Proud to BU

Building Communities in the Face of Pandemics | Bryan Murphy Eustis (SPH’04)

As the world continues to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic, we are joined on the podcast by Bryan Murphy-Eustis (SPH’04), a public health practitioner with unique insights to share. Bryan earned his MPH from Boston University in 2004 and went on to found his own public health consulting practice, BME Strategies. He also served as the Executive Director of Partners in Health Liberia where he coordinated the NGO’s West African response to the Ebola crisis. Today, Bryan works to develop and deploy new global health technologies through Global Good at Intellectual Ventures. He joined us on Proud to BU to talk about his background and his perspective on our collective path forward through this pandemic.
Recorded April 2020

Restaurateur on Striving for Perfect Harmony | Shraddha Bhansali (Questrom’14)

From the age of 15, if you asked Shraddha Bhansali (Questrom’14) what she wanted to do when she grew up, her answer was steadfast: open a restaurant. She graduated from the Questrom School of Business in 2014 having studied both business and hospitality management. Today, she is the owner of Candy & Green, a vegetarian restaurant and bar in Mumbai, India focused on clean eating and local ingredients. She joined us on the podcast to explore her tenacious entrepreneurial journey and share how she’s adapting and keeping busy amidst the pandemic.
Recorded March 2020

The Life of a Foreign Correspondent in China | Allen Wan (CAS’90)

Allen Wan (CAS’90) never thought he was going to be a journalist. He graduated from the College of Arts and Sciences in 1990 with a degree in political science and sought out numerous opportunities to expand his worldview while strengthening his communication skills. Today, he is Deputy Bureau Chief in Bloomberg’s Shanghai office and will be opening Bloomberg’s first office in Southern China in the coming months. He joined us on the podcast to explore his unique BU experience and provide insight into what it’s like to be a journalist embedded within the “black box” of China.
Recorded February 2020

Senior Economist on Asking Big Questions | Karen Fishman (CAS’12, GRS’12)

As a vice president and senior economist at Goldman Sachs, Karen Fishman (CAS’12, GRS’12) spends her days wrestling with really big questions. Karen graduated from BU in 2012 with both a bachelor’s and master’s in economics. She was recently named to the Forbes 30 under 30 list as a trailblazer in the world of finance. On this episode of the podcast, Karen shares the story of her success thus far and she provides her best advice for finding and fulfilling your passion.
Recorded February 2020

Transforming Personal Loss into an Encore Career | Bill Cohen (Questrom’74)

Bill Cohen (Questrom’74) founded Cohen Caregiving Consultants, LLC, to provide advice and counsel to families who are grappling with a diagnosis of dementia or Alzheimer’s. His work with caregivers follows a fascinating career that included time in hospitality, financial services, and state government. He joined us on the podcast to talk about the personal loss that inspired his “second act” or “encore career” and to provide a roadmap for other alumni who are looking to make a career change but aren’t quite sure how to get started.
Recorded April 2020

Blazing Your Own Path as an Interior Designer | Cari Giannoulias (COM’96)

Cari Giannoulias (COM’96) has a knack for trusting her gut and following her passion. After graduating from BU, Cari built a tremendous career in the world of marketing for the entertainment industry. She worked at Creative Artists Agency, Jersey Films, Universal Pictures, and even collaborated with the Sex Pistols, before deciding to blaze her own trail as an entrepreneur. Cari founded her own interior design firm in Chicago, aptly named Cari Giannoulias Design. On this episode of the podcast, Cari details the twists and turns of her journey and shares the joy she’s found through entrepreneurship.
Recorded February 2020

Forbes Top Next-Gen Wealth Advisor | Alex Tanguay (Questrom’02)

Alex Tanguay (Questrom’02) is a Senior Vice President and Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in Boston. Alex earned his bachelor’s degree from the Questrom School of Business in 2002 and was recently named one of Forbes’ “Top Next-Gen Wealth Advisors” under 40. Alex is deeply engaged in the Alumni Association; he serves on the BU Alumni Council and is working to build a strong alumni network at Merrill as well. On this episode of the podcast, Alex shares insights on the future of his industry and he reflects on the dividends he’s realized from investing his time and energy to build a strong Terrier network.
Recorded February 2020

Lessons in Leadership from a Fire Chief Officer | Joe Maruca (Questrom’81)

Joe Maruca (Questrom’81) didn’t know what he wanted to do for a living after graduating from BU. His advice for any students who are feeling similarly? “Don’t worry about it!” Joe earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from the Questrom School of Business in 1981 and went on to become both a practicing attorney and Fire Chief in the West Barnstable district on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. On this episode of the podcast, you’ll hear Joe’s reflections on being in student government during the John Silber era at BU and he shares his unique perspective on leadership forged by his experience wearing many hats in service to his community.
Recorded November 2019

Changing the Way You Pay in the Digital World | Mamta Rodrigues (CAS’95)

Mamta Rodrigues (CAS’95) is always looking for new ways to make financial transactions easier for the rest of us. She has established herself as a prominent fintech leader having held top jobs at industry giants American Express, MasterCard, Visa, Synchrony, and Teleperformance. During this episode of the podcast, you’ll hear some of the highlights from Mamta’s global career journey as well as her reflections on pausing her professional ambitions to focus on her family.
Recorded October 2019

At the Intersection of Healthcare and Technology | Dr. Joe Frassica (MED’88)

