Tony Effik, Managing Director of Display, Video, and Creative (GCS)
Tony Effik is a Managing Director at Google’s GCS division, where he leads a team focused on global go-to-market for YouTube and Creative AI. Prior to working at Google, Tony was SVP, Client Strategy at NBCUniversal, and prior to that, he held digital leadership roles at major agency networks, including R/GA, JWT, M&C Saatchi, Wunderman, and Publicis, focused on digital transformation. Tony has taught a course in digital business models for almost 10 years at Columbia University's Department of Industrial Engineering and Operations Research, and is an Angel Investor and LP at the BAG Collective, which is focused on investing intellectual, socia,l and financial capital into seed to Series A high-growth technology companies.
Tony has contributed to setting industry-wide best practices and standards in both the US and UK with the Internet Advertising Bureau in viewability and social media. He has been a speaker at the ANA, 4As, AdAge, and a judge at key industry awards, such as the Effies, Festival of Media, Jay Chiat Awards, and has championed digital upskilling at the United Nations.
Sophia Hyoseon Lee teaches English to international graduate students at Columbia Engineering, helping them develop English proficiency for career advancement and academic success. She earned her Ph.D. in Teaching Foreign, Second, and Multilingual Language Education from the Ohio State University and holds an M.A. in TESL and bachelor’s degrees in Mechanical Engineering, Chinese, and English Linguistics. Her teaching includes workplace communication in English, professional presentation, English pronunciation, and academic writing. Dr. Lee is passionate about creating interactive and authentic classroom practices and supporting students in developing linguistic and cultural competence for effective communication.
Ryan Day is the Director of Graduate Career Placement for Columbia Engineering, leading the practices and processes of the Career Placement team.
Ryan provides strategic, operational management of career-related resources and technology across engineering graduate programs, including standardized data reporting, communications, employer relations, and branding. Ryan also provides academic and career support for the Dual MBA/Executive MS in Engineering & Applied Science.
Ryan earned his bachelor's degree at The University of Tampa and his master's degree in Higher Education Administration at The University of South Carolina. He understands that each student has an individual career path, and his goal is to help Columbia Engineering students realize and leverage their unique talents to maximize their career potential.
Raina works as the Career Placement Officer in both the Chemical Engineering Department and the Earth & Environmental Engineering Department. She prides herself upon connecting her students with opportunities, employers and alumni as well as hosting events and conducting one on one career coaching for each of her students. Previously, Raina worked in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering Program in Columbia Engineering and continues in her current role to build resources, programming and strong partnerships with all staff, faculty, within the Columbia community.
Pira began his career in Goldman Sachs’ Global Markets Division, where he worked in the Fixed Income business. Over the past decade, he has launched and scaled multiple ventures at the intersection of finance and technology, with a focus on enterprise knowledge management and asset management platforms. He most recently served as Head of Digital Platforms for the ETF Accelerator, driving innovation in product development and distribution. Pira holds degrees from Columbia Engineering and Columbia Business School.
Michael J. Goldstein is a partner at Goldstein and Cheung LLP. Admitted to the New York state bar in 2010, Mr. Goldstein practices general immigration law, with a focus on family and business immigration. He also works closely with academic institutions, international students and scholars, extraordinary, and professional nonimmigrants (F-1, J-1, O-1, H-1B, TN, E-3 etc.).
Mr. Goldstein is a frequent presenter on immigration law topics at professional conferences including NAFSA conferences, One To World network meetings, as well as at college and university campuses throughout the New York Metropolitan area.
Micah Berman builds products and technical teams for a better world. He’s cofounder and Chief Product Officer at Ezra Rewards, the modern benefit for frontline workers. Previously, he spent a decade at Google, Android, and Google.org leading engineering, product, and philanthropic investment teams. Micah has taken regulated products from sketch to scale, grown global userbases from millions to billions, and built teams that have won the inaugural Ukraine Peace Prize, published on the cover of Science Magazine, and earned Google’s highest recognition for scientific advancement and product quality. He graduated from Pomona College with distinction in thesis research.
Mahir is the Head of Engineering for Search, Recommendations, and Ads at Etsy. With over 20 years of experience in product development, data science, and AI/ML, he has led teams in developing innovative solutions for companies such as Nike, PwC, Google, and Microsoft.
Previously, Mahir served as Co-founder and CTO of Topos, Director of Data Science at R/GA, and Senior Researcher at Ars Electronica Futurelab in Linz. His work has been featured globally at events like the Ars Electronica Festival and SIGGRAPH, and he frequently speaks at conferences including Google Next, Microsoft Build, TEDx, and Visualized.
An experienced educator since 2003, Mahir has taught at institutions like the University of Pennsylvania, Pratt, and the University of Art and Design Linz, advising numerous student projects and guest lecturing at MIT, NYU, Columbia, and more.
Kunal Sawarkar is a Distinguished Engineer and Chief AI Scientist for Generative AI at IBM. He is an AI researcher, inventor, and industry leader, holds 21+ patents, and has authored a book in the field. He has founded & led multiple Applied AI labs over the years. Beyond IBM, Kunal is an active angel investor, mentoring the growth of AI startups in the U.S., and when not diving into data, continues his passion for rock climbing, flying, and wildlife.
