On October 9-10, 2025, forty students from Georgetown University’s Master of Science in Foreign Service (MSFS) program traveled to New York City for the return of the annual MSFS New York Career Trek—a dynamic two-day event connecting current students with accomplished alumni working across various aspects of international affairs.
Organized and moderated by MSFS Board members Anna Tunkel (MSFS’06), Virginia Coltheart (MSFS’14) and Jaap Westrik (MSFS’08), the Career Trek offered students exclusive access to seven professional panels hosted by leading organizations, including Capco and the United Nations. Each session featured distinguished MSFS alumni who shared personal expertise on career development, leadership and the evolving intersections of business, diplomacy and technological advancements.
On Thursday, David Oxenstierna (MSFS’89), co-managing partner for Capco U.S. and Brazil, hosted MSFS at Capco’s offices in the Empire State Building. Students engaged with ten alumni experts during four panels on banking, asset management, consulting and corporate strategy. A networking reception afterward brought together panelists, students and New York-based alumni to celebrate the shared spirit and achievements of the MSFS community.
On Friday, students visited the United Nations Headquarters, where Izumi Nakamitsu (MSFS’89), UN Under-Secretary-General of Disarmament Affairs, hosted the students and provided opening remarks before a series of panels on international organizations, media and entrepreneurship. Later, students participated in an exclusive session at the European Union Delegation to the UN—organized by MSFS classmate Marta Granados Hernandez (MSFS’27)—underscoring the program’s strong network and culture of collaboration and service.
Across both days of panels, conversations explored themes such as the rise of transactional diplomacy, the impact of AI on hiring and how skills gained in public service translate to success in the boardroom. Alumni emphasized how the MSFS programuniquely positions graduates to succeed across sectors. As one student reflected, “Engaging with alumni who once stood where I am now helped me find a common thread in our experiences and build meaningful conversations from there.” Looking forward, the student learned to “keep an open mind throughout my professional journey—a theme that came up in nearly every panel. I was struck by the incredible work being done across both the private and multilateral sectors, and it reminded me that every kind of contribution, whether in government, business or beyond, has real value. Each sector plays a distinct role in advancing shared goals, and there is a need for people passionate about service at every level.”
The MSFS New York Career Trek exemplifies how the program extends beyond the classroom, offering students practical opportunities to apply their leadership, expand their professional networks and explore diverse career paths in international affairs.
MSFS extends its sincere gratitude to the distinguished alumni and professionals who made the 2025 Career Trek possible, including:
Anna Tunkel (Founder and CEO, Sustainable Impact LLC; MSFS’06), Virginia Coltheart (Portfolio Manager, Morgan Stanley; MSFS’14), Jaap Westrik (Founder, Modern Revenue; MSFS’08), Elizabeth Blazey (Director, BofA Merrill Lynch; MSFS’13), Justin Lang (Vice President, Equity Research; MSFS’17), Carla Kleinhappel (Director of Model and Financial Risk, Deutsche Bank; MSFS’06), Jaivir Sidhu (Managing Director, HPS Investment Partners; MSFS’11), Sonja Renander (Managing Director, Oak Hill Advisors; MSFS’03), David Oxenstierna (Managing Partner, Capco U.S. & Brazil; MSFS’89), Daniel H. Rosen (Founding Partner, Rhodium Group; MSFS’92), Jeremy Fielding (Co-CEO, Kekst CNC; MSFS’96), Maiko Ashby (Vice President, PepsiCo; MSFS’90), Abigail Cuthbertson (Executive Director, Estée Lauder Companies; MSFS’06), Izumi Nakamitsu (UN Under-Secretary-General of Disarmament Affairs; MSFS’89), Stéphane Dujarric (UN Spokesman for the Secretary-General; BSFS’88), Lauren Hess (Partnerships Officer, IFC; MSFS’19), Refael Kubersky (Documentary Filmmaker, PBS Frontline; MSFS’23), Kate Snow (Anchor, NBC News; MSFS’93), Andy Bender (Investor, Polaris Solutions; MSFS’89), Vanessa Liu (CEO, Sugarwork), and Brendan Foo (Co-Founder & Co-CEO, Forward Risk; MSFS’15).
Written by Miriam Friedman