Yinette Fernandez

"The master’s degree has opened new career opportunities with my employer… I’m now in a supervisory role with a greater level of responsibility and seniority.”

Why did you choose CUNY SPS?

The School’s online MS in Business Management & Leadership program provided flexibility and offered a challenging curriculum.

What most appealed to you about your CUNY SPS degree program?

It was a combination of many factors such as the thought-provoking online learning environment, the supportive staff, the availability of tutors, affordability, and the variety and strength of the courses for the degree—business, financial management, project management and negotiation among them.

How did you find your online/classroom interaction with other students?  With faculty?

The level of classmate involvement differed based on the class structure and professor. I really enjoyed the virtual teams because it fostered great teamwork, relationship-building, and healthy competition. Faculty were typically very responsive and eager to help answer any questions.

What were some of the most defining aspects of your time at CUNY SPS?

Collaborating with my virtual team and pushing my critical thinking skills in my negotiation/quantitative analysis classes.

What is the most important thing you learned at CUNY SPS?

The more you understand how all of the pieces of the puzzle come together, the easier it is to come up with creative solutions to workplace problems or business challenges.

How has your CUNY SPS degree influenced your career?

The program challenged the way I approach work and improved my critical thinking skills, enabling me to adapt more easily to difficult situations. It has also leveraged many of the project management and quantitative analysis/concepts to drive change in the organization and to improve operational processes.

Significantly, the master’s degree has opened new career opportunities with my employer. Experience isn’t always enough to move up the corporate ladder. The degree was the missing piece in seeking a promotion, and I’m now in a supervisory role with a greater level of responsibility and seniority.

What is the most rewarding aspect of your job?

• Empowering my team and helping them realize their full potential.
• Driving transformational change within the organization.
• Fostering an environment of growth and operational excellence.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

• I am an entrepreneur by nature and just opened my own business. This has been a dream of mine since childhood. It’s empowering and allows me the freedom to be more creative. I hope my business succeeds!  
• I will continue to manage a team and help professionalize the organization’s project management and business analyst roles, as well as standardize our change delivery framework across the group.
• Teaching business analysis/ project management courses at a college.
• Growing my financial management blog membership (https://workingyourwayup.com/), which went live on September 15. It has been great! I want the blog to be informational for folks. My hope is that it affects someone in a positive way.    

Outside the Classroom

• Giants, Jets, other, don’t care?  Knicks, Nets, other, don’t care?  Mets, Yankees, other, don’t care? Not a sports fan per se but I enjoy competitive events such as the Olympics.
• Favorite subway line?  Least favorite subway line? I now live in Westchester and drive to work. Nothing beats having a car versus having to take a train, but when I am in the city, I take the 6 train.
• Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal, both, neither? Neither, Game of Thrones! I’m sure there are a few fans within our alumni base.
• Favorite NYC attraction?  Favorite NYC cultural institution? I’m from Harlem, so I have to go with Museo del Barrio.
• Biggie, Tupac, both, neither?  Beatles, Rolling Stones, both, neither?  Mariah, Nicki Minaj, both, neither?  Favorite artist/band? I enjoy good music, regardless of genre. Could we add in Spanish music?
• Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, none, all?  Facebook, Instagram, and Linkedin. And my own financial blog!  
• Book or e-reader?  Favorite title or the most recent title you read? Nothing beats a physical book. An e-reader is too hard to follow (and remember the content) if what you are reading is more than 3 - 5 pages.

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