Iona Students Gain Exclusive Access to Alumni and Industry Leaders During Corporate Visits to New York City
Iona University's LaPenta School of Business students capitalized on their proximity to New York City this fall with several immersive site visits to industry-leading organizations, gaining real-world experience and networking with top professionals and alumni.
Marketing major Lea Preston ’26 said these trips have been eye-opening and an invaluable part of her Iona experience.
"Meeting with alumni inside top companies has given me insights into careers I never knew existed,” she said. “I’ve built so many connections that I know will be instrumental in my future."
Here’s a look at some of the companies LaPenta School of Business students visited this fall:
Mastercard
In the first site visit of the semester, LaPenta School of Business students toured Mastercard’s NYC Tech Hub. During the visit, students explored cutting-edge technologies and learned about the company’s innovations in fraud detection and cybersecurity, facilitated by artificial intelligence. The day featured a career panel with Iona alumni currently working at Mastercard and a visit to the Mastercard Experience Center, where students witnessed firsthand how the world’s second-largest payment processor leverages technology to stay ahead.
Special thanks to Iona Board of Trustee Karen Abbruzzese CPA ’93; Dennis Gamiello ’03, ’11MBA; and Amari Steward ’23 for making this experience possible.
Citi
LaPenta School of Business students visited Citi’s global headquarters, where they met with alumni in HR, finance and marketing as well as the Global Head of Citi’s wealth business. Students learned about Citi’s Early Career Analyst Program and recruiting cycles.
The visit also included a tour of Citi’s iconic building, featuring their massive trading floor, art gallery, and Citi’s flagship bank branch. Students walked away inspired, thanks to an engaging day made possible by Laurie Rebholz ’99MBA, Anna Higdon ’18 and Aidan Connolly ’23.
Wells Fargo
The Finance Club visited Wells Fargo’s corporate office at Hudson Yards. Students got valuable exposure to professionals from finance, marketing and sales. The executives shared their career paths and offered advice on breaking into the finance industry. After a networking lunch, students explored Wells Fargo’s office with spectacular views of the NYC skyline.
Special thanks to John J. Pasacreta Jr. ’93, managing director at Wells Fargo Advisors, for orchestrating this memorable day.
dws Group
DWS Group’s NYC office hosted students for an immersive “Day in the Life of an Asset Manager” experience. Students connected with analysts, portfolio managers and executives, gaining insights into the recruitment process and asset management industry.
Morgan Stanley
Iona’s Women in Business Club participated in an exclusive networking event as part of Morgan Stanley’s Equity Collective Series at their Purchase, N.Y., headquarters. The day included a career panel featuring female executives working in various roles at Equity Collective participating firms including First Eagle Investments, Lord, Abbett & Co., and PIMCO. Moderated by Women in Business President Olivia Murillo and Vice President Alessandra Chavez, the panel highlighted career opportunities and challenges in financial services.
Students also toured Morgan Stanley’s Westchester Branch Office and participated in a networking lunch, connecting with professionals who shared their insights and experiences.
Since the Spring of 2022, the LaPenta School of Business and Iona’s Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging have partnered with The Equity Collective, an initiative spearheaded by Morgan Stanley with over 25 asset management firms who lead professional development sessions for Iona students throughout the academic year to educate and recruit the next generation of diverse leaders in the finance industry.
Mccann New York
Members of Iona’s Marketing Club visited McCann New York, one of the world’s most award-winning advertising agencies. They engaged with alumnus Omar Mtarfi ’23 and his colleagues from the creative and HR teams to learn about their roles, notable ad campaigns they worked on, and career pathways at the agency.
ABOUT IONA
Founded in 1940, Iona University is a master's-granting private, Catholic, coeducational institution of learning in the tradition of the Edmund Rice Christian Brothers. Iona's 45-acre New Rochelle campus and 28-acre Bronxville campus are just 20 miles north of Midtown Manhattan. With a total enrollment of nearly 4,000 students and an alumni base of more than 50,000 around the world, Iona is a diverse community of learners and scholars dedicated to academic excellence and the values of justice, peace and service. Iona is highly accredited, offering undergraduate degrees in liberal arts, science and business administration, as well as Master of Arts, Master of Science and Master of Business Administration degrees and numerous advanced certificate programs. Iona students enjoy small class sizes, engaged professors and a wide array of academic programs across the School of Arts & Science; LaPenta School of Business; NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences; and Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation. Iona also continues to be recognized in prestigious national rankings. Most recently for 2025, Iona has been named one of the nation’s best colleges by The Princeton Review, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes and others. Additionally, U.S. News & World Report recognized Iona as one of top for social mobility in the country, while Georgetown University's Center on Education and the Workforce (CEW) ranked an Iona degree in the top 5 percent nationally for long-term return on investment. Iona’s LaPenta School of Business, meanwhile, is also accredited by AACSB International, a recognition awarded to just 6 percent of business schools worldwide. In addition, The Princeton Review recognized Iona’s on-campus MBA program as a “Best Business School for 2024.” Iona also offers a fully online MBA program for even greater flexibility. In July 2021, Iona announced the establishment of the NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences, which is now principally located on Iona’s Bronxville campus in collaboration with one of the nation’s top hospitals. Connecting to its Irish heritage, Iona also opened a new campus in County Mayo, Ireland, located on the historic 400-acre Westport House Estate. A school on the rise, Iona officially changed its status from College to University on July 1, 2022, reflecting the growth of its academic programs and the prestige of an Iona education.