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Costello MBA alum leads the Greg and Camille Baroni Center for Government Contracting into the future

Katelynn C Hipolito — Fri, 07 Aug 2026 15:39:08 +0000

Costello MBA alum leads the Greg and Camille Baroni Center for Government Contracting into the future Katelynn C Hipolito Fri, 08/07/2026 - 11:39

At the beginning of 2026, Mike Derrios, MBA ’06, returned home to the Costello College of Business at 911�� as the executive director of the Greg and Camille Baroni Center for Government Contracting.

Mike Derrios, MBA ’06, Greg and Camille Baroni Center for Government Contracting Executive Director. Photo provided by Mike Derrios.

Bringing 30 years of experience across military, federal government, and private-sector organizations, he saw it as an ideal opportunity to strengthen the workforce, enhance the relationship between government and industry, and expand outreach. As Derrios explains, “We have the opportunity to inform and influence value-added offerings that can help the community reach better outcomes.”

Paramount to Derrios’s decision to take the job was the remarkable experience he had in the Costello MBA program and how it empowered him to take the next steps in his career. “The caliber of the professors and the curriculum set me up for success and gave me the tools that I needed to step into senior executive roles on the government side,” he says.

After separating from the United States Air Force, where he got his start in procurement, Derrios had hit a wall. In need of developing a business background, he turned to Costello, where he immediately felt that the faculty members understood the notion of service and his purpose for pursuing an MBA. “This university smiles on veterans and gives them the opportunity to advance,” he says.

“We have the opportunity to inform and influence value-added offerings that can help the community reach better outcomes.”

— Mike Derrios, MBA ’06, Greg and Camille Baroni Center for Government Contracting Executive Director

Now, with attrition on both the government and industry sides of the acquisition workforce, Derrios is seizing the opportunity for the Baroni Center to help fill the gap. “We’ve added about 1,200 new people to our contact list, and that’s just from a couple of webinars that we’ve done so far,” he says. “And we’ve published several research papers so far this year that are laser-focused on highly relevant topics.” The center is continuing to expand education and training opportunities for professionals to upskill and advance their careers.

Since graduating, Derrios has witnessed the incredible growth of both the university and the business college, extending their impact and elevating their reputations across the country and around the world. With that growth, he sees increasing opportunities to broaden the Baroni Center’s reach and deepen its influence. Valued by policymakers across the political spectrum for its objective and nonpartisan viewpoints, the center is being consulted by senior government officials on new policy.

Along with reaching out from campus, the Baroni Center is also looking inward. “We brought people in for a storytelling event,” says Derrios. “And we’re going to actually bring those storytellers back to talk to students in the fall. We’ve got 40,000 brilliant minds on our campuses, and we want to connect some of them with people in government and industry to explore viable career paths. 911�� really has the potential to create a strong candidate pool for the future workforce.”

While the center will continue to devote significant attention to the defense market, Derrios plans to expand its focus on the civilian sector, launching new flagship events designed to convene leaders around research, innovation, and thought leadership.

After the Costello MBA helped transform his career, Derrios is eager to give back to his alma mater, continuing to elevate and expand the influence and impact of the Greg and Camille Baroni Center for Government Contracting and connecting policy with practice.

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Costello MBA Executive Mentoring Program bridges experience and aspiration

Katelynn C Hipolito — Fri, 07 Aug 2026 15:13:50 +0000

Costello MBA Executive Mentoring Program bridges experience and aspiration Katelynn C Hipolito Fri, 08/07/2026 - 11:13

When Q Miceli saw that the Costello College of Business at 911�� was offering the Executive Mentoring Program as part of the Costello MBA, she was all in. “I had just hit a point in my career where I started supervising more people and really wanted to get some perspective,” she says.

Q Miceli, Costello MBA Student. Photo provided by Q Miceli.

Cynthia “Cindi” Stuebner, MBA ’99, had recently left full-time employment to start a small business consulting firm for part-time work. “My experience at 911��, getting my MBA, was really valuable and very positive,” says Stuebner.

