Diana Cohn
Rutgers Business School (Newark)
Describe yourself in 15 words or less:
D – Dedicated
I – Intrepid
A – Active
N – Nerdy
A – Amicable
C – Committed
O – Optimistic
H – Hardworking
N – Noble
Fun fact about yourself: I once ran 9.5 miles.
Hometown: Cali, Colombia
High School: Stella Maris, Laureta Bender
Major 1: Finance
Major 2: Management Information Systems
Favorite Business Course: Business Policy & Strategy
Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles during College:
In chronological order:
- Committee Leader of Service, Rutgers Undergraduate Women in Business (RUWIB): Outstanding New Member Award
- Committee Leader, Association of Latino Professionals for America (ALPFA): EY Scholarship Award, ALPFA National Scholarship Award
- Vice President of Corporate Relations, RUWIB: Champion Award
- Dean’s List
- Robert and Frances Kaplan Scholarship Award
- Rutgers CFA Level I Scholarship Award
Where have you interned during your college career?
- Summer 2016: PGIM, a business of Prudential Financial, Inc., Newark, N.J., Marketing and Strategy analyst
- Summer 2017: J.P. Morgan Chase, New York, N.Y., GFBM summer analyst
Where will you be working after graduation? J.P. Morgan Chase, New York, N.Y., GFBM analyst
Who is your favorite professor? It is Professor Wajahat Gilani, who taught me Investment Modeling in the fall of 2017. I admire his passion for teaching and his ability to combine his career experience as a Wall Street analyst with the theoretical process involved in teaching the course. He made programming and security analysis truly enjoyable by igniting my own passion to learn more about the numerous approaches in which technology can make financial analysis more intuitive.
What did you enjoy most about your business school? What I enjoyed the most about Rutgers Business School was the constant stimuli to my intellectual curiosity coming from faculty and students. I feel quite fortunate to have been taught by professors with such successful careers and countless accomplishments, who continue to be active in their own professional pursuits. Their teachings inspired me to analyze and understand the world from diverse perspectives, and to appreciate the learning process as a way to become a better version of myself. Similarly, being surrounded by brilliant and passionate students encouraged me to challenge myself constantly and to value the power of collaboration as a means to attain any goal. I look forward to maintaining close relationships with professors and peers since they have all touched my life in a meaningful manner and have helped me become the person that I am today.
What advice would you give to a student looking to major in a business-related field? Do your homework: spend some time understanding why you are interested and passionate about business or a specific business-related major; identify what strengths you are bringing to the table and what areas you need to develop; and seek hands-on experience through a part-time job or internship to make sure you are on the right track.
“If I didn’t major in business, I would be majoring in or studying…Political science. I would have liked the opportunity to create social impact in my community and the community at large by serving in a public office.”
What has surprised you most about majoring in business? What has surprised me most about majoring in business is how versatile it can be. There was a time when I thought of business as monotonous. However, today I see business as a dynamic and ever-changing path that allows me the opportunity to explore various fields and challenging myself in multiple ways by simply being in a different role or by switching to a different industry.
Who most influenced your decision to pursue business in college? The person who most influenced me to pursue business in college was my mother. She influenced me at a very early age by teaching me the importance of saving, of creating a budget, and of being organized. Moreover, she also inspired me to stand up for what I believe, to be a leader among peers, and to strive to leave a positive impact wherever I go. Although it was not her goal to influence me to go to business school, she imparted in me the skills and mentality necessary to be a business professional.
Which academic, extracurricular or personal achievement are you most proud of? One of my proudest accomplishments during my time at Rutgers Business School was serving as vice president of corporate relations for Rutgers Undergraduate Women in Business. At the time, it was a new role in the executive board and I had to rely heavily on my own initiative and nascent network to coordinate all events held during that year. To my fortune, I served with a supportive president and a reliable committee that assisted me at every step of the way. Despite countless challenges, we were able to achieve all the goals that we established for the organization that year and provided some unique career opportunities for all Rutgers students.
If you were a dean for a day, what one thing would you change about the business school? If I were a dean for a day, I would make having an internship before graduation mandatory, and I would establish a recommended class schedule for students to follow each semester depending on the skills they need to succeed in their internships based on their majors.
Which classmate do you most admire? The classmate I most admire is Hector Mendoza for his numerous accomplishments as a student leader and his incessant passion for learning. I have had the pleasure of getting to know Hector in his many facets at school through working together on student organizations and on class projects. He stands out for his innate capacity to connect with people and to encourage collaboration among various groups. Moreover, as a fellow classmate, he is distinguished in his hard work and genuine desire to become the best at whatever he does. It has been a pleasure to work with him and call him a friend.
Who would you most want to thank for your success? I am most thankful to my parents and my husband for my success. It is a result of their patient support and encouragement that I have been able to achieve my dream of completing a bachelor’s degree.
What would your theme song be? “#thatPOWER” by Will.i.am and Justin Bieber
What are the top two items on your bucket list?
- Travel to every continent
- Run a marathon
Favorite book: Life of Pi by Yann Martel
Favorite movie: La La Land
Favorite vacation spot: The Poconos
What are your hobbies? Running, skiing, kayaking, cooking, watching documentaries.
What made Diana such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2017?
“Diana Cohn is hard-working and has been recognized for her leadership in organizations like Rutgers Undergraduate Women in Business and the Association of Latinos for America. She has demonstrated the traits in excellence that we want to see in our graduates. She has a big heart and is always looking for ways to make an impact on the community. Diana has a strong commitment to the world and believes that through her hard work she will achieve her dreams. She is optimistic and has the ability to see the glass half full, which helps to make her positive energy contagious. I believe she will continue to be successful, and we will hear more from her.”
Wanda Mendez
Assistant Dean, Director,
Rutgers Business School, Newark Undergraduate Program
Office of Career Management
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