Nina Alexandrova

New York University (Stern)

“Health and fitness oriented, avid traveler, tons of energy and desire to explore new possibilities.”

Age: 43

Hometown: Syosset, New York

Family Members: The most important person in my life is my daughter.

Fun fact about yourself: I actually started out as a model who turned into a doctor, and now I am on the way to get my business degree – Life is so unpredictable.

Undergraduate School and Degree:

 Moscow Medical Academy, Moscow, Russia MD degree

Where are you currently working?

Northwell Health, Hospitalist Physician

Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles: I started the combined medicine and orthopedic program in the hospital to help patients with sport injuries and joint replacements to heal faster.

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school?  I never knew how to use Excel, so I am proud to be able to do this now!!! In terms of academics, I’m proud to conquer finances and valuation- that was most challenging for me.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? I’m proud of being able to do my career in a country I was not born in and never thought I would ever be living.

Who was your favorite MBA professor? I absolutely love Professors Sonia Marciano and Anthony Marciano. Though they teach different subjects, they both are full of personalities and just inspire everyone to learn.

What was your favorite MBA course and what was the biggest insight you gained about business from it?

The Global Study Tour because it shows how business exists in the different parts of the world and I was always attracted to globalization

Why did you choose this executive MBA program? NYU Stern has always been my dream – it combines excellence in education and a superb city location.

What did you enjoy most about business school in general? I most enjoyed the faculty and diversity of students. And of course – it’s in the middle of the best city in the world!

What is the biggest lesson you gained during your MBA and how did you apply it at work? It’s not enough just to have an idea – you need to know the right people and be in the right place at the right time.

Give us a story during your time as an executive MBA on how you were able to juggle work, family and education? Being a single mom of a teenage daughter, full-time physician, and executive MBA student is a real challenge. I learned to prioritize and structure my time efficiently so every minute is used with purpose. The biggest challenge I had is to fit my fitness time in the schedule.

What advice would you give to a student looking to enter an executive MBA program? If you have your dream – follow it. It’s hard, but so is life and you will learn a lot.

What is the biggest myth about going back to school? Don’t underestimate the amount of time you would need to spend for learning – be prepared for it.

What was your biggest regret in business school? My biggest regret is that I did not have enough time to spend with my classmates and networking.

Which MBA classmate do you most admire? Every person in my class has distinct and awesome personalities, goals, and interests. I have been so lucky to meet so many talented people.

“I knew I wanted to go to business school when…I finally started making money. I realized that there are tons of unexplored possibilities that only business gives.”

“If I hadn’t gone to business school, I would be…a doctor (haha… I already am!).”

What is your ultimate long-term professional goal? To be able to create an impact on a global level.

In one sentence, how would you like your peers to remember you? “Russian doctor with desire to explore new possibilities and help other people.”

Favorite book: The Forsyte Saga by John Galsworthy

Favorite movie or television show: The Princess Diaries

What are the top two items on your bucket list?

Get a job with a global role and travel the world.

What made Nina such an invaluable addition to the class of 2018?

“Nina is an asset to the NYU Stern Executive MBA community. She has an open and engaging personality which enables her to effectively collaborate with her classmates. She brings a unique set of experiences given her background as a physician and contributes a diverse perspective to the program. During her time in the program, Nina has been actively involved in EMBA Health, a student-run organization focused on issues and trends in the healthcare space. Nina recently connected with an industry leader and fellow NYU Stern Executive MBA alumnus and brought him in to share his experiences as a business leader and medical professional with EMBA Health members. Most amazingly, Nina has been able to successfully complete the Executive MBA program while managing her roles as a hospitalist physician at Northwest Health and a mom to her teenage daughter. Nina is a true inspiration to her cohort and I’m sure she will continue to make a positive, lasting impact as a leader in healthcare.”

Neha Singhal

Senior Director, Executive MBA Admissions & Marketing

NYU Stern School of Business

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