For more than 18 years, Katie Garcia has helped established and emerging leaders improve their ability to lead and to communicate effectively in good times and bad. Over the course of her career, she has worked with hundreds of scientists, engineers, and technologists across industries and around the world. In addition to teaching in the PDL program, she has also guest lectured on crisis communication, strategic communication, leadership communication, difficult conversations, and effective feedback at New York University’s School of Professional Studies, the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and the College of Mount Saint Vincent.
Justin Warren Jackson is a published author with 30-plus years’ experience providing communications training and services. He teaches interviewing skills and has conducted presentation training seminars over the course of his career for more than 100 companies (from Fortune 500 corporations (Novartis, Pfizer) to startup firms) and sci/tech departments. Presentation training is essential for improving speaking skills in diverse settings, including in the classroom and in advance of interviews. Affiliations include the Public Relations Society of America, where he chairs the NY chapter’s mentoring program. Jackson has a BA degree from Yale University and an MA degree from Hunter College.
Joli Ienuso is a dynamic educator and learning strategist with over a decade of experience in adult education, curriculum design, and inclusive leadership development. A Columbia alum with a Master’s in Education in Human Sexuality, Jo previously spent five years supporting students as a Prevention Educator with Columbia’s Sexual Violence Response. For PDL, they now teach workshops on feedback and the inner critic, blending trauma-informed pedagogy, emotional intelligence, and anti-oppressive frameworks. Jo creates practical, engaging learning spaces that build confidence, deepen self-awareness, and transform how people communicate and lead.
Jessica Chen is a global communication expert and keynote speaker. She has taught over 2 million professionals how to strengthen their communication and executive presence at work. She is the author of the bestselling communication book, Smart, Not Loud: How to Get Noticed at Work for All the Right Reasons. Before starting her global communication agency, Soulcast Media, Jessica was an Emmy Award–winning TV journalist at ABC and is a regular contributor on CNBC’s Make It Column. Connect with her on LinkedIn.
Jenny Fernandez MBA, is a leadership development consultant and executive coach who partners with senior leaders and their teams to become more adaptive, effective, and resilient. She is a faculty member at Columbia University, a TEDx Speaker, and a Doctoral Candidate at the University of Southern California. You can download her free Personal Branding and Self-Promotion e-book—a practical toolkit designed to empower your teams and enhance their skills—and connect with her on LinkedIn.
Professor of Practice, Columbia University
Principal, Invisible DesignHarry West works at the intersection of design, data, and behavior change. He teaches Human-Centered Design & Innovation and Tough Tech and is the engineering director for the new MBAxMS dual degree program between the business school and the engineering school. As Principal of Invisible Design, he helps to align - in a meaningful way - the work of creative teams and company strategy. Formerly CEO of frog (now part of Capgemini) and Continuum (now part of EPAM), he has contributed to the design of products and services with sales of several billion dollars a year.
Haley Planicka is the Professional Development and Leadership Officer for Columbia Engineering.
Haley supports the management and execution of over 250 PDL sessions, and enjoys working with students to cultivate and achieve their career goals. With a strong interdisciplinary background in anthropological research, cross-cultural communication, and higher education, Haley is an avid student advocate dedicated to supporting students at every point in their educational journey.
Haley earned her bachelor’s degree from Bellarmine University in Spanish and International Studies and her master’s degree in Anthropology and Education from Teachers College, Columbia University. Originally from Kentucky, she joined Columbia Engineering in 2023 as a Graduate Assistant for the Academic Administration and Operations team. She is ecstatic about empowering students to forge their unique career journey!
For 45 years Helio Fred Garcia has helped leaders build trust, inspire loyalty, and lead effectively. He is a coach, counselor, teacher, writer, and speaker whose clients include some of the largest and best-known companies and organizations in the world. At Columbia Engineering he teaches ethics, leadership communication, and crisis prevention and response.
He has been on the NYU faculty for 37 years and has served on graduate faculties in Europe and China. He is the author of six books on leadership, crisis, trust, and communication. He has worked in dozens of countries on six continents.
Emily Rogan is a strategic communications leader with 10+ years’ experience advising executives, managing high-performing teams, and aligning stakeholders to achieve mission-driven outcomes.
Most recently, Emily was a vice president at 120/80 Marketing, a fast-growing marketing & communications agency focused on digital health and healthcare, where she worked with some of the most innovative companies in the space. Earlier, she worked at Unite Us, a social care technology company, where she built and led the communications vertical on the marketing team.
At the Health & Welfare Council of Long Island, Emily managed a 2.5 million dollar grant from the New York State Department of Health, building and leading a coalition of Long Island non-profits focused on health equity that continues today to advocate and support underserved communities.
Early in her career, she led communications at a large non-profit organization, worked for a national newsmagazine and freelanced as an editor, writer and tutor/coach. For four consecutive terms, Emily was elected to her local school board, serving as both president and vice president. During her tenure, Emily played a critical role in hiring a new superintendent and re-opening a school that had been closed, rebuilding trust in a once-divided school district.
