CLASS OF 2023 GRADUATE SHOWCASE
DELFINA MATTERN
Global Program
“The Lauder Institute’s greatest strength, without a doubt, is its community…which is filled with amazingly diverse and talented people, all of whom share a passion for travel, language, and exploring intercultural issues.”
Expand for Full Interview
Your hometown
Frankfurt, Germany
What has been the highlight of your Lauder experience?
My two Lauder Intercultural Ventures (LIVs) were truly the most amazing experiences. Being able to visit Poland and Hungary at the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine to explore the topic of what ‘Europe’ and the ‘European Union’ means, as well as explore the material aspects of Buddhist culture in Thailand, really transformed my views of both Europe and Thailand.
What are you doing next?
As my next career step, I am going to work in a strategy-focused role for a decarbonization company in the US.
How would you describe Lauder Institute students?
The Lauder student community is filled with amazingly diverse and talented people, all of whom share a passion for travel, language, and exploring intercultural issues. The Lauder program and its community have been my home throughout my time at Wharton, and I have been enormously lucky to be able to make many new friends through this part of my experience.
What advice would you give to people considering the Lauder program?
Visit the program on campus if you can! My class visit in 2020 is what really convinced me to make Wharton/Lauder my first choice, and the Lauder Institute’s greatest strength, without a doubt, is its community! Meeting and speaking to the students is really the best way of finding your fit with this program.
AJ TELLA
Europe Program (French)
“The highlight of my Lauder experience has been the warmth of the community and the feeling of being fully at home in a multicultural space.”
Expand for Full Interview
Your hometown
I was born in London, England but grew up in Rochester, New York
What has been the highlight of your Lauder experience?
The highlight of my Lauder experience has been the warmth of the community and the feeling of being fully at home in a multicultural space.
What are you doing next?
I’ll be starting with Boston Consulting Group in San Francisco, aiming to specialize within the firm’s Media and Entertainment practice.
How would you describe Lauder Institute students?
Lauder students are well rounded, intellectually stimulating, globally minded, curious, and FUN!
What advice would you give to people considering the Lauder program?
If you’re searching for an experience at a top business school that will cultivate you internationally, Lauder’s cultural and linguistic experiences are unparalleled and won’t disappoint – reach out to current or former students to hear about their experience, and then apply!
STEPHANIE MICHAEL SILVA
Latin America Program (Spanish)
“Those interested in Lauder should speak with Lauder students and alumni to hear firsthand how they have leveraged program specific resources (like Lauder Immersion Internships and the Jacobson Global Venture Awards) to achieve their career goals.”
Expand for Full Interview
Your hometown
Livingston, NJ
What has been the highlight of your Lauder experience?
The highlights of my Lauder experience were the 2022 Lauder Global Alumni Weekend in NYC and my summer internship working for L’17s Jay Lanners and Alex Nogueira at 1616 Ventures in São Paulo, Brazil (made possible by the Lauder Leadership Immersion Program). Lauder students and alumni foster an incredibly tight-knit community that is unparalleled in its support of one another.
What are you doing next?
After graduation, I plan to work in venture capital focused on Latin America, leveraging my learnings from the Lauder program, as well as my venture capital internship with Lauder alumni in Brazil.
How would you describe Lauder Institute students?
The Lauder experience is enriched by the inclusivity, intellectual curiosity and depth and breadth of global experiences of the Lauder students. Lauder students share a unique bond with one another driven by their innate willingness to learn from each other, collaborate, and embark on new experiences together. #LauderLove encompasses the strength of the connection between Lauder students and the overall network.
What advice would you give to people considering the Lauder program?
Those interested in Lauder should speak with Lauder students and alumni to hear firsthand what makes the program unique and impactful, as well as learn about how Lauderites have leveraged program specific resources (like the Lauder Leadership Immersion Program and Jacobson Global Venture Awards) to achieve their career goals. Additionally, prospective candidates should think critically about how their global experiences and personal backgrounds can contribute to the richness of the Lauder community.
DEVA SAXENA
SAMENA Program (Hindi)
“If you have any inkling of interest in approaching business from an international perspective, and understanding how it can intersect with the world’s changing economic, political and cultural trends – you should apply to The Lauder Institute.”
Expand for Full Interview
Your hometown
Sydney, Australia
What has been the highlight of your Lauder experience?
The Lauder Intercultural Ventures (LIVs) organized by the Institute are an absolute highlight. In my time here, I had the pleasure of going on very valuable learning journeys in both Senegal and Tunisia, paid for and organized by the Institute. While Wharton has mini-versions of these too, Lauder’s LIVs let you (a) approach critical topics in national politics, culture and economics from an interdisciplinary perspective, (b) meet and network with Lauder alumni and some very distinguished speakers (including Nobel Peace Laureates – a true highlight!), and (c) explore a region outside your Lauder Program of Concentration, with a very international group of peers who are committed to truly immersing themselves in the cultures of each location (talks, museums, food stalls, bars and clubs)!
What are you doing next?
Post Wharton/Lauder, I will be working at DigitalAlpha, a growth-focused private equity fund that invests in digital infrastructure across the Americas, APAC and Europe. Their investment focus covers areas like the future of telecom networks, IoT enablement, media streaming infrastructure, AR/VR enablement etc. – areas that will require outsized data-use and need digital (as opposed to traditional, legacy) infrastructure to support their growth. I will be based in San Francisco.
How would you describe Lauder Institute students?
Lauder students, in particular, understand the importance of promoting a culture that values the collective, instead of just the individual. Whether it be peers that take a vested interest in each other’s recruiting journeys, help each other through tough academic questions, or organize multiple inclusive social events – a very special shout-out to my Lauder Class of 2023 – or the incredible generosity in mentorship and networking that the tight-knit alumni community provide, Lauderites truly believe that lifting up their community is critical to making a difference on a global-scale.
What advice would you give to people considering the Lauder program?
If you have any inkling of interest in approaching business from an international perspective, and understanding how it can intersect with the world’s changing economic, political and cultural trends – you should apply to the Lauder Institute. Make sure your story and your motivations for what make you a great Lauder candidate are clearly detailed in your essays and interviews. If you need any additional fodder to convince you that this program will make you feel at home in your time at UPenn, reach out to current Lauder students or alumni – both of whom are very generous with their time and honest about their experiences!
