Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023, marked the official launch of the D'Amore-McKim School of Business New York Executive Leadership Council – industry leaders and regional influencers committed to the school's mission and to empowering and expanding the school's sphere of influence in this key region for our students, faculty, and alumni.

Hosted by Ben Brown, DMSB'08, a managing partner and head of Americas Real Estate at Brookfield Asset Management, and his wife Danielle Brown, DMSB'07, a brand marketing consultant at Danielle Brown & Co., this event helped re-engage alumni and connect them with each other and D'Amore-McKim faculty, staff, and students. The group gave advice and guidance to D'Amore-McKim students on co-op in Manhattan, and Dunton Family Dean David De Cremer shared his vision of building responsible business leaders of the world able to work, navigate, and create in a digital world. It was all made possible by the school's Development team in collaboration with Northeastern's Women in Finance group, the D'Amore-McKim Co-op team, NU Employer and External Engagement, and the D'Amore-McKim Graduate Career Center team.

This new group represents the beginning of the National D'Amore-McKim School of Business Executive Council, and other launches are expected to take place in several regions across the U.S. in the future. 

McNary greets a member of the NYC Executive Leadership Council

We want to provide proof of concept that our school can be a force for good and a standard of excellence, upon which they can rely in perpetuity.

Julie Anne McNary (pictured greeting a council member)

“Our dream is two-fold,” says Assistant Dean of Development Julie Anne McNary. “First, we want to create a sphere of influence, ethos, identity, and support for all D'Amore-McKim alumni to contribute to and utilize professionally and personally across their respective regions, industries, and additional affiliations. Second, we want to show our 66,000+ alumni that D'Amore-McKim can be, and is, relevant in their lives in myriad ways they have yet to untap. We want to provide proof of concept that our school can be a force for good and a standard of excellence, upon which they can rely in perpetuity.”

The plan includes recruiting 10 vice chairs and 50 members in each hub city and region. For instance, the New York Executive Leadership Council's vice chairs will work closely with D'Amore-McKim Development officers and other school leaders to set the council's strategic agenda and initiatives each year. Council members are invited to serve by McNary, in consultation with De Cremer, for a six-year renewable term, and vice chairs are invited to serve for a three-year renewable term before returning to member status for their additional three years.

Inaugural vice chairs in New York City include:

  • Kerri S. Bernstein, DMSB'97 – Treasurer, American Express
  • Danielle Brown, DMSB'07 – Brand Marketing Consultant, Danielle Brown & Co.
  • Scott Dolan, DMSB'89 – Managing Director, UBS
  • Geoff Flournoy, DMSB'87 – Managing Partner & Co-founder, BRP Development Corp
  • Jasper Lau, DMSB'19 –Founder & CEO, Era Funds
  • Dwayne Middleton, MBA'94 – Global Head of Fixed Income Trading, T. Rowe Price
  • Gurpreet Oberoi, DMSB'11 – Managing Partner, R Squared Capital
  • Prath Reddy, DMSB'10 – President, Percent
  • Steven Rinn, DMSB'89 – Managing Director, American Properties
  • Mary Santoro, DMSB'85 – Independent Consultant; Silicon Valley Consulting Group Board of Advisors; former Principal, Capgemini

These diverse leaders represent many different industries, ages, and backgrounds, and collectively, they are poised to represent the region with great expertise, entrepreneurial spirit, and candor. Through their guidance, innovative ideas, networking, and financial generosity, they will provide strong leadership and an inspiring example to the entire D'Amore-McKim community.

“It is crucial for us to maintain close ties with our alumni because they have unlimited potential,” says De Cremer. “They are already successful and devoted to our institution, so we want to engage with them even more and make them feel like an integral part of our community. Together, we will establish D'Amore-McKim's new identity and chart a course for the future.”

Images from the event