15 Years of WDIGFY: Connect, Inspire and Empower
March 29, 2025 In-person Conference
Co-Hosted by the Graduate School Alumni Association and the Yale Alumni Association Careers, Life and Yale program
All events will be at Humanities Quadrangle, 320 York Street
Click the ➕ next to each panel to uncover details about the program, meet the alumni participants, and download their short bios. Want to hear their stories firsthand? Click on the hyperlinked names to watch their "Yale Grad Journey" recordings!
March 29 Schedule
Fuel up for a productive day—grab a cup of coffee, get energized, and get ready to listen, learn, and make meaningful connections!
Dean Lynn Cooley will open the conference at 9:00 with words of welcome.
Plenary Session: Unconventional Career Paths
Curious about career options beyond the traditional path of your degree? Join this session to hear from alumni leaders who have successfully forged diverse career paths outside of their academic fields. They will share their insights and experiences on exploring new fields, navigating career transitions, and finding success outside conventional trajectories.
- Shah Karim ’81 BA, ’07 MPhil (Economics), CEO of Saferock
- Sandy Kuzmich, ‘89 PhD (Pharmacology), Managing Partner, Haug Partners LLP
- Shayna Liberman '14 MA (Biological Anthropology), Director of Global Women’s Strategy, Nike
- Max Walden ’11 BA, ’18 PhD (History), Asset and Wealth Management, Goldman Sachs
- Kitty Koo-Tse '01 MS (Psychology), Director of Global Wealth and Investment Management at Bank of America Merrill Lynch
Whether you're exploring career paths or just looking to expand your network, make the most of these informal moments to spark insightful conversations!
Join a discussion with industry professionals and alumni in the corporate world who have successfully leveraged their graduate school training to enter corporate life. Learn about effective networking and job search strategies, mastering interviews, and adapting to corporate culture. Also learn how to understand and present the value of the knowledge and skills you have acquired in your specific field of study to market yourself most effectively to corporate employers.
- Vishal Agrawal ’96 BS, '96 MS (MB&B), '02 MD, Chief Strategy and Corporate Development Officer, Humana
- Erin Burke ’17 PhD (Anthropology), Strategic Partnership Lead, Character Biosciences
- Nitin Gambhir ’93 MS (Chemical Engineering), CEO, Tethys Technology, Inc
- Zlatko Minev ’18 PhD (Applied Physics), Team & Tech Lead, IBM Quantum
- Moderator: Marisa Dolled-Filhart ’05 PhD (Genetics), Global Team Leader, Daiichi Sankyo
This session is designed to provide you with practical advice and strategies from alumni in academic (including administration), non-academic research institutions, government and non-profits. Learn how to map the path early on from your chosen field of graduate study to the job you would like to have through internships, choice of subject matter to focus on for your dissertation, early networking and more.
- Susan Fisher '01 PhD (Art History), Director, Kaish Family Art Project
- Patricia Hswe ’03 PhD (Slavic Languages and Literatures), Program Director for Public Knowledge, The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation
- Richard Kayne ’76 MD, Endocrinologist, Private practice
- Rahul Prasad ‘87 PhD (Engineering and Applied Science), Chair of the Board of Directors, Butterflies USA and Amandla Development
- Moderator: Carol Chiodo ’14 PhD (Italian Language and Literature), Director of Distinctive Collections and Digital Scholarship at The Claremont Colleges Library
Interested in artificial intelligence (AI) and its impact on the future of work? Join alumni leaders from L'Oréal, and Vonage as they share their career journeys and advice for aspiring professionals. Explore diverse AI career paths—from research and strategy to corporate venture capital. Gain valuable insights on navigating the dynamic AI landscape and network with alumni leaders driving innovation in this rapidly evolving field.
- Seyma Aslan ’12 PhD (Chemical Engineering), Open Innovation & Business Development Lead, L'Oreal Research & Innovation Labs
- Vinod Lala ’90 BA, Chief Strategy Officer, Vonage
- Moderator: Paul Turner PhD, Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Yale University
Grab your lunch and build connections with fellow students and alumni panelists. This is a great opportunity to exchange ideas, ask questions, and expand your network.
Starting networking before the conference!
Tuesday, March 25 at 4:00 pm: Networking Workshop [Zoom]
Unlock the power of developing relationships and professional connections in this engaging networking workshop designed exclusively for Yale graduate students and recent graduates! Led by an inspiring Yale GSAS alum, this dynamic one-hour session will give you the tools to develop meaningful relationships and strategically strengthen connections during your graduate school journey. Whether you’re aiming for success in academia or industry, you’ll leave with practical tips, ideas for your own personalized networking next steps and the confidence to grow your network and expand your opportunities.
Friday, March 28: Nourish & Network Dinner [in-person]
Kick off your weekend with great food, meaningful connections, and inspiring conversations! Join us for a buffet dinner and networking with members of the Graduate School Alumni Association Board (GSAAB) and Where Do I Go from Yale panelists—representing six decades of graduates and a wide range of career paths. This relaxed, informal gathering is your chance to hear firsthand about the unexpected twists, bold moves, and valuable lessons that shaped their journeys beyond Yale. Don't miss this exclusive opportunity to connect, learn, and share insights over a delicious meal. Limited spots available—open only to Graduate School students!