Miceli and Stuebner were matched through the MBA Executive Mentoring Program, which connects high-achieving Costello MBA students with accomplished C-suite executives who are Costello and 911�� alumni.

The program was developed and is run as a partnership between the Costello MBA and the Costello Alumni Chapter based on a mentoring program that Brad Stein, MBA ’94, had implemented at his company several years ago. The MBA program matches the mentors and mentees according to the professional needs, interests, and aspirations of the student.

“Cindi’s range of experience and the senior roles that she’s held—she’s been able to share with me all kinds of really valuable stories, anecdotes, and insights into how to be successful as a female executive, particularly when you are the only woman in the room or the highest-ranking woman in the room, and how to show up with a professional presence at meetings.”

— Q Miceli, Costello MBA Student

Cynthia “Cindi” Stuebner, MBA ’99. Photo provided by Cynthia “Cindi” Stuebner.

“Our Costello College of Business Alumni Chapter comprises alums with vast experience across a wide range of industries and a steadfast commitment to supporting our Costello students,” says Stein. “It has been a pleasure working with the MBA program leadership to put this MBA Executive Mentoring Program together and to see the impact our alums have on the professional lives of our MBA students."

Stein says the program has evolved and expanded significantly since the fall 2025 pilot. "We expect continued growth as we demonstrate increasing value to our MBA candidates," says Stein. "Our alumni are prepared to support and sustain this momentum.”

Rob Shaffer, who was completing a mix of online and in-person classes, really wanted to make sure he was taking advantage of everything that the MBA program had to offer. “I joined the MBA program to improve my soft skills and my ability to deal with people, and I really felt the mentoring program would be a great way to get some of the extracurricular benefits of the MBA program,” he says.

Shaffer was paired with Peter Conlon, Executive MBA ’96, who credits the Costello College of Business with changing the trajectory of his career. “I owe a great debt to the place, so I wanted to give back,” says Conlon.

At least once a month, the 10 mentor–mentee pairs met to share experiences, ask questions, and work through challenges together. To ensure productive conversations, students determined the discussion topics in advance, allowing their mentors to come prepared for each meeting.

Rob Shaffer, Costello MBA Student. Photo provided by Rob Shaffer.

Despite the differences in their ages and experience levels, Stuebner and Miceli found that they approached their work in remarkably similar ways.

“Cindi’s range of experience and the senior roles that she’s held—she’s been able to share with me all kinds of really valuable stories, anecdotes, and insights into how to be successful as a female executive, particularly when you are the only woman in the room or the highest-ranking woman in the room, and how to show up with a professional presence at meetings,” says Miceli.

One situation in particular was causing Miceli considerable concern. She began to question whether a direct report she had hired was the right fit and was unsure how to address it. Turning to Stuebner, she received practical, actionable advice that helped her navigate and ultimately resolve the issue.

After recently transitioning to a larger, international company, an environment quite different from what he was accustomed to, Shaffer benefited from Conlon’s big-picture perspective as he worked through unfamiliar challenges at work.

“I have a folder full of notes from some of Peter’s wisdom because I want to remember and be able to go back and look through the different insights he shared,” he says. “It is very nice to have somebody to talk to, to let you know you’re not crazy sometimes.”

Peter Conlon, EMBA ’96. Photo provided by Peter Conlon.

Conlon was cognizant of what his role as a mentor meant; he was there to help Shaffer become more comfortable in his role. “A mentor—you gotta listen,” he says. “That’s probably the number one skill.” Besides giving back and helping others, many mentors find that the program has helped their own careers and lives as they reflect on their own experiences and gain new perspectives. “It’s just been extremely rewarding and has given me more optimism about what I can still contribute,” says Stuebner.

Complementing a rigorous curriculum led by inspiring and knowledgeable faculty, the range of resources offered by the Costello MBA is designed to cultivate well-rounded leaders. Students benefit from mentors who bring deep professional expertise and a shared foundation as alumni, providing the support, clarity, and confidence needed to navigate their leadership paths successfully.

