Guidance from Faculty and Career Services Experts Propel Success of M.B.A. and Enterprise Risk Management Alumnus

A resident of Brooklyn, NY, Mr. Elcock is Senior Management Analyst, Enterprise Risk Management, at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, in Jersey City, NJ.

Please describe your job responsibilities

My key responsibilities include:

• The development of risk intelligence reports for key stakeholders, such as the Board of Commissioners, executive director, chief financial officer, and the Enterprise Risk Management  Steering Committee.
• Collaboration with the chief operating officer and department staff to support the successful integration of enterprise risk management with annual business and budget planning processes. 
• Partnering with key stakeholders, such as facility leadership, to advance the implementation of long-term business strategies.
• Cultivating strong working relationships with facilities to identify and assess risk and mitigation activities across various departments.

In addition, I had the opportunity to supervise our graduate management intern, and to ensure she thoroughly understood ERM and how it is applied in real time in a dynamic environment. We collaborated to deliver both director- and executive-level reports that can make a tangible impact at the Port Authority. It was a wonderful experience because she gained solid knowledge of ERM, while I enhanced my leadership skills. 

How did your St. John’s education help prepare you for your career and current employment?

The biggest influence of my St. John’s education on my career was the level of collaboration in classes that was required throughout my graduate degree program, in addition to the level of exposure and perspective that I received through meeting executive leadership at various organizations. The challenges that executives tasked us with during my time in the Executive-in-Residence Program (EIRP) at The Peter J. Tobin College of Business at St. John’s is an excellent example of having to deliver on expectations within a specific timeframe. 

What attracted you to St. John’s to pursue your degree?   

What attracted me to complete my Master of Business Administration degree in Enterprise Risk Management at St. John’s was my keen interest in understanding the drivers of risk events, and how they tie to long-term business objectives. Essentially, I was addressing the question of, “How can what we do today affect the business model over the next five, 10, and 15 years?” When I saw that St. John’s not only offered a robust enterprise risk management program, but also an M.B.A. degree, it was a no-brainer for me to pursue. 

What other major factors drew you to pursue your M.B.A. in Enterprise Risk Management at St. John’s? 

The St. John’s community is another major factor for me. I was fortunate to earn my Bachelor of Science degree in Risk Management and Insurance at St. John’s, so it was a natural fit to further my education in enterprise risk management. The faculty and my exposure to business executives, as well as to issues when they surfaced, enabled me to hone my education in a theoretical and practical way.

Did St. John’s large network of alumni connections help you move forward with your career? 

Absolutely, with the key component being ease of access. I can recall considering a move from a brokerage role to a consulting one, and reaching out for advice to the Ellen Thrower Center for Apprenticeship and Career Services I met with Career Services representatives to discuss my options, and within a few weeks, they helped me to connect with a perspective employer. That one phone call changed my career path and helped me step into a more challenging but rewarding opportunity. 

Students were exposed to various chief executive officers during their time at GSRM. What was your experience with this? 

We were fortunate to meet executives during both my enterprise risk management classes and while I was in the EIRP at St. John’s. The ability to ask questions and gain knowledge of how risk affects business enhanced my understanding of workplace challenges and expectations. 

What would you say to someone who is considering the pursuit of a degree at GSRM? 

My primary advice would be to make sure you are confident, not only in your pursuit of a degree, but in your general understanding of how you want to use that degree after graduation. The degree itself is a significant time commitment and you want to ensure you have a solid plan on how you want to apply your knowledge in the real world. Doing research of various agencies and organizations, and finding a balance between your interests and the best way to apply the degree, is an excellent first step. 

What did you like best about St. John’s? 

I greatly enjoyed the class discussions and how case studies were applied to illustrate different aspects of enterprise risk management. Whether it be forecasting or trend analysis, the discussions in class really made it a joy to participate and contribute. 

How did the University’s faculty, administrators, and/or staff support you while you pursued your degree?

It was a collective effort on all fronts, from professors taking the time to ensure students had a solid understanding of their studies to the Thrower Center advisers taking our professional interests into consideration and ensuring that their recommendations would create a good fit after graduation. 

Did St. John’s provide you with financial assistance to help you pursue your degree? 

Yes, St. John’s provided me with financial assistance via the Maurice R. Greenberg School of Risk Management Academic Scholarship. Undertaking more academic loans could have made my quality-of-life postgraduation more challenging to sustain.