The Guarini School has launched the Guarini Advisory Board Career Talks series, a new initiative connecting graduate students and postdocs with accomplished alumni across a wide range of careers. Part of GuariniGRAD, the series features candid conversations about career journeys, hiring trends, and strategies for navigating professional transitions within and beyond academia.
The series kicked off this fall with Ting Cai, Guarini ’96, chief data officer and group senior managing executive officer of technology services at Rakuten Group. Cai shared insights into artificial intelligence and data strategy, reflecting on a career that spans over 15 years at Microsoft prior to his current global role at Rakuten. His talk explored the ways data science and AI are transforming industries and how researchers can translate their academic skills into roles at technology companies.
Later sessions included Mikki Hebl, Guarini ’97, now the Martha and Henry Malcolm Lovett Chair of Psychology at Rice University, who spoke about finding the right fit and balancing work and life; and Dr. David A. Silbersweig, MD ’82, a neurologist and psychiatrist at Harvard Medical School and one of the pioneers of functional neuroimaging research. Dr. Silbersweig reflected on neuroscience research, academic leadership, and his journey from Dartmouth to Harvard.
Graduate students and postdocs have responded enthusiastically to the new series, calling the conversations inspiring, relevant, and energizing. Many attendees have said they plan to reach out to the speakers for advice as they begin their job searches.
Two more sessions are scheduled for November. On Nov. 20, the series will welcome Allison Bailey ’87, Global Vice Chair of People & Organization Practice, Managing Director and Senior Partner at Boston Consulting Group (BCG), will lead an on-campus conversation on leadership, professional transitions, and how PhD-trained scholars can bring their expertise to the consulting world. She will host a virtual version for Guarini alumni as well.
On Nov. 21, Shinichiro (“Shin”) Fuse, Guarini ’08, Partner and Managing Director at TPG Life Sciences Innovations, will join students for a fireside chat on navigating careers in biotech and identifying valuable internship and industry partnership opportunities.
“All of us on the Advisory Board share a deep commitment to supporting graduate students as they explore the many directions their training can take them,” said Bailey, the president of Guarini’s Board of Advisors. “Through these talks, we hope to make a wide range of career paths more visible and accessible to the Guarini community.”
Guarini School Dean Jon Kull noted that the series reflects the growing engagement of Guarini’s Board of Advisors in mentoring and professional development. “The Career Talks strengthen connections between alumni, students, and postdocs through GuariniGRAD,” Kull said. “Their insights help students see what’s possible—whether their next step is within academia or beyond.”
The Guarini Advisory Board Career Talks are open to all Guarini graduate students and postdocs. Sessions are offered each term in both in-person and virtual formats. Registration links are shared in advance through the Guarini Newsletter.
Upcoming talks:
Allison Bailey ’87: Management Consulting Careers
Thursday, November 20, 2025, 4-5 p.m.
Graduate students and postdocs- register for the in-person event.
Alumni- register for the virtual event.
Shinichiro Fuse, Guarini ’08: Biotech Insights & Internship Opportunities
Friday, November 21, 2025, 5:30 PM-6:30 p.m.
Graduate students and postdocs- register here.