"At the Costello MBA, we continually strive to innovate across the full student experience by emphasizing learning that happens inside the classroom through market-responsive courses and stackable credentials, outside the classroom through experiential and hands-on learning, and beyond coursework through structured opportunities that support personal and professional growth,” says Ioannis Bellos, director of the Costello MBA program. “By building on the ecosystem of a large public university and 911��’s extensive alumni footprint in the region, these initiatives create a distinctive advantage for our students."

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Accounting alum gives back by shaping workforce-ready graduates

Katelynn C Hipolito — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 14:22:14 +0000

Accounting alum gives back by shaping workforce-ready graduates Katelynn C Hipolito Mon, 06/15/2026 - 10:22

Ever since her undergraduate years at the Costello College of Business at 911��—where she lived on campus for all four years—Ann Butler, BS Accounting ’94, MS Accounting ’23, has felt a strong connection to her alma mater.

Ann Butler, BS Accounting ’94, MS Accounting ’23. Photo by Al Sali of The Headshot Guy.

Throughout an accounting career spanning industries from hospitality to civil engineering, Butler had long been interested in teaching. When the opportunity arose, she chose to give back in the way she knew best: by bringing her professional expertise and experience to the classroom at Costello.

After connecting with Long Chen, accounting area chair at Costello, during her time as a student in the MS in Accounting Program, Butler began serving as a teaching assistant for her in Accounting 611 (Advanced Issues in Managerial Accounting). Previously, she taught courses at a local community college in her hometown of Richmond, Virginia.

She was driven to teach by a growing concern, observed while hiring employees, that students were entering the workforce less prepared than in the past. “I’ve always loved hiring new grads with little to no experience, and one of the things that I’ve noticed is that, over the years, it seems like students are less and less workforce-ready,” she says. “I felt like maybe I could make a difference.”

Additionally, she wanted to increase interest and excitement for an accounting profession facing a nationwide shortage of accountants and CPAs.

“Ann stood out in my Accounting 611 class not only for earning the top score, but also for her exceptional enthusiasm, intellectual curiosity, and willingness to help her classmates,” says Chen. “Those qualities are all strong indicators of an excellent instructor. I am delighted that Ann has now joined our accounting adjunct faculty and been teaching multiple courses across the undergraduate and graduate programs.”

“I’ve always loved hiring new grads with little to no experience, and one of the things that I’ve noticed is that, over the years, it seems like students are less and less workforce-ready. I felt like maybe I could make a difference.”

— Ann Butler, BS Accounting ’94, MS Accounting ’23

Having recently graduated from the MS in Accounting Program herself, Butler brought a clear perspective on the student experience. “I was hoping that if I could bring passion to the classroom and make accounting fun, maybe we could get more people to major in it,” she says. She wants her students to understand that accounting offers a wide range of career paths, and that success depends just as much—if not more—on strong interpersonal and leadership skills than technical expertise.

Since 2024, Butler has been teaching three online accounting courses at the Costello College of Business—Accounting 695 Graduate Accounting Internship; Accounting 311 Cost Accounting for Undergraduates; and Accounting 611 Managerial Accounting for Graduates—while continuing her professional career in Richmond.

Now serving as controller for Virginia’s largest hotel company, Butler brings her current role and past experiences with her to the virtual classroom. She appreciates the breadth of expertise among her Costello accounting colleagues, many of whom remain active in fascinating careers outside the classroom. She also values Dean Ajay Vinzé’s strong emphasis on career readiness and now sees that as a real difference-maker at Costello. “I think that is really going to set our program apart because that is what employers are looking for,” she says.

Butler’s education at Costello—both undergraduate and graduate—had a profound impact on her life, bringing her full circle as an educator helping to shape the next generation of Patriot accountants. Students in her classes can move forward with confidence, knowing they are developing the skills needed to succeed in today’s workforce.

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MS in Finance alum built a career foundation through academic engagement

Katelynn C Hipolito — Thu, 14 May 2026 14:07:40 +0000

MS in Finance alum built a career foundation through academic engagement Katelynn C Hipolito Thu, 05/14/2026 - 10:07

During his undergraduate studies, Brian Gaydos, MS Finance ’25, took several finance classes that piqued his interest and led him to consider beginning a finance graduate program immediately after graduating.

