KPMG, UBS, Morgan Stanley, Council on Foreign Relations

If you put four professionals and 70 Baruch students in a room together you get an event that is fit for discussion. Candid testimony from the speakers encourage students to "learn the art of lying, as it is an important skill," and to remember that "teamwork is vital in the work environment and self absorbed people just don't cut it anymore." Students who attended the Sigma Alpha Delta Career Dinner last Tuesday were able to hear business perspectives, observations and career lessons on topics ranging from work/life balance to the meaning of success.

Speaker John Houlihan, executive director and complex manager of Morgan Stanley's Global Wealth Management in New York City explained the importance of career passion by expressing, "I love my job, if I did not love my job I would be out the door tomorrow. We spend so much of our time at work, if you do not love it why are you there?"

Other speakers like Eugene Chan, senior tax manager, Real Estate Group in KPMG New York City dove into self evaluation by posing questions such as: "What is the meaning of successful? What do you consider successful and what do you want? A father who makes a goal to attend all of his children's soccer games is successful to me."

"You must continue to look for opportunities to grow and develop, you should not get to a point and say that you are done, I am not done, I am still aspiring" asserts Peter Tyndale, BBA Baruch and director of Finance, Council on Foreign Relations. Before the meeting, Sigma fielded pre-event questions for the students, which helped Dr. Gil Bar-Nahum, director of Global Healthcare Group Investment Bank, explain the lifestyle his business creates. "I am on a plane to Asia three times a month, with a translator."

Right before, Bar-Nahum had to leave the event early to attend an 8 p.m. conference, he spoke about how clients call his home at midnight while his wife is sleeping. "I want to retire at 40, and possibly fund my own scientific research, so the crazy lifestyle is worth it to me." Work/life balance was a heavily discussed topic for the speakers. Houlihan expressed that he needed to turn down his last job offer because relocation can become unappealing when your family needs to be involved.

Also discussed at the dinner was how they viewed a prime internship candidate and how they could see job work habits. Tyndale claims to be the first one into the office every morning and the last one out so that he can assure everything is properly completed, while Houlihan and Bar-Nahum made jokes on how they test potential new hires. Some techniques included: seeing who will cry first or checking to see if the candidate has wet their pants after the first interview. Although they were joking, the tough job environment, as expressed by Eugene Chan, tries to find qualified candidates with "good communication skills," confidence, strong presence and teamwork on projects.

Non-profit organizations (NGOs) and their environment were also brought up during the career dinner. Tyndale explained how the colleagues in NGOs are normally much nicer than those in for-profit business and how there are many opportunities for development in NGO's since they are run like any other business.

Financial advisors should beware of the statistic given by Morgan Stanley's complex manager, which says that 80 percent of new hires fail before two years on creating a book of clients or success in the business. Houlihan also stressed that the rewards in the business encapsulated the ability to be "in control of my destiny and lifestyle by the business I create for myself."

The Career Dinner was a success for the Baruch Community and Sigma Alpha Delta. To obtain footage of the event and quick video highlights of the event please visit the Web site at SigmaBaruch.org.