Stories

Ayo Oshinaike, DMSB’16

May 6, 2020 - I’ve been an entrepreneur for as long as I can remember. In fact, I started my first business at 15, selling juice and snacks at my school in Cape Town, South Africa. We learned early on that consumers needed to understand the nutrition content and ingredients of each product so it could match their dietary needs. Our snack and juice stand was eventually taken over by the school and continues to run today.

DMSB'17

March 16, 2020 - After two co-ops at large corporations, Dayna Scandone, DMSB’17, decided to follow her passion and opted to join a small, Northeastern alumni-led start-up. Now, with the company growing, she’s coming back to the university to update her skills.

DMSB'64

January 30, 2020 - Meet the man behind some of the biggest acts in rock ‘n’ roll history.

E’14, MS’15

January 30, 2020 - The first time Qian stepped onto the Northeastern campus, he felt like Harry Potter entering the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry! He knew that the door to opportunities was now open, not only during his time on campus, but also beyond. After returning to Shanghai, Qian decided to share his Northeastern experience with other alumni and community members, playing a pivotal role in establishing Northeastern’s first communities in China: Beijing and Shanghai. From supporting alumni professionally, to giving them an opportunity to find their place in the community, Qian continues to serve as the perfect ambassador for Northeastern.

DMSB'97

January 30, 2020 - After high school, Mark Olivito, DMSB’97, wasn’t excited about his future prospects, until a chance meeting with a recruiter sparked an interest in Northeastern. Intrigued by the co-op program, Mark applied and was accepted to Northeastern, where the robust entrepreneurial environment pushed him to stretch his limits, and discover his true potential.

SSH'12

January 30, 2020 - If you meet Nick Beek, SSH’12, you will immediately see his passion for bringing communities together. Having served as an alumni mentor for Northeastern’s Co-op Mentor Program in Washington, DC for the past two years, Nick has already helped numerous Northeastern alumni make connections and find the resources they need to achieve what’s next. He is also the co-leader of the alumni community there. For Nick, Northeastern is truly a lifelong connection.

UC‘72

January 30, 2020 - Lee Spinale Rea, UC’72, believes in living life to the fullest. This is why she transitioned from her 40-year-long career as a Senior Business Development executive in medical imaging, to owning a local Edible Arrangements franchise for the past 13 years. Lee believes that her Northeastern experience empowered her to reach goals beyond her expectations and personal limitations.

CJ’04

January 30, 2020 - As a career anti-money laundering expert, Joe knew the banking system, with its archaic technology and redundant processes, was due for an upgrade. So, when he heard about bitcoin – the decentralized cryptocurrency that’s traded digitally – unlike his colleagues, Joe saw opportunity. In a market thirsty for credibility, in 2015, Joe launched BitAML, a cryptocurrency compliance advisory firm that brings legitimacy to cryptocurrency transactions around the world.

SSH’16

January 30, 2020 - Lexy Von Keszycki, SSH’16, came to Northeastern for the co-op advantage: having real work experience, and a foot in the door. But during her time here, she got the opportunity to explore another passion – Brazil! Through three opportunities to travel to the country, Lexy was able to better understand the culture and professional environment, and commit to making Brazil her home. And, to make sure she didn’t miss her Northeastern connections, she became a volunteer and started bringing Northeastern to Brazil.

E'09

January 30, 2020 - As a civil and environmental engineer, solutions come easily for George Valiotis, E’09. For years as a real-estate professional, George was exposed to the lack of options for recycling glass. Most recycling facilities in US use single-stream, where metals or plastics are processed in one bin. Since glass breaks easily, many facilities reject it, causing most glass to be wasted in landfills. George’s solution: Pace Glass Inc., the world largest exclusively glass recycling facility. The company takes what it can use, and incinerates the rest to produce energy that powers their facility.

CPS'17

January 30, 2020 - As a healthcare IT professional, Ravel was looking for ways to expand his skills. But, he wasn’t just looking for another degree; he was looking for a career. When Ravel came to Northeastern, he got just that: a master’s degree in Informatics, a co-op at System Analysis Services, LLC, an experiential consulting project through the Experiential Network (XN) program, and a new business, supported by the university’s venture accelerator, IDEA.

S'15

January 30, 2020 - While studying behavioral neuroscience, Sam joined the university’s a cappella group, The Nor'easters, as a hobby. That moment changed her life. From appearing in a popular TV show, distributed on Netflix and Hulu, to performing live at the White House for President Barack and Michele Obama, Sam’s career trajectory has taken a full U-turn. Today, she’s a professional recording artist with two singles released last year, and another on the way. Sam is not looking back!