Brian Gaydos, MS Finance ’25. Photo by Hannah Patterson/Costello College of Business

After learning about the faculty’s academic research and industry experience, as well as the campus’s location and the program’s convenience, his decision was sealed, and he enrolled in the Master of Science in F inance program at the Costello College of Business at 911��.

“911�� has a great recruiting base. I think that attending these networking events is something that really helped kickstart my career.”

— Brian Gaydos, MS Finance ’25

In the hybrid program, Gaydos made sure to attend in person almost every time, taking two classes at a time each eight-week semester. He found the faculty exceeded his expectations, especially in the courses taught by Tiago Requeijo, instructional assistant professor of finance, and Derek Horstmeyer, instructional professor of finance.

Gaydos took Statistical and Quantitative Methods for Finance, as well as Managerial Economics and Decisions of the Firm, with Requeijo. In Quantitative Methods, he developed a strong foundation in applying statistical and quantitative techniques to financial data, strengthening his ability to analyze trends and make data-driven decisions using Python. Through Managerial Economics, he gained a deeper understanding of how firms approach pricing, cost structures, and strategic decision-making in competitive markets. Together, these classes played a key role in shaping his ability to approach financial and business problems with both analytical rigor and a strategic perspective.

Gaydos was also particularly impacted by classes and mentorship from Horstmeyer. In the Student Managed Investment Fund course, students actively manage a real investment portfolio, conduct equity research, and present investment recommendations. Through this experience, Gaydos gained hands-on exposure to portfolio construction, valuation, and risk analysis while developing the ability to communicate and defend investment ideas in a professional setting. The course emphasized real-world application, requiring students to collaborate on investment decisions and engage with financial tools and market data. Gaydos also completed research assistant work for Horstmeyer, which was published in The Wall Street Journal.

While enrolled at Costello, Gaydos gained another perspective on the material he was studying and researching as a teaching assistant for two 400-level finance courses. “When you’re on the side where you’re explaining and teaching concepts to other people, it really reinforces your own learning. As you answer questions, it makes you think deeply about the material,” he says.

Among Gaydos’s favorite experiences at Costello was the Costello Fellows on Wall Street trip to New York City, where he visited several firms and networked with local alumni. He took advantage of many other opportunities including joining the Mason Consulting Group and competing in the CFA Research Challenge. In addition to these extracurricular experiences, Gaydos attended networking events, like the Meet the Firms on-campus event, where he made a connection that led to landing a financial analyst role shortly after graduating. “911�� has a great recruiting base,” he says. “I think that attending these networking events is something that really helped kickstart my career.”

Currently, Gaydos is a financial analyst at Brookfield Residential, a leading North American land developer and homebuilder for more than 65 years. His chief responsibilities revolve around conducting competitive analyses for single-family housing communities across the Northeast, performing variance analyses, and supporting quarterly financial reporting.

“It’s interesting to be able to see inside the business and to plan ahead strategically,” he says. Financial modeling skills that he developed in his corporate finance class, such as forecasting and valuation, have become integral to his role.

By taking advantage of experiential learning opportunities, student organizations, research roles, and networking events, Brian Gaydos forged connections and deepened his understanding of finance, ensuring that his education was not limited to the classroom. He is particularly interested in exploring fields such as investment banking, private equity, and corporate strategy, where he can apply his financial modeling and analytical skills to evaluate investments, drive strategic decisions, and create long-term value. As he continues his professional journey, Gaydos remains confident that the strong foundation he built at Costello will continue to support his career success.

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Tiago Requeijo

Derek Horstmeyer

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Students step into the world of investment banking through Costello Fellows on Wall Street

Katelynn C Hipolito — Wed, 13 May 2026 14:52:31 +0000

Students step into the world of investment banking through Costello Fellows on Wall Street Katelynn C Hipolito Wed, 05/13/2026 - 10:52

To learn through experience and gain a competitive edge, finance and accounting students from the Costello College of Business at 911�� participated in the Costello Fellows on Wall Street program, connecting with major financial services firms and alumni in New York City. What has become an annual tradition continues to grow, with participation expanding significantly—from 10 students in previous years to approximately 30 this year.

