Students in Iona’s LaPenta School of Business Capitalize on Proximity to NYC
Iona Students “Learn Outside the Lines” of the Classroom and Make Valuable Connections in the Business Capital of the World
Leveraging lona University’s proximity to New York City, students in the LaPenta School of Business often have exceptional opportunities to tour and meet with alumni at leading organizations in the business capital of the world.
From the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, New York Stock Exchange and Morgan Stanley to Paramount Global, Dow Jones and Bloomberg, students took full advantage of the experiences available to them throughout 2023.
“Iona’s prime location in the backyard of New York City makes it ideal for our students to get a taste of the corporate world and make valuable connections,” said Kyle Byrne, assistant director of Student & Alumni Engagement in the LaPenta School of Business.
Finance major Liam Fedigan ’24 said these trips have helped to set his educational experience apart as a student in the LaPenta School of Business.
“Going to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York as well as other trips to the city have provided me with a hands-on experience in the business world,” Fedigan said. “These experiences are critical to ensure the future success of students in the business school.”
FALL 2023
Federal Reserve Bank of New York
LaPenta School of Business students had the opportunity to visit Wall Street and the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, which houses the world's largest-known depository of gold—approximately 500,000 bars, totaling over 6,000 tons.
During the visit, students learned about the history and current role of the New York Fed and the Federal Reserve System. They gained insights into the governing structure of the Central Bank, how money is circulated across the United States and how the Fed’s decisions impact the economy, as well as the architectural aspects of the historic New York Fed building. Students also learned about summer internship opportunities.
Morgan Stanley
During the fall and spring semesters, LaPenta School of Business students have had the opportunity to participate in roundtable discussions at Morgan Stanley’s offices in Times Square and Purchase, N.Y., as part of The Equity Collective.
Led by Morgan Stanley, The Equity Collective is a collaboration between 27 of the leading wealth and asset management firms to educate and recruit the next generation of diverse leaders in the finance industry.
Iona senior Eric Miranda ’24 recently spoke on a student panel at Morgan Stanley’s Purchase office along with students from Yale, NYU and Fordham about his summer internship experience at Franklin Templeton Investments, which he learned about at an Equity Collective session in the LaPenta School of Business.
Iona alumnus Carlos Muñoz ’10MBA, executive director, head of asset manager, diversity, equity and inclusion engagement at Morgan Stanley, spearheads The Equity Collective.
The Equity Collective has partnered with the LaPenta School of Business and Iona's Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging since 2022 to host career conversations, elevator pitch workshops, mock interviews and corporate site visits throughout the year with industry professionals from participating Equity Collective firms.
Paramount Global
LaPenta School of Business students recently visited Paramount Global, one of the world's leading producers of entertainment content. The day included a building tour followed by a unique opportunity to sit in on Paramount's controllership town hall meeting, getting a glimpse of the company's financial and accounting operations. Following the meeting, students attended a networking luncheon while learning about Paramount's entry-level analyst program.
AMG Asset Management
The Women in Business Club of the LaPenta School of Business recently visited AMG Funds in Stamford, Conn. The visit included a panel discussion with accomplished female executives, providing insights into the firm and sharing their experiences as women in the industry. The visit concluded with a networking luncheon and an office tour.
SPRING 2023
New York Stock Exchange
To close out financial literacy month in April, LaPenta School of Business students got an educational tour of the iconic NYSE trading floor and building.
Dow Jones (Barron’s & Market Watch)
Students visited the Dow Jones headquarters in the News Corp. building and took a tour of the facility and newsrooms of the financial publications, Barron’s and Market Watch. The tour was followed by a conversation with the Barron’s deputy editor, who spoke about how his team selects and produces news stories.
Students also heard from Iona alumnus Tony Carpentieri ’05, ‘07MBA, managing director at Merrill Lynch, who shared insights about his role and the finance industry, and offered valuable career advice. Iona University is fortunate to have free and unlimited access to Barrons.com, courtesy of the Carpentieri family.
Bloomberg
The Finance Club met with recruiters at Bloomberg who talked about internships and entry-level roles available at the financial software and media company, while also partaking in a Bloomberg Terminal demonstration and tour of the news studio.
Iona alumna Denise Conte ’04, ‘08MBA, global chief operating officer of human resources at Bloomberg, also met with students.
DWS
At DWS, students got to experience “A Day in the Life of an Asset Manager.” Students heard from senior leaders throughout the day on what an asset manager does, as well as how to become an asset manager at the firm and early career opportunities.
“Something that I really think is great about asset management is how it requires continuous learning and adaptability,” said Sabryna Custodio ’26, reflecting on the trip. “Iona has greatly prepared me by helping me build a strong foundation of valuable skills for pursuing a career in asset management. Iona has done so much for me in the short two years I have been here so far, and I will forever be thankful for it.
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 is widely recognized in prestigious rankings, including The Princeton Review’s 2024 national list of “The Best 389 Colleges” and The Wall Street Journal/College Pulse’s “2024 Best Colleges in America,” which ranked Iona at #66 in the nation overall and #8 in the nation among Catholic schools. Iona’s LaPenta School of Business is also accredited by AACSB International, a recognition awarded to just six percent of business schools worldwide. In addition, The Princeton Review recognized Iona’s on-campus MBA program as a “Best Business School for 2023.” 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 NewYork-Presbyterian. Connecting to its Irish heritage, the University also recently announced it is expanding abroad with a new campus in County Mayo, Ireland. 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.