Giving back: Q&A with School of Management alumna Saba Siddiqui ’14
Siddiqui, a member of SOM's Young Alumni Board, explains why she stays involved with the school
Saba Siddiqui ’14 is a director with EY-Parthenon’s (EYP) Corporate & Growth Strategy practice, serving clients across the consumer, media and telecom industries. A Binghamton native, Siddiqui has remained involved with the School of Management (SOM) since graduation as a member of the school’s Young Alumni Board.
Why did you choose Binghamton University?
As a senior in high school, I was certain that I wanted to go to Syracuse University to study law. I also grew up in the area, and like any 17-year-old, wanted to experience a new place. I had been accepted to both Binghamton and Syracuse, and my family really wanted me to consider Binghamton. Incidentally, after accepted students’ day at Syracuse, my dad was judging a SOM case competition. He didn’t have time to drop me off at home, so I had the opportunity to join.
As I sat in the case competition audience with a class of SOM juniors and seniors, I had no idea what to expect. What I witnessed was an incredibly welcoming and smart community at work. The students on stage were presenting insightful analysis, and eloquently answering questions from seasoned, professional judges. The students in the audience were incredibly patient and kind in answering my questions about the competition and the school. I was inspired and wanted to be that kind of student. After that, it felt very simple to decide to shift my focus and attend Binghamton.
Did SOM live up to your expectations?
SOM exceeded my expectations. I realized that I wanted a people-oriented career that would allow me to experience a variety of interesting challenges and solutions. SOM not only helped me understand the breadth of available opportunities, but also jumpstarted my path to EYP.
And then there’s the social element. As a college student, you want an environment that’s going to be really engaging, and I got to experience that at Binghamton, even as a commuter student. There was just this overarching sense of community and collegiality that I really enjoyed.
What student organizations were you involved with?
I was heavily involved in the Dean’s Mentoring Program. I was also a PwC Scholar, a Zurack Scholar and served on the executive board of Beta Alpha Psi.
These opportunities gave me a lot of skills that directly translate into my job today. I didn’t realize that at the time, but in hindsight I was getting invaluable experience in leading peers, organizing events, communicating effectively and managing stakeholders. The skills that I built up through those experiential opportunities are the same skills that I continue to build upon in my job today. They provide an opportunity to learn what your style is and build a foundation before jumping into your career.
Why do you stay involved with SOM?
When I was a student, and even now as an alum, my mentors and role models were the alumni who spent time working with me. They dedicated their time to helping me grow and learn through their experiences, and their support was critical to my success.
I think that’s one of the best things about the School of Management — it has a culture of giving back. I try to give back my time and my attention in the same way that alumni did for me. If others can benefit from my experiences and involvement, I’m more than happy to help.
What have you noticed about the current SOM students you speak to?
I’m surprised at how sharp they are. They are much more prepared to have serious career conversations than I was at their age. Dean Dhillon and the SOM Career Services Office deserve a lot of credit for preparing students for the next big steps. We all want these students to succeed, and to see the level of depth and specificity in their questions is impressive. It gives me a lot of confidence in the school’s trajectory.
If you taught a class, what would you want students to take away from it?
I would teach strategy because I’m deeply passionate about my job and the types of problems I get to solve. I’d love to have more SOM students decide to pursue careers in strategy. I’d hope the biggest skill that students could take away is how to frame and structure problems to ask the right questions and crisply communicate their solutions. It’s a fundamental skill for any profession that is often overlooked in favor of other hard skills.
What’s your favorite spot in Binghamton?
Laveggio Roasteria in downtown Binghamton is my favorite coffee spot. They do an amazing job sourcing a variety of beans from around the world. They hand roast the beans in-house, and serve only the freshest in their espresso drinks. The Nutella Latte is an especially amazing treat!