its 50th Anniversary. Technology has grown immensely in the last 50 years. In what ways do you see AI and new technology having an impact on business for the next half century?

We’re just at the beginning of this AI revolution. As AI disrupts entire industries, businesses are trying to figure out how to embrace these new tools to advance and accelerate. A couple areas where we’ll see the biggest leaps forward are blockchain and quantum. AI is going to make blockchain technology more efficiently scalable. Think about financial transactions that can be more traceable and transparent, and health care data transactions that’ll be more secure. We’re years away from quantum technology being an everyday reality, but AI will offer testing platforms to develop quantum technologies in areas like cybersecurity, transportation, and biotech, and make it more scalable.

You work with some of the top leaders in technology, what are you hearing about the latest trends in AI and technology?

Across the business world, you’re seeing companies use AI to boost productivity. We’re also seeing AI used to enhance the customer experience, including as a frontline customer service tool. AI in health care is advancing lifesaving innovations and medical research. There’s also digital twin technology applied to manufacturing to create smart factories and even create models of entire cities. AI is really quick at solving complex problems that humans alone can't solve. AI chips are more advanced than ever, and agentic AI that can manage tasks semi autonomously with a little bit of human oversight expedites basic but necessary back office functions that every business needs. We'll see a lot of these—and some new and exciting applications of AI technology—at CES 2026!

Kinsey Fabrizio, BA Government and International Politics; Spanish ’04. Photo by Hannah Patterson/Costello College of Business.

Our dean likes to say, “Everything is business and that we are all in the business of some thing.” Please tell us about the business of technology and how you think the business college needs to be preparing our students for successful careers in the business of technology.

I think the business of technology is the most exciting business! I love tech and innovation. Think about the benefits of the Internet—everything from streaming content, to digital advertising, toplatforms that allow you to connect with anyone, anywhere. And these days, everything is tech! From entertainment, to health care, to enterprise, they’re all solving real world issues.

The business college needs to prepare students to embrace technology and to adapt. The job opportunities available to kids coming out of college today are going to look different than they do in a few years, and different again in the next 10 years. Making sure today’s business school students are ready to embrace tech and adopt new ways of doing things is critical. Ensuring that curriculums highlight new technologies and advancements is really important. It’s also important to find opportunities for tech leaders to connect with students through tech challenges, startup competitions, and hackathons, which I know George Mason does already.

One more thing: we can’t forget the importance of being in person and engaging in the physical world, not just the digital world. You learn so much from observing a leader's body language, watching how they present themselves in a meeting, when they speak up, who they make eye contact with, and looking at how they bring different people into the conversation. CES is all about bringing people together to connect, discover, learn, and solve, so we see the value in those things every year at the show. In our world today, real-life, in-person connections give you a competitive edge. That includes CES, which is open to students! We love when people come to CES and get inspired by how technology is transforming the world, see new ideas, meet people, and network.

What advice would you give to George Mason students who are about to graduate or fellow alumni who are already in the workforce?

First, align your work with something that you care about because that passion will carry you through challenges that you encounter in your professional career. Second, raise your hand for new opportunities in school or at your first job, even if they are outside of your comfort zone. When you are willing to say yes and try something that you wouldn’t naturally do, doors open. Third, seek out a mentor and don't be afraid to ask for constructive feedback. We all need it! It’s so important to get real feedback, because then you can identify what you're great at and where you have opportunities to improve and be the best version of yourself. Seeking out a good mentor is a great way to do that in the professional space.

In This Story

Kinsey Fabrizio, '04

Topics

Impact Fall 2025

Dean’s Advisory Council

Artificial Intelligence

Costello College of Business Management Advisory Council

Costello alum prepares to compete at Southeast Asian Games

Katelynn C Hipolito — Thu, 13 Nov 2025 20:51:48 +0000

Costello alum prepares to compete at Southeast Asian Games Katelynn C Hipolito Thu, 11/13/2025 - 15:51

Sidney Yap, BS Information Systems Operations Management ‘20, MS Management ‘21, Business Analytics Grad Cert ‘22, MBA ‘25, exemplifies exceptional balance—driving innovative strategies at Navy Federal while representing the Philippines internationally in the hammer throw.

Action shot from 2025 Philippine Athletic Championships. Photo by Philippines Athletic Track and Field Association (PATAFA).

As a student-athlete at 91��, he competed in track and field for nearly five years, spanning four Costello College of Business academic programs. In addition to the hammer throw, he also competed in discus and the weight throw, an indoor equivalent to hammer. Not long after he began competing at the university, he began his career as an intern at Navy Federal. Over time, he advanced in athletics, academics, and his career—building a foundation that continues to shape his success today.

