Stern’s Thomas Seizes Opportunities to Network

Kelly Thomas, Stern ’06, knew she wanted to study at the Stern School of Business after attending the school’s annual women’s weekend several years ago. 

“Attending the Stern Women in Business [SWIB] conference as a prospective student was a major turning point in deciding where to go to business school,” says Thomas, a native of Oakdale, Long Island. “I was inspired by all of the women I met—current students, alumni, and New York City business women.” 

At Stern, Thomas took on a leadership role as SWIB co-president, and along with her fellow SWIB members, hosted both the Committee of 200 (C200) conference and SWIB’s annual club conference, raising a record amount of corporate funding.

“C200 is an invitation-only network of powerful female executives and entrepreneurs,” says Thomas, “and it is a tremendous honor that C200 selected Stern to host its bi-annual seminar.”

Through the event, Thomas got to network with some industry giants.

“I could have never anticipated that I would share lunch with Mireille Guiliano (president and CEO, Clicquot, Inc.), and Madelyn Antoncic (M. Phil, ’81, PhD ’83, managing director and chief risk officer, Lehman Brothers),” says Thomas. “It was an experience I will not forget.”

But it wasn’t just extracurricular activities that drew Thomas to Stern.

“The school’s Entertainment, Media, and Technology Program was very appealing to me,” says Thomas. “I took advantage of the “Commerce and Cinema” course, which allowed me to travel to the Cannes Film Festival and learn about the issues facing the film business worldwide.”