Cynthia O’Brien’s work is all about developing meaningful relationships. As a former recruiter and corporate relations specialist, she believes in the power of partnerships over transactional connections and is taking this approach to reimagine how Kogod supports its students.
As Kogod’s inaugural executive director of career, alumni, and industry engagement, O’Brien is working to build strategic partnerships with businesses, faculty, staff, and graduates to establish innovative pathways for students’ professional development. Her core mission is to connect students with meaningful experiential opportunities, such as internships and mentorship programs, and elevate Kogod into the “school of choice” for top talent and employers.
“It's inspiring to see the impact these connections have on the growth of our students, as well as the overall strength of our community,” says O’Brien. “My goal is to create a stronger sense of support and community by building these deeper connections.”
Before joining Kogod, O’Brien was the executive director of employer connections for the University of Maryland’s business school for over 15 years. Before that, she worked in sales, operations, and talent acquisition in the retail and hospitality sectors.
“Connecting with employers to create strategic engagements to build great recruiting relationships fuels me,” she says. “I’m interested in opportunities that connect people with their passion.”
Read on to learn more about O’Brien’s vision to transform Kogod into employers’ go-to for recruiting—and advancing students’ careers through meaningful relationships.
Cynthia O'Brien: The opportunity to create strong partnerships between the school, companies, students, and alumni. Engaging with people and facilitating connections that benefit everyone involved is incredibly fulfilling. I am genuinely excited to drive impactful changes to help our dean and Kogod reach new heights.
One particularly important initiative is strengthening our collaboration with companies and students, primarily through Kogod’s Office of Career Engagement. We want to ensure students feel fully supported and that companies view Kogod as the premier source for top talent, making it easy to recruit from our school. We’ll concentrate on personalized career counseling, skills workshops, and company/industry engagements to ensure our students are well-prepared for their career journeys and can connect with various companies.