From Classroom to C-Suite: Tobin Graduate Students Deliver Real-World Insights to The New York Post

More than 20 graduate students from the Peter J. Tobin College of Business stepped into the boardroom at The New York Post on December 2 to present cutting-edge research on Gen Z media consumption—showcasing the power of experiential learning and the extraordinary talent emerging from Tobin’s MS in Business Analytics program. 

A Semester of High-Impact Learning 

Throughout the fall semester, students in BUA 650, the program’s capstone course led by Assistant Professor of the Practice Michael D. Herley, took on a challenge facing nearly every media organization: How does a 224-year-old newspaper connect with readers who get most of their news from TikTok, Instagram, and emerging platforms? 

Students treated the project like a consulting engagement from day one. They crafted survey instruments, gathered more than 600 responses from students aged 18–26 across the NY Metro area, and used machine learning, AI-assisted analysis, and traditional statistical methods to uncover trends shaping the future of news. 

Their findings surprised even seasoned media executives: 

• 85% rely on Instagram for news
• Only 7% prefer traditional long-form articles
• 60% feel social media already satisfies their news needs 

Teams then translated these insights into strategic recommendations, building user personas, proposing digital product enhancements, and benchmarking their conclusions against leading research from Pew and Reuters. 

“This project was a masterclass in analytical thinking and storytelling,” said Professor Herley. “Our students didn’t just collect data—they made meaning from it, and they delivered solutions that The Post can actually implement.” 

Competition That Inspired Higher Performance 

To push students even further, Professor Herley organized the project as an internal competition, with six teams vying to deliver the sharpest insights and most actionable strategic guidance. The competitive structure elevated the quality of analysis, strengthened presentation skills, and simulated the pace of a real consulting engagement. 

Students also knew the stakes were real: the strongest analyses could open doors to internships and full-time opportunities.  

Student Perspective — First Place Team 
“Being part of BUA 650’s experiential learning project with The New York Post pushed me beyond what I thought possible in a graduate course... The experience of conducting real research, analyzing data, building models, and presenting findings to NY Post executives, such as Manu Singh and Saloni Kankaria, provided me with practical insights that I couldn’t have gained from textbooks alone. Having these senior leaders engage with our class throughout the semester was incredible. Winning first place made it even more special,” shared Linn Hertz Saebbo, captain of first-place team and M.S. in Business Analytics student. 

Student Perspective — Second Place Team 
“This project challenged both my creative problem-solving and analytical skills,” shared Karen Beglin, captain of the second-place team. “The opportunity to work on a real-world industry project and a topic relevant to many corporations will be very helpful in expanding my analytical toolkit and professional skills as I enter the workforce in the near future. It was one of my favorite experiences during my time at St. John’s.” 

Presenting to the C-Suite 

On December 2, the semester’s work culminated in a series of polished 15-minute presentations delivered to senior leaders including: 

• Joseph Ruchalski, Senior Vice President, CFO
• Ariscielle Novicio, CTO & SVP of Product & Digital Strategy
• Manu Singh, Vice President, Data Science & Analytics
• Saloni Kankaria, Senior Manager, Enterprise & Digital Information Technology 

Students fielded complex strategy questions, defended their models, and demonstrated a level of readiness that left executives impressed. 

“Their business maturity impressed me most,” said Ruchalski. “They grasped our strategic challenges and provided solutions we can actually implement. It’s been incredibly gratifying to reconnect with St. John’s in such a meaningful way—giving back to the university that gave me so much while seeing firsthand the exceptional talent of today’s students.” 

How the Partnership Began 

While the student work defines the partnership, its origins were unexpectedly simple: a brief conversation between two St. John’s alumni at Madison Square Garden last spring. Professor Herley and Ruchalski met in the Dow Jones box during the St. John’s vs. Creighton Big East Championship game. Their quick connection as St. John’s MBAs led to a follow-up conversation, which sparked the idea to bring a real business challenge into the classroom. 

What began as a casual alumni exchange became one of the most impactful applied-learning opportunities of the year. 

A Growing Relationship with Lasting Impact 

Impressed by the talent and professionalism of Tobin students, The New York Post is now expanding its on-campus recruitment efforts—opening doors for both undergraduate and graduate students interested in analytics, digital strategy, and media innovation. 

The partnership reflects what sets St. John’s apart: 

• Students gaining real-world, résumé-ready experience
• Alumni empowering the next generation
• Experiential learning that transforms theory into results 

For Tobin students, December 2 was more than a presentation day—it was a defining moment that bridged academic preparation and professional impact. 

And sometimes, as this story proves, the path from classroom to boardroom begins with a simple conversation—one that ultimately opened doors for an entire cohort of future business leaders.