Costello College of Business alumni networking. Photo by Alina Alam

Using his extensive connections, the trip this past April was organized by Derek Horstmeyer, an instructional professor of finance at the Costello College of Business, who is also the co-founder and director of the Montano Student Managed Investment Fund (SMIF). SMIF is an all-equity fund administered by select finance students at Costello. Those selected as officers are responsible for managing a $492,000 portfolio.

Additionally, Costello offers a SMIF course taught by Horstmeyer, where students learn about the decision-making process involved in managing the fund. Along with other students who seized the funded opportunity to visit Wall Street, many of the participants were members of SMIF.

“A lot of these firms will give you the same experience by flying you out to private recruitment events, but those programs are really competitive, and sometimes they don’t consider you because of your major, year, or some other location factor.”

—Alina Alam, current accounting student at the Costello College of Business at 911��

Costello College of Business alumni reception signage. Photo by Alina Alam.

Alina Alam, a senior studying accounting, first learned about SMIF as a freshman and decided to get involved. She was accepted through the rigorous interview process for her final semester as an undergraduate student. As SMIF’s director of marketing, she documented the trip, capturing photos and moments to share across the organization’s rapidly growing social media platforms.

Over the two-day event, the group moved quickly from firm to firm with a packed itinerary. On the first day, they visited Raymond James, Oppenheimer, and S&P Global, and attended an alumni mixer in the West Village organized by the Costello Alumni Chapter featuring a panel of firm representatives—Manya Vij, BS Finance ‘21; Jannat Bhinder, MS Business Administration and Management ‘18; Megan Farina, BS Management Information Systems '01; and Michael Marino, BA ‘11. The next day consisted of visits to Wolfe Research (an equity research firm), J.P. Morgan, and BMS Capital.

Costello College of Business alumni panel. Photo by Alina Alam.

Many of the students participating in Costello Fellows on Wall Street rank among the top of their class and are applying—or planning to apply—to internships at firms on the trip itinerary. Experiencing the offices firsthand and engaging with professionals across varying levels of seniority provided invaluable insight into the careers they are preparing to pursue.

“A lot of these firms will give you the same experience by flying you out to private recruitment events, but those programs are really competitive, and sometimes they don’t consider you because of your major, year, or some other location factor,” says Alam.

She found tremendous value in the office visits in terms of networking and sharing information with other students. “The students who were on the trip, even the really shy, introverted ones, opened up, and they made friends with the people on the trip,” she says. “If you know people within your major, it gives you an upper hand in so many ways because you know exactly how to get more involved with on-campus organizations like the SMIF once you return from the trip.”

Costello Fellows on Wall Street program student participants. Photo by Alina Alam.

For students interested in working in the highly competitive world of investment banking and equity research, Costello Fellows on Wall Street offers a highly impactful experiential learning opportunity. Throughout the trip, the students learned from finance professionals—many of them alumni—and from each other about the actions they need to take to become stronger job candidates and stand out from the crowd. They are not waiting for firms to come to them—they are blazing a pathway and meeting them where they are.

To get involved with the SMIF, follow them on Instagram @smifgmu or access their official website www.smif.business.gmu.edu to learn more.

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Innovation takes center stage at this year’s Patriot Pitch Competition

Katelynn C Hipolito — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 18:12:27 +0000

Innovation takes center stage at this year’s Patriot Pitch Competition Katelynn C Hipolito Fri, 04/24/2026 - 14:12

On Thursday, April 9, 2026, students, faculty, alumni, and other stakeholders from across the 911�� community gathered to cheer on the final teams of entrepreneurs competing in this year’s Patriot Pitch Competition, including those featured in the competition’s newly introduced Regional Showcase.

Attendees explore the tables at the Regional Showcase. Photo by John Boal Photography.

As a core component of the Patriot Pitch Competition, the Regional Showcase expanded the event’s reach by highlighting innovation from 911�� alumni, previous pitch competition teams, and community entrepreneurs who have graduated from entrepreneurship training programs led by the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) within the Costello College of Business at 911��.