Sidney Yap. Photo provided

Now preparing for the 2025 Southeast Asian Games in Thailand this December, Yap is focused on timing his peak performance for competition. Recently promoted to enterprise data analytics consultant at Navy Federal, he starts his day early so that he can focus on his training in the evenings. As busy as he is, he prefers it that way, driven by his passion for athletics, education, and professional growth.

Balancing athletics with his career is nothing new for Yap. While at George Mason, he worked closely with professors, coaches, and managers to coordinate schedules and manage workloads. Starting his career at Navy Federal as an intern during his sophomore year, he recognizes strong parallels between athletics and his business career—both requiring discipline, strategy, and data-driven decisions.

As much as his athletics skills and habits help him in his career, his job at Navy Federal in turn opened the door to this remarkable opportunity to compete in Thailand. At a company luncheon, a manager approached him after learning about his track and field background.

“He hit me with the question—What’s next?” Yap recalls.

Sharing Filipino heritage, the manager offered to help him represent the Philippines. That conversation led to connecting with the national team coach, securing dual citizenship, and obtaining a passport. Since then, he has competed in the Philippine Nationals in 2024 and 2025. Representing his family’s heritage on an international stage adds deeper meaning to his athletic pursuits.

Sidney Yap at his MBA graduation in Spring 2025. Photo provided

Yap is appreciative of the business foundations and location of his alma mater, reflected in his decision to remain at Costello for his undergraduate and graduate programs. Originally from the area, it wasn’t until he started researching colleges to apply to in high school that he learned it was a top-notch school full of opportunity.

At Costello, he experienced being taught by high-level faculty who prepared him to succeed in his current role. One of his first courses was on organizational behavior taught by Victoria Grady, associate professor of management and director of the MS in management program.

“Classes like that help with refinement of your people skills, and I think that goes beyond how you are in the workforce because those organizational behaviors is teaching me, in my mind, how to be a better person with people I interact with in athletics and in public.”

“Classes like that help with refinement of your people skills, and I think that goes beyond how you are in the workforce because those organizational behaviors is teaching me, in my mind, how to be a better person with people I interact with in athletics and in public.”

— Sidney Yap, BS Information Systems Operations Management ‘20, MS Management ‘21, Business Analytics Grad Cert ‘22, MBA ‘25

Yap’s story reflects the unique synergy between academic excellence and athletic discipline forged at George Mason. His years as a student-athlete prepared him to navigate the demands of rigorous coursework, competitive sports, and a growing professional career—all at once. The foundation he built through Costello’s programs continues to guide him as he balances his role at Navy Federal with training for the Southeast Asian Games. As Yap sets his sights on gold in Thailand, he carries the same mindset into his professional journey—proving that excellence isn’t confined to the field but is a pursuit that spans every arena of life.

In This Story

Victoria Grady

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Topics

Management Area

Costello College of Business Graduate Programs

Information Systems and Operations Management Area

Costello Flex MBA program

Costello MBA program

Accounting alum elevates talent and culture at KPMG

Katelynn C Hipolito — Mon, 03 Nov 2025 15:57:31 +0000

Accounting alum elevates talent and culture at KPMG Katelynn C Hipolito Mon, 11/03/2025 - 10:57

Growing up in southern Virginia, Sandy Torchia, BS Accounting ’93, discovered her passion for accounting early. During high school, she realized that hard work in the field could not only open doors to exciting opportunities but also to a fulfilling career.

Sandy Torchia. Photo by KPMG

As the first in her family to attend college, she chose 91�� because it checked a multitude of boxes for her, including its academic rigor, location in vibrant Fairfax, Virginia, and proximity to Washington, D.C. Four years later, she graduated from the Costello College of Business with an even deeper appreciation for the learning environment that shaped her educational and professional journey.

“My parents taught me to put in the work and dream big,” Torchia says. “Graduating from George Mason was accomplishing one of those dreams for myself, and also for them.”

Torchia attributes her current position as vice chair of talent and culture at KPMG to the education she received at Costello, which equipped her with a strong business foundation and a comprehensive expertise in accounting. She states that these skills are critical to her and her organization’s success as they drive the firm’s talent strategy, positioning KPMG to attract, develop, and retain the best talent.

Her work—leading KPMG into the future—puts her focus on the firm’s employees and partners and how they experience the firm. And like her passion for accounting, she also has a passion for people—she states it’s one of the main reasons she’s stayed at KPMG for more than 28 years. “I love the people I work with,” she says.

