The Graduate Business Student Association (GBSA) Executive Board is made up of graduate students who are dedicated to providing their peers engaging opportunities to improve leadership skills and create a sense of community among all graduate students. This semester may feel a little different, but the board is ready to face the challenge head on and are brainstorming new, interactive ways to get students involved.
It's time to put a face to the names of the individuals who make up the 2020 GBSA Board. In their own words, learn about their diverse backgrounds and the exciting opportunities they hope to bring Weatherhead students this year and beyond.
2020 GBSA Board
Yanrong Jiang, President, MBA
1. Where is your hometown? China
2. What are you most excited about/what do you hope to achieve this year in your new role amid the challenges?
Because this year is a special year, the previous activities may not be held as usual, which requires us to be more creative. We will try our best to provide a phenomenal learning experience.
3. What are your plans upon graduation?
If possible, I would like to travel before doing anything else. And then, I would like to pursue a PHD related to economics or something like that, or find a job related to business analytics.
4. What is a fun fact about yourself?
Coca Cola is like coffee for me, it can help me during finals week.
Natasha Rafidi, Executive Vice President, MBA
1. Where is your hometown? Youngstown, Ohio
2. What are you most excited about/what do you hope to achieve this year in your new role amid the challenges?
Even though many of us may not be on campus these days, I hope we share our stories, drive cross-cohort networking, and create a sense of community among our student body. Our team will work hard to leverage virtual resources to create an impactful student experience for Graduate Students across the Business School.
3. What is a fun fact about yourself?
I speak 4 languages!
Tanya Desai, Vice President of Marketing & Communications, MBA
1. Where is your hometown? Ahmedabad, India
2. What are you most excited about/what do you hope to achieve this year in your new role amid the challenges?
This year is like no other, with most things being virtual, I’m excited to help organize events that would allow students to get to know each other virtually and build long lasting relationships. We as a team would try our best to assist students in whatever they need and give them an opportunity to network in order to enhance their business school experience.
3. What are your plans upon graduation?
The plan is to work in the US after graduation in the field of Finance.
4. What is a fun fact about yourself?
Nothing lights me up more than the smell of old books and tea! Oh, and I’m a total night owl!
Shawn Braxton Jr, Vice President of Social and Cultural Activities, Dual Degree, MBA and Medical Physiology
1. Where is your hometown? Cleveland, Ohio
2. What are you most excited about/what do you hope to achieve this year in your new role amid the challenges?
I am most excited about the opportunity to innovate with how we engage students and build a welcoming experience where students feel connected.
3. What are your plans upon graduation?
I plan on attending medical school after graduation
4. What is a fun fact about yourself?
I am a very amateur photographer
Jose Tamburini, Vice President of Academic Affairs, MBA
1. Hometown: Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
2. What are you most excited about/what do you hope to achieve this year in your new role amid the challenges?
To give the students the opportunity to be heard even when most will not be able to physically be on campus. It is particularly important for everyone to feel like their opinions and thoughts matter, especially in these difficult times.
3. What are your plans upon graduation?
As of right now, I am in the process of selecting some schools to apply for a PhD in Statistics/Data Science in the US for Fall 2021!
4. What is a fun fact about yourself?
One of my favorite hobbies is to stream speedruns of videogames on Twitch and I specialize in Zelda randomizer games like Ocarina of Time Randomizer (OoTR) and Majora’s Mask Randomizer (MMR).
Xiao (Sean) Zhang, Vice President of Finance, MSM-Finance
1. Where is your hometown? My hometown is Taiyuan, China. I have been here, U.S. for 5 years.
2. What are you most excited about/what do you hope to achieve this year in your new role amid the challenges?
Although this year is hard for us due to COVID-19, but I believe we can have fun remotely. I am excited to work with my GBSA teammates to support our Weatherhead and CWRU community people. Although I may not be able to be back to Cleveland this Fall, but I will make my effort to contribute to the society.
3. What are your plans upon graduation?
Upon graduation, I will absolutely travel in the U.S. with my family. Then, I will go to work and start an amazing journey in my profession.
4. What is a fun fact about yourself?
In the past 24 years, every year on my birthday, it has snowed.
Chenlu Yang, Vice President of Operations, MSM-ORSC
1. Hometown: Gansu, China
2. What are you most excited about/what do you hope to achieve this year in your new role amid the challenges?
Although it would be tough for all of us, as the VP of Operations, I will look for networking opportunities to positively strengthen our cooperation with our alumni. I’d also like to hold online sessions, webinars for our new students to keep the confidence high and improve the job seeking ability.
3. What are your plans upon graduation?
I’m planning find the full-time job in the supply chain field or consulting I’m always excited for new things and challenges.
4. What is a fun fact about yourself?
Love sleeping! It’s so hard for me to wake up early. And to be honest, I’ve been making the morning run plan, and now I can progress from one morning run in a year to once a month. I believe that “sooner or later” I can get up and run early every day.
Jacob Derzon, MBA Program Representative
1. Where is your hometown? Alexandria, VA
2. What are you most excited about/what do you hope to achieve this year in your new role amid the challenges?
Increasing interaction between 1st and 2nd year students of the MBA program.
3. What are your plans upon graduation?
Start a consultancy in Cleveland.
4. What is a fun fact about yourself?
When running at full speed my mass increases by 5x1014 lbs.
Fiza Faiz, Program Representative – Business Analytics
1. Hometown: New Delhi, India
2. What are you most excited about/what do you hope to achieve this year in your new role amid the challenges?
The pandemic has surely made it more difficult for the university to function normally and has put new constraints on the activities in which students can participate on campus. This makes it even more important for us to find creative and innovative ways of making these activities and interactions possible. It is challenging as well as exciting for me to work with the association to find solutions to address these issues of the students and help in making their college experience more fulfilling.
3. What are your plans upon graduation?
I would like to pursue a career in the field of business analytics which requires me to utilize my data and analytical skills. Finance, Marketing and Consulting are the areas I am interested in and a role which requires my problem solving skills would be something I would be looking forward to.
4. What is a fun fact about yourself?
I can write in three scripts and would pen a poem for someone if I find that person interesting.