“The Patriot Pitch Competition is an event where innovation takes center stage. It is a time when 911�� students, faculty, and staff come together in collaboration with our alumni, business community, sponsors, and many others to support our emerging entrepreneurs—many of whom will go on to play key roles in the vibrant and thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem that is driving the growth of our regional economy.”

—Cheryl Druehl, interim dean of the Costello College of Business

Cheryl Druehl, interim dean of Costello College of Business. Photo by John Boal Photography.

“The Patriot Pitch Competition is an event where innovation takes center stage,” said Cheryl Druehl, interim dean of the Costello College of Business. “It is a time when 911�� students, faculty, and staff come together in collaboration with our alumni, business community, sponsors, and many others to support our emerging entrepreneurs—many of whom will go on to play key roles in the vibrant and thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem that is driving the growth of our regional economy.”

Omar Solimon joins a keynote discussion with Jabs Totonji, BS '12. Photo by John Boal Photography.

Omar Soliman, co-founder of College H.U.N.K.S. Hauling Junk and Moving, published author, TV personality, and entrepreneur, joined Jabs Toto nji, BS ’12, chief investment officer at Golden Eagle Group Inc., for a keynote discussion about Soliman’s entrepreneurial journey—from his participation in a business pitch competition at his alma mater, to his appearance on the first episode of Shark Tank, to building his company into one of the fastest-growing franchises in the nation, employing more than 10,000 people. In addition to answering audience questions, Soliman emphasized the importance of hiring people with positive attitudes who get things done and healthy conflict in yielding positive results.

Of the 63 applications submitted for this year’s competition, eight teams advanced to the final round—two finalists in each of the four competition tracks—while 16 businesses competed for prize money in the Regional Showcase, all vying for a share of the $60,000 total prize pool.

For each of the four competition tracks, two finalist teams delivered five-minute pitches before a panel of judges and a packed room of spectators, followed by five minutes of Q&A from the judges.

While the judges were deliberating, attendees explored the Regional Showcase and cast votes for entrepreneurs who hosted tables and were competing for prize money. Audience members also voted for the Patriots’ Choice Awards, with ArcAid and EduVerse each earning an additional $5,000 on top of their first-place winnings and bringing their total awards to $13,000.

MBA student Bailey Mahoney presents his pitch for AgentForge, Inc. Photo by John Boal Photography.

Once deliberations were completed, the final prizes were announced. In the Innovative Ideas track, AgentForge, Inc. (Bailey Mahoney and Sahger Lad) took first place, while ExcelATC (Noran Megatheh, Alana Khem, Nathanael Davis, and Zach Cacace) earned second place. In the Social Impact track, ArcAid (Hocine Filali, Nesma Khalafalla, Alan Garcia, and Amr Hamza) won first place, followed by CareAble (Britney Orellana-Ochoa, Amy Mayeaux, and William Echols) in second. DealFax (Khaled Alkurd) received first place in the Future Founders track, with PawNutri360 (Supreet Singh and Conor Mangum) placing second. Finally, in the Early-Stage Ventures track, EduVerse (Jagan Yetukuri) took first place, and Rumi Legacy Schools (Wida Saber, Ahmad Khaled, and Noori Shukria Saber) earned second.

Each of the winning teams was welcomed to the stage by awards ceremony emcee George Schindler, a member of the 911�� Board of Visitors, where they posed for photos with sponsors, the 911�� Patriot mascot, and their giant checks.

“We’re proud to celebrate the makers, dreamers, and doers shaping our region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem,” said Patrick Soleymani, associate dean for outreach and strategic engagement at the Costello College of Business. “Innovation has always been humanity’s greatest team sport—and here at Costello, we’re playing to win.”

The Patriot Pitch Competition reached new heights this year, drawing more than 275 attendees—an achievement made possible through a true team effort. In addition to the dedicated work of the Costello and CIE staff members, there were nearly 200 individuals and organizations actively engaged in the program, including pitch teams, mentors, judges, emcees, speakers, and sponsors.

