“You have to be able to communicate with people, and you have to be able to collaborate in teams in the performing arts, and that has been what’s led to my career success so far,” says Ianni.

While earning her master’s in higher education management at the University of Pennsylvania, she served as a graduate assistant with the college-prep Upward Bound Program for underserved high school students. “I loved that time but also felt like there were many resources for those programs.” As a result, she began to shift her interest in graduate school to adult education and non-traditional students in the adult education space.

To that end after graduate school, she landed an opportunity at the NYU Stern School of Business with the EMBA Program, starting as a program coordinator with the admissions team and then moving into positions of increasing responsibility. As part of her last role at Stern as senior associate director of Executive MBA Marketing and Admissions, she helped lead the launch of a new EMBA Program at NYU’s Global Campus in Washington, D.C.

While satisfying to see the Washington program succeed, Ianni wanted to spend more time on the student experience side. She wasn’t looking for a new job when Cornell called. “Cornell has a stunning campus,” she says. “When I toured the campus, I said I want to work here.”

At Cornell, Ianni also had the opportunity to explore the student side more, as student services and admissions at Cornell work closely together. She started overseeing the New York City EMBA Program and now leads all three Cornell EMBA Programs, including, in partnership with Queen’s University, the EMBA Americas Program. The pioneering hybrid online offering allows students anywhere in the world to take the program. Not only can students participate online, but students who live near one of Cornell’s EMBA boardrooms in 10 cities across North and South America can choose to attend the boardroom in person, joining small local cohorts, with faculty teaching virtually.

In addition, students who live near 10 cities in North and South America can choose to participate during in-person boardroom sessions with faculty teaching virtually.

