Preparing for the Job Market: Practicing Your Interviewing and Networking Skills with the Board of PennDesign Overseers

Please join us for this unique opportunity to practice your interviewing skills in front of top executives who are members of PennDesign’s Board of Overseers. Representatives of the Board of Overseers have numerous connections with industry professionals and PennDesign Alumni. Please see the list of participating Overseers below. During this event, you will meet one-on-one with high level executives in 15-minute sessions. In the first five minutes you will need to present your “story” or your “elevator pitch” explaining who you are, what distinguishes you from others, and your career aspirations. The Overseers will then give you feedback on your pitch and resume and answer questions. 

This event is open to all PennDesign students! Please bring your resume! We recommend you use the attached resume format, which will assist the Overseers in quickly reviewing your skills and experiences. Additional tips for writing a good resume can be found here on the Penn Career Services website. Also, make sure to dress professionally (no jeans, t-shirts, sneakers, etc.)! You will be asked your time preference through the registration link. Kali Meeks will send you an email if your preferred time slot is full. Three lucky students who attend this event will be entered in a raffle to win a $100 gift card to the Penn Bookstore!

Participating PennDesign Overseers:

Robin Beckett (MCP’75) Former Executive at Citicorp in New York and Asia. Ms. Beckett served on the boards of the National Alliance of Preservation Commissions, the New Canaan Preservation Alliance Inc which she co-founded, and was appointed a Commissioner to the Historic District, New Canaan, CT.

Jeffrey Fine (C’76, GSFA’78)
A founding partner at Pier Fine Associates, an architectural firm. Since its inception in 1983, Mr. Fine has been involved in a wide range of projects including residences, corporate offices, retail stores, multi-family apartments, as well as academic and government buildings. He is a member of the American Institute of Architects and National Trust for Historic Preservation and has been a visiting juror at Columbia University and City College of New York.

Mark Gardner (MArch’00) Partner at Jaklitsch/Gardner Architects in New York City. Mr. Gardner is the Director of the Graduate Program in Architecture and Assistant Professor of Architectural Practice and Society at the School of the Constructed Environments, Parsons The New School. He previously taught at PennDesign from 2007-2012.

Mason Haupt (W’77) Former Portfolio Manager for Soros Fund Management. Mr. Haupt has served as Penn’s Alumni Secondary School Committee Chair for Manhattan and the Bronx non-magnet public schools for the past fifteen years. He has significant interest in Architecture and Design and Public School education policy.

Lori Kanter Tritsch (MArch’85)
Beginning her career in New York at Eli Attica Architects, Ms. Kanter Tritsch focused primarily in the design of high-rise structures. In 2000, Ms. Kanter Tritsch designed commercial interiors at the Aronson Office until 2007. Currently she undertakes private commissions, largely dealing with high end residential development.

Jeffrey M. Kaplan (W’87)
Founder, Managing Partner and Chairman of the Investment Committee of Meadow Partners. Mr. Kaplan is primarily responsible for the daily management, strategic direction and investment policies of the Company. Meadow Partners is an independent, privately owned real estate investment and asset management firm. Mr. Kaplan also serves on the Executive Committee of the Zell/Lurie Real Estate Center at Wharton.

Nathan Leight
Senior managing member of Terrapin, and the chief investment officer of Terrapin Asset Management.  Mr. Leight has over 30 years of experience in asset and hedge fund management, as well as venture capital and private equity investing. Mr. Leight currently serves as a director of the Jerusalem Foundation, the Miami Foundation, the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts and the South Florida Chapter of WPO.

Richard Linhart (W’83) Executive Director of Morgan Stanley Wealth Management. Prior to joining Morgan Stanley in 2009, Richard was president of Opus Capital, LLC, an investment firm focused on private equity investing in media companies and on public market investments. 

Amrita Sen (W’92) Owner of Vault Agency. Amrita Sen is a well-known artist, designer and Bollywood singer-songwriter. She brings her abilities in music, fashion and art together in her Amrita Sen line of products. Prior to launching these products, Amrita worked as a licensing agent for major artists and brands, record executive and, at the start of her career, in investment banking.

Bill Witte (C’73, MCP’75) Chairman & CEO of Related California, one of the largest developers of urban and multifamily housing in the state, overseeing both the affordable and market rate divisions. Prior to founding Related California in 1989, Mr. Witte served as Deputy Mayor for Housing and Neighborhoods under Mayor Art Agnos where he oversaw all housing, development and redevelopment activities for the City of San Francisco.