Dr. Joe Frassica (MED’88) has built an extraordinary career delivering healthcare innovations to the patient’s bedside. He is the Head of Philips Research and Chief Medical Officer at Philips North America. He also remains active in the world of academic medicine with teaching appointments through the Institute for Medical Engineering and Sciences at MIT and Massachusetts General Hospital. During this episode of the podcast, Joe reflects on the role of mentors who helped guide him in his remarkable journey and the lessons he learned about leading transformational change.
Recorded November 2019

Amplifying Diverse Voices in Entertainment | Nina Tassler (CFA’79, HON’16)

Nina Tassler (CFA’79, HON’16) is a producer, author, and the former chairman of CBS Entertainment. She built a groundbreaking career in the industry and she was instrumental in propelling CBS to become America’s #1 network for 12 of her 13-year tenure. In recent years, she co-founded PatMa Productions alongside Denise Di Novi and she published her first book, "What I Told My Daughter: Lessons from Leaders on Raising the Next Generation of Empowered Women." Nina joined us on the podcast to reflect on her formative BU experiences and to explore the values embedded throughout her storied career.
Recorded January 2020

A Family Business, 3 Generations Strong | Dr. Howard Brooks (SDM’87) & Dr. Stephanie Brooks (SDM’18)

Dr. Howard Brooks (SDM’87) and Dr. Stephanie Brooks (SDM’18) are two of the three generations running Brooks Dental in Winthrop, MA. Dr. Barry Brooks founded the practice in 1959 and since then, he welcomed his son, Dr. Howard, and his granddaughter, Dr. Stephanie, into the family business. On this episode of the podcast, all three Drs. Brooks joined us in the studio to talk about running the business, their family legacy, and the transformation of dentistry over the course of three generations.
Recorded October 2019

Prosecutor in ’El Chapo’ Case on Pursuing Your Calling | Andrea Goldbarg (LAW’01)

Andrea Goldbarg (LAW’01), is an Assistant US Attorney who spent a decade of her career prosecuting the case against Mexican drug kingpin, Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman. She reflects on her experiences at BU and beyond that prepared her to tackle this career-defining challenge and shares why she believes she’s found her calling as a public servant.
Recorded October 2019

Empathy and Tenacity Bring Hollywood Success | Jamie Kaler (CAS’87)

Jamie Kaler (CAS’87) is an actor and comedian best known for his starring role as “Mike” on the hit TBS show, My Boys. His career also includes credits on Friends, Will & Grace, How I Met Your Mother, Parenthood, and NCIS. On this episode of Proud to BU, Jamie shares insights on the work ethic required to be successful in Hollywood and beyond.
Recorded October 2019

MA Teacher of the Year on How to Bounce Back | Takeru Nagayoshi (Wheelock’16)

Takeru Nagayoshi (Wheelock’16) is a high school English teacher in New Bedford and was recently named the 2020 Massachusetts Teacher of the Year. He joined us on Proud to BU to explore the ups and downs of his personal educational experience, why he believes teaching made him a better person, and what working in a turnaround school district has taught him about resiliency.
Recorded September 2019

How to Find Your Place in Big Organizations | Emily Theurer (CAS’14)

When Emily Theurer (CAS’14) graduated from BU with a degree in economics, she found herself well equipped to navigate the complex world of finance at one of the largest firms in Boston. Today, she’s a Research Analyst at State Street Global Advisors and she’s passionate about promoting financial literacy, especially among women and girls.
Recorded October 2019

Using Film to Spark Systemic Change | Rel Dowdell (COM’96)

During his time at BU, Rel Dowdell (COM’96) made a name for himself with a groundbreaking thesis project that went on to become the critically acclaimed and award-winning film, Train Ride. His most recent work is a feature-length documentary examining the impact of the child support system on African American families titled, "Where’s Daddy?" Stay tuned for an exclusive clip from the documentary at the end of the credits courtesy of Breaking Glass Pictures.
Recorded October 2019

Advice from a Physician Turned Chocolatier | Elaine Hsieh (CAS’90, MED’90)

After graduating from BU’s six-year medical program, Elaine Hsieh (CAS’90, MED’90) established a women’s health practice in Arlington, MA. Over the next twenty years, she slowly came to the realization that that healthcare was not her true career calling. In 2010, she co-founded a local chocolate shop, EHChocolatier, and since then, her business has been celebrated as ‘Best in Boston’ among a long list of other accolades.
Recorded October 2019

Southwest Strategist on Solving Universal Problems | Ajay Mehta (Questrom’11)

Ajay Mehta (Questrom’11) has a proven track record as an innovator and creative problem solver. While his career is centered on the transportation industry, the lessons he’s learned about strategy and consulting are universal. Ajay earned his MBA from the Questrom School of Business in 2011. Today, he is a Manager of Technology, Strategy, & Continuous Improvement at Southwest Airlines and his resume also includes experience at Amtrak, Concentre, and Ericsson. Ajay joined us on the podcast from Dallas, Texas, which is one of BU’s top 20 cities by alumni population. He shares his insights into what makes the greater Dallas area an attractive place to build a career for the nearly 2,000 Terriers who call this city home.
Recorded September 2019

How Digital Disruption is Transforming Banking | Phonpimol Pathomsak (Questrom’96)

Phonpimol Pathomsak (Questrom’96) is a Senior Vice President at Kasikornbank, one of Thailand’s largest commercial banks. After graduating from BU, Phonpimol moved from Boston to Bangkok where she built a career in banking and consumer finance at world-renowned firms AIG, Citi, GE Capital, and Bank of China. She also served as CEO of fintech startup, Refinn, which empowers consumers to compare mortgage offers.
Recorded September 2019