Exceeding
expectations
Saba Siddiqui ’14 on giving back to SOM 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.
Q
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.
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Did SOM live up to your expectations? SOM exceeded my expectations. I realized that I wanted a people-oriented career that would
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REACHING HIGHER
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.
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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.