A kind and compassionate leader, Emily loves to mentor and coach junior team members, helping them develop their skills, find their voices and thrive in the workplace. She teaches at Columbia University’s School of Engineering, helping students improve their public speaking and build confidence as communicators.
Emily earned her BA in English from Cornell University and her MA in journalism from NYU. She has completed two marathons and one full Tough Mudder; she enjoys yoga, Peloton and long walks in Central Park.
Donald Decker is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with decades of experience as a senior public health administrator working in both government, private and not for profit sectors. Don specializes in mental health and substance use prevention, care, and treatment, and is a seasoned clinician, manager, trainer, emergency manager, and public speaker. Don is a National Trainer working with the National Council for Mental Wellbeing to deliver Instructor trainings in Adult, Youth and Teen Mental Health First Aid and delivers community courses in MHFA to a variety of corporate, not for profit, educational and faith-based organizations. Don also holds appointments as a guest lecturer at various universities specializing in stigma, mental wellness, and community resilience. Don also maintains a position as an Adjunct Professor teaching both Ethics and Psychology in Masters and Bachelors programs in New York City.
Danushi Fernando is the Assistant Dean for Engagement and Strategic Programs at Columbia Engineering, where she leads the Engineering Community Engagement office. She joined the team over a year ago, bringing more than a decade of experience in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEIA) management within higher education.
Prior to her role at Columbia, Danushi served as the Chief Diversity Officer at the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry. She also held leadership positions at other universities, including Director of the LGBTQ+ Center and the Women’s Center at Vassar College, and Director of Student Diversity and Inclusion at Clarkson University.
In addition to her work in DEIA, Danushi is a licensed clinical mental health counselor with experience in Title IX investigations and discrimination law. She holds three master's degrees in Clinical and Mental Health Counseling, Creative Writing and Literature for Educators, and Corporate and Organizational Communication.
Chuck Garcia is an industry leader in executive training with Fortune 500 companies. He is the founder of Climb Leadership International and coaches executives on leadership development, public speaking, and emotional intelligence. His clients are the world’s largest financial institutions and technology companies.
He is also a professional speaker, author of The MOMENT THAT DEFINES YOUR LIFE and the Amazon best seller A Climb to the TOP. He is on faculty at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Engineering and teaches in their professional development and leadership program.
Chuck is a passionate and accomplished mountaineer. He formerly spent 25 years in leadership positions at Bloomberg, BlackRock, and Citadel Investment Management. For more about Chuck click https://chuckgarcia.com/.
Chris is the Assistant Director of Academic Affairs and Admissions Operations at the IEOR Department, Columbia Engineering. He is interested in helping students maximize their opportunity for growth during their time at SEAS and building valuable professional development skills that can translate over to the workplace. Chris draws from his own experience in learning workplace leadership dynamics as a graduate intern to leading and training others as an Assistant Director. He teaches: “Navigating Leadership as a Student: From Classroom to Career”, helping students explore ways to apply leadership skills during their SEAS experience that carries over to the workplace.
Chad is the Associate Director for International Student Programs. In his role as head of the Programming team, he develops programs designed to build community and support the overall success of Columbia’s international population: objectives that he and the team achieve by delivering events aimed at fostering inclusion and belonging, developing intercultural humility, and promoting leadership and global mindfulness.
Chad holds over 20 years of experience in the field of international, global, and intercultural education. He is a teacher by training and has lived, studied, and worked in the U.S., Germany, Ukraine, and South Korea. These experiences have taught him unique intercultural perspectives that can be seen in his work with ISSO.
In his free time, Chad enjoys reading in local coffee shops and participating in group fitness classes.
Ali Hirsa is a Professor in the Industrial Engineering & Operations Research Department at Columbia University, where he directs the Financial Engineering Program and the Columbia Center for AI in Business Analytics & FinTech. His teaching and research focus on applications of AI and machine learning in finance. He is also Chief Scientific Officer at ASK2.ai and Managing Partner at Sauma Capital. Ali has held senior quantitative roles at several financial institutions and is the author of two widely used books in quantitative finance. He enjoys bridging theory and practice and mentoring students on real-world, data-driven financial problems.
Founder of Opus Vox
Engaged in the work of the voice, every day from every angle: More than a decade advising leaders, from Fortune 500 CEOs to G7 government officials. Language analyst for Bloomberg Politics coverage of the 2016 US Presidential election. Speaker at universities like Columbia and conferences like the Public Relations Society of America. Announcer for events with 10,000+ guests, including the Illinois Marathon.
Julian is a software developer and maintainer who has served as an Open Source subject matter expert at Postman,and previously as Vice President of Engineering for Deloitte Digital's Decisioning Automation team. There, he oversaw teams of engineers and data scientists delivering high volume machine learning solutions to large enterprises. His recent addictions involve the Lean Theorem Prover, an interactive programming language for writing and verifying mathematical proofs. Also coffee and travel – a *lot* of coffee and travel.
Staff Directory
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