Among Torchia’s most impactful experiences at Costello was helping found George Mason’s chapter of Delta Sigma Pi, one of the largest co-educational professional business fraternities in the country. Establishing and leading the chapter honed skills she has continued to use throughout her career, including relationship management, public speaking, and negotiation. Those came in handy as the work required her to coordinate with other universities and organizations at George Mason.

She’s proud to not only have co-founded the chapter but to be part of the chapter’s first graduating class too. Torchia encourages Costello students to get involved in special projects and extracurriculars like Delta Sigma Pi. "Whenever and wherever you can, take advantage of opportunities to develop and elevate your skills, including those beyond the classroom,” she says. “Whether it's a formal program like a business fraternity or an informal mentorship, seeking new experiences or training will always add value."

"Whenever and wherever you can, take advantage of opportunities to develop and elevate your skills, including those beyond the classroom. Whether it's a formal program like a business fraternity or an informal mentorship, seeking new experiences or training will always add value."

—Sandy Torchia, BS Accounting ’93

Of course, her drive extended to the classroom as well. “Sandy was a student in one of the first accounting classes I taught at 91��, and she remains every professor’s model success story,” says Janet Faughnan, senior instructor of accounting at the Costello College of Business. “The technical accounting knowledge and interpersonal skills Sandy developed through her dedication to her studies at George Mason have been refined and perfected throughout her professional career.”

Sandy Torchia’s journey from a first-generation college student to management committee member at KPMG is a testament to the impact of education, leadership, and innovation. Her time at the Costello College of Business not only equipped her with academic and technical expertise but also inspired her to build something lasting—like George Mason’s Delta Sigma Pi chapter—that continues to benefit students today. As she leads KPMG's talent strategy, Torchia can call back to those academic and leadership experiences as a strong foundation, equipping her with the right skills for fostering environments that encourage new ideas to excel and people to thrive.

In This Story

Janet Faughnan

Topics

Accounting Area

Accounting Advisory Council

first-generation

Business analytics alumna from Russia finds home at Costello

Greg Johnson — Tue, 15 Apr 2025 21:58:33 +0000

Business analytics alumna from Russia finds home at Costello Greg Johnson Tue, 04/15/2025 - 17:58

Born and raised in Saint Petersburg, Russia, Marina Komarova, MS Business Analytics ‘24, knew she wanted to get a business degree from a respected American university.

Marina Komarova. Photo provided

She had earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Russia, which included a semester as an exchange student in Finland. 91�� had met all the criteria she was looking for—most notably a top business college in a prime location. Not yet confident in her English skills, Komarova entered through the INTO Mason program, which really helped her transition going to school in a new country.

Currently, Komarova is a business analyst at CakeBoxx Technologies, a company that designs and manufactures shipping containers for high-valued oversized types of cargo. Before accepting the position, she worked at the company as an intern while still studying at the Costello College of Business.

Securing the internship was a critical milestone for her. Because of her status as an international student, Komarova found herself under increasing pressure to find a job position or risk leaving the country. After speaking with career services, attending multiple networking events, and refining her online searches, she found CakeBoxx.

“At that point, they had this position that was called a supply chain business analyst intern,” she says. “It was honestly everything that I was looking for in my first internship because I have a background in supply chain, and I was studying business analytics.”

Komarova enjoys how flexible her job is and how it requires both statistics and interpersonal skills. “You need to know how to communicate with different kinds of people from different industries and how to actually put your ideas into words,” she says. Much of what she learned from her Costello business analytics program she was able to apply instantly to her job. “The knowledge I got from classes like marketing analytics predictions is helping me every day in my job. We have very customized solutions for different industries, so we need to do our marketing research and find out who can be our potential clients and how we can make them interested in our products.”

As an international student at George Mason, Komarova never felt out of place or like she did not belong. “My experience was great professors and university staff,” she says. “Everybody was very helpful and very welcoming.” She also thoroughly enjoyed the campus culture outside of the classroom and how the university was constantly holding events not only for academic interests and professional development but also for fun social gatherings. “The social stuff actually helped me a lot,” she says. “I was worried a lot that I wouldn’t feel like I belong here, but that was not the case.”

Marina Komarova has come a long way in a short amount of time. “It’s been a crazy journey with some ups and downs, like from the moment when I was freaking out that that I wouldn’t be able to secure a job to the point when I graduated,” she says. After overcoming uncertainty and bettering herself, she is thriving in a new country and in her career.

Topics

Master's in Business Analytics Program