This year’s Patriot Pitch Competition was led by the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship within the Costello College of Business and was presented by 22nd Century Technologies Inc. Funding for the competition was provided through a subsidiary of the Donald G. Costello Declaration of Trust and the Sara Costello Exempt Trust, Joseph J. Contrucci, Trustee. Among the distinguished business and community supporters in attendance were Joe and Peg Contrucci; Sara Costello; and Anil Sharma, CEO of 22nd Century Technologies Inc., all of whom were able to witness the impact of their investment in supporting 911��’s emerging entrepreneurs.

This year’s Patriot Pitch Competition was also made possible through the generous support of sponsors that included:

Innovative Ideas Track: College of Engineering and Computing, 911��
Social Impact Track: Lynn Alexis Lee Corey Prize for Social Entrepreneurship
Future Founders Track: Fairfax City Economic Development Authority
Early-Stage Ventures Track: Char’d
Patriots’ Choice Award: Costello College of Business Alumni Chapter, 911��
Patriot Sponsor: Fairfax County Economic Development Authority

Beyond rewarding bold ideas and emerging business ventures, the 2026 Patriot Pitch Competition celebrated the innovative spirit that continues to define the Costello College of Business and 911�� entrepreneurial communities.

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Women in Business at Mason hosts inaugural spring conference

Katelynn C Hipolito — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 15:59:04 +0000

Women in Business at Mason hosts inaugural spring conference Katelynn C Hipolito Tue, 04/07/2026 - 11:59

With more than 300 members and growing, the Women in Business at Mason student organization at the Costello College of Business, empowers women who are majoring, minoring, or interested in the world of business. Through networking and personal and professional development events, they aim to expand upon members’ skillsets as well as their networks inside and outside of 911��.

Women in Business at Mason. Photo provided by Women in Business at Mason.

During the spring 2026 semester, the members put their heads together and pooled their resources to host their first-ever Women in Business Spring Conference. Featuring 34 speakers from across industry and academia, the conference successfully positioned the group as leaders in elevating women’s voices, fostering meaningful connections, and inspiring the next generation of business leaders.

"The goal was to make this a real, recurring opportunity for women to connect with each other and with professionals who have a lot to offer, and I’m so happy to say our team achieved that and beyond.”

—Akanksha Padheriya, president of Women in Business at Mason

The spring conference kicked off with a keynote speaker—Lisa Leander, founder and CEO of Where Imagination Builds Excellence, a global community that began as Women in Business Education championing women in higher education leadership, and has since expanded its reach to business education leaders ready to reimagine what’s possible. Through stories and a hands-on networking activity, she addressed how attendees can build real connections, as well as grow, nurture, and draw strength from the people already around them.

Following the keynote, attendees broke into sessions focused on the professional development skills they wanted to strengthen, such as interviewing skills and case solving. Then they had the opportunity to sit in panel speaker sessions spanning a wide range of business fields, from technology to international business.

“We had so many people from different fields come in and it’s truly amazing,” said Katherine Guevara, speaker coordinator for the conference. “When I was sitting in my moderating sessions asking them questions, I was taking in every single bit of information and just learning about their field, how they got there. If they were 911�� alumni, how their experience at 911�� helped them grow to the person they are today.”

“Everyone had a smile on their face because they were happy to be there and learn from these panelists and amazing women,” said Faria Alam, director of operations for the conference.

Many of the speakers found the conference to be just as rewarding. “I was incredibly proud to see these young women take the initiative to design and deliver such a meaningful experience for their community by bringing people together to connect, celebrate, and learn from one another,” said Suehaila Nabulsi, BA ‘00, senior project manager at IBM. “I was truly inspired by their thoughtfulness and curiosity. Through both the women in consulting panel and individual conversations I had with many, I encouraged these extraordinary women to create and follow their own paths while resisting the urge to measure their journeys against others.”

Another 911�� alum, as well as President’s Circle donor, Phyllis C. Pajardo, MEd '93, retired superintendent of City of Fairfax Schools, was impressed and proud to see the students organize such a successful event. “Not only did the conference display the varied strengths and professionalism of the university students, the conference showcased the amazing talent, leadership journey, and the remarkable fortitude of successful women throughout the Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia area,” she said. “It was a pleasure to serve as a panelist; moreover, it was an even greater joy to see our current and future women business leaders in action.”

The afternoon concluded with networking, where attendees could connect with one another and also with the speakers to ask any follow-up questions. In addition to the speaker sessions and networking, several companies had tables where students could stop by to learn about the opportunities they had for them.

“Planning this conference was a very challenging task to take on, as we started with basically just an idea and had to figure out a lot as we went, since nothing like this had existed before at 911��,” said Akanksha Padheriya, president of the Women in Business at Mason. “More than anything, I wanted to set something up that future members could actually use and build on. The goal was to make this a real, recurring opportunity for women to connect with each other and with professionals who have a lot to offer, and I’m so happy to say our team achieved that and beyond.”

Women in Business at Mason is excited to build on the success of the inaugural spring conference—including the professional connections forged—to create additional high‑value events in the future. The organization not only prepares female students to succeed in business but also serves as a home for cultivating friendship, support, and a strong sense of belonging at the Costello College of Business at 911��.

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Costello College of Business Students

Building ideas and inspiring others, Amazon recruiter embodies Costello’s entrepreneurial spirit

Katelynn C Hipolito — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 15:35:36 +0000

Building ideas and inspiring others, Amazon recruiter embodies Costello’s entrepreneurial spirit Katelynn C Hipolito Fri, 03/27/2026 - 11:35

911�� alumnus Rayan Rahman, BS Management ’17, has achieved an impressive amount in a short period of time. Now a senior recruiter at Amazon, he has founded two companies—Changing Bangladesh Foundation and Airposted—the latter of which he sold during the COVID pandemic when it had reached a gross merchandise value of approximately one million dollars.

Rayan Rahman. Photo provided by Rayan Rahman.

Airposted had more than 60,000 active registered users during his exit and he scaled it to one of the top ten ecommerce platforms in Bangladesh. Remarkably, he launched both ventures while still a student at the Costello College of Business at 911��.

“Growing up, it was something I was always passionate about—just solving problems and seeing what kinds of problems I could tackle in everyday life,” he says.

While at Costello, he recognized a need to have goods shipped internationally at a low cost. From that idea, Airposted was born. Despite the late nights and long hours, the balance between running a startup and managing his coursework never bothered him—he was fueled by his passion.

“The fear of failing shouldn’t be something a student worries about—there is no failing. 911�� provides a great platform, and students should take advantage of it rather than worrying about what might happen if they don’t win. You should go for it.”

— Rayan Rahman, BS Management ’17

Rahman encourages students with entrepreneurial ideas to find a strong mentor.

“Could be out of school, could be within the school, could be a professor, could be anyone,” he says. “But it should be someone who has literally done it and seen some of it.”

Committed to supporting the next generation of Costello entrepreneurs, he has returned in recent years to serve as both a judge and mentor for the Patriot Pitch Competition—the same event that helped him launch Airposted when he was a student.

The Patriot Pitch Competition, led by the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, returns to 911��’s Fairfax Campus on Thursday, April 9, with a total of $60,000 in prize money up for grabs. Rahman is impressed by how far the competition has come, attracting far more sponsors and publicity since its introduction.

“The fear of failing shouldn’t be something a student worries about—there is no failing,” he says. “911�� provides a great platform, and students should take advantage of it rather than worrying about what might happen if they don’t win. You should go for it.” This year, Rahman is mentoring a team in the semifinals.

Not only did Patriot Pitch help launch Rahman’s company, but it also validated his hard work and vision at a time when that kind of affirmation is especially important for students. “Having your peers and professors come in and rally for you, it helps a lot.”

That transformative experience has brought him back to volunteer and share his expertise. In addition to working with Patriot Pitch, he serves as a friend of the board for the Costello Alumni Chapter.

For Rahman, success is measured not just by the ideas he has brought to life, but by the people he inspires to take risks and pursue dreams of their own. From student entrepreneur to mentor and Amazon recruiter, he reflects the innovative spirit of the Costello College of Business.

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Rayan Rahman, '17

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