Zicklin Alumni Sweep Baruch Changemakers Awards

Three Zicklin School alumni—Jay Chakraborty (MBA, ’06), Lakshmee Lachhman-Persad (BBA, ’01), and Daphne Leroy (BBA, ’93)—were honored at the second annual Baruch Changemakers Awards ceremony in September. Sponsored by Baruch’s Office of Alumni Relations and Volunteer Engagement, the event recognizes Baruch alumni who work to better the welfare of their industries, organizations, and communities. This year, half the winners were Zicklin School graduates.  

Jay, a senior partner in PwC’s Cyber Risk and Regulatory practice, was recognized for his efforts mentoring Zicklin alumni and fostering an inclusive environment at PwC. He is PwC’s firm relationship partner for Baruch College and has been mentoring Zicklin students for over 10 years. He is also a partner champion for PwC’s Inter-Belief Inclusion Network, which is a key element of the firm’s diversity and inclusion strategy.  

Left to right: Jay Chakraborty (MBA, ’06) Lakshmee Lachhman-Persad (BBA, ’01), Daphne Leroy (BBA, ’93)

“As a first-generation immigrant coming to a foreign land, I witnessed firsthand how the Zicklin School fosters a culture of inclusivity among its students and how the staff and teachers take great care to make every student feel valued and supported,” Jay said. “As I grew in my professional career, I went back to what I had seen and learned on campus. As a leader in my field, I try to emulate the same inclusive behaviors and foster a high degree of openness and inclusivity in my team.”  

After a decade of mentoring students and opening the door to opportunities for diverse candidates in niche areas such as data analytics, artificial intelligence, and emerging technologies, Jay now sees the fruits of his labors: “Leading by example creates a chain of mentorship, as the people I’ve mentored move up the ladder and have become the biggest proponents of mentorship, coaching, and support for people from diverse backgrounds,” he added.  

Lakshmee, who immigrated to the U.S. from Guyana as a teenager, is the founder of Accessible Travel NYC, a company that helps people with disabilities and their families plan visits to New York. A travel industry veteran, Lakshmee was inspired by the difficulties faced by her sister, who uses a wheelchair, when trying to explore local attractions.  

Lakshmee recalled the challenging atmosphere of her early days at Zicklin: “I was an immigrant, working several jobs, and going to the Zicklin School at night,” she recounted. “But I learned tenacity, and I learned to have hope and faith. Today, as I struggle to build my organization, it reminds me of those years when things were even harder and gives me the strength to tell myself I’m going to make it and keep going.”  

Daphne, who is senior vice president of advertising strategy and culture at Paramount Global, has received multiple industry awards for her influence as an executive woman of color in the media. Her Changemakers Award honored her work “paying it forward” by mentoring students and young women.  

“My Zicklin experience shaped the executive I am today,” Daphne said. In addition to the “hard” skills gained in her marketing classes, she also benefited from “soft” skills learned in her myriad extracurricular activities, from writing for The Ticker and serving as vice president of Undergraduate Student Government, to co-producing a student adaptation of a play by George C. Wolfe: “I was building relationships, working on my personal and professional brand, and learning how to be a team player.”  

In addition, as a member of the Zicklin School’s marketing advisory board since 2018, Daphne works to ensure that any Zicklin graduate can navigate the media, marketing, and technology world of the 21st century. “I’m very intentional about how I embody the Zicklin spirit,” she added. 

“I am tremendously impressed by the Zicklin alumni who won Changemakers Awards,” said Bruce W. Weber, Willem Kooyker Dean of the Zicklin School. “It is gratifying to know that our school produces graduates who have a passion for social responsibility as well as the business acumen required for success.” 

Categories: Alumni News, Faculty, News