BMCC Introduces Annual Speaker Series: Business Leaders on Campus

The Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC/CUNY) community (faculty, staff and students) is invited to attend the first annual Business Leaders on Campus program on Wednesday, March 15 at 2:00 p.m. in the Fiterman Hall Conference Center (13th floor). The event is hosted by BMCC’s Business Management Department and is designed to revamp its extensive alumni network, build new relationships with industry professionals, and most importantly, invite business leaders to BMCC to engage with students, faculty and staff.

“The impetus of this event is to bring successful business leaders to campus, with an emphasis on alumni, so that our students may benefit from their insights and wisdom,” said Professor of Business Management Christian de Rojas Prats. “Students will hear career advice, and general insights from our distinguished guests. We are bringing Wall Street to our students. Our goal is to have multiple events every semester, with a diversified selection of speakers to enrich the professional development of our students.”

Guest panelists

Theresa Clark Messer is the Former Director of Finance, National Basketball Players Association. Messer has more than 30 years of experience in the financial services industry. Her distinguished career started at KPMG as an Audit Manager. This was followed by various roles of increasing management responsibilities at MetLife, and NYNEX – leading to her becoming Director of Finance for the National Basketball Players Association.Messer holds an MBA from Long Island University with a concentration in management. In addition, she holds a BBA in Public Accounting from the Lubin School of Business at Pace University. She is also a proud BMCC alumna. Because of the breath and scope of her successful career, Messer is a highly sought-after professional, speaker, and academic. She is also an adjunct professor at BMCC.

Jay Yu is the President and CEO of Financial Ventures Group (FVG). Yu has extensive experience in assisting numerous private and public companies with business advisory that includes incubation while investing seed capital into start-ups, capital funding, structured finance, expert trading and market analysis, commodities trading, and more. Previously, Yu worked as an analyst at the Corporate and Investment Banking Division of a leading Investment Bank in New York. Yu continued his studies at Columbia University and New York University. In addition, he holds a BA in Psychology from City College of New York, and has taken specialty courses in various New York City Colleges. He is also a proud member of Nu Alpha Phi, where he helps mentor college students and new graduates. Beyond being a “deal junky”, real estate enthusiast, and active philanthropist, he is the founder of a non-profit organization that helps nurture New York City kids through sports, and education.

Edmir Perdja is the Margin Senior Associate, Credit Agricole CIB. Perdja has more than 10 years of experience in the financial services industry. He joined Deutsche Bank as a Valuations Analyst, and then assumed greater levels of responsibility, leading to his becoming a Control Analyst. He has extensive experience in financial derivatives, fixed income products, and capital markets. Following his successful tenure at Deutsche Bank, he joined Credit Agricole where he is currently a Margin Senior Associate – covering multiple asset classes with extensive managerial responsibilities. Perdja holds an MBA from the Zicklin School of Business at Bernard Baruch College with a concentration in Finance and Economics. In addition, he holds a BBA in Operations Management, also from Baruch College. Perdja served as Vice President of the Graduate Student Assembly where he led many successful initiatives to create social value on and off campus. Extending beyond his experience in Wall Street, he is also an entrepreneur, and a dedicated BMCC alumnus.

Guest panelists will participate in a discussion focusing on business leadership and their career paths. Audience members will have an opportunity to ask questions following the panel discussion. For more information call the Business Management Department at (212) 220-8205.