SHARPENING ONE’S COMPETITIVE EDGE

Eli Mizrachi (B.S. ’94, above right) believes the timing of NYIT’s reinvigorated mentor program could not have been better. As senior vice president of wealth management for New York City-based Maxim Group LLC, where he provides investment services for high net-worth individuals, asset allocations, and stock portfolio management, the NYIT grad understands the demands of the global market.

“Today’s job environment is very challenging and very competitive,” he says. “To take my work experience and use it to help someone makes me a little happier at the end of the day.”

Two of his M.B.A. protégés—Dhruti Vyas and Rekhaben Dhakan (above left)—joined the alumni mentor program seeking opportunities to broaden their NYIT education. For Vyas, who had previously worked as a junior accountant for a company in India, it was the perfect chance to get a taste of American corporate culture.

“We set specific goals for the mentorship,” she says. “I wanted to understand how Americans communicate with one another because it is very different than interactions in India. Even though the language used back home is still English, there are a lot of differences in how business communication and ethics are conveyed. Eli helped me understand what to talk about when networking with professionals.”

For Dhakan, joining the alumni mentor program was the best way to expand beyond her previous boundaries. Like Vyas, the future investment banker welcomed Mizrachi’s experience and industry knowledge. “I had never worked in America before, so he wanted me to learn everything,” she says. “Eli regularly gave me assignments to explore. He asked me what I thought about the current economic situation. He offered suggestions about how to view the market, and how I can improve myself.” 

The most important thing she’s learned is how to effectively network, a skill she already puts into practice at conferences. “He helped me build confidence in the way I approach people and has also given me guidance about seeking mentors within other companies to get my foot in the door,” she says. 

The mentoring experience benefited Mizrachi as well. “Working with Dhruti and Rekhaben gave me a chance to step back and take a look at myself and see if I’m living proof of my own advice,” he says. “After mentoring, I updated my own contacts and established new networking avenues. It gave me an opportunity to sharpen my skills.”

Previous | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Next

More Features

Summer 2011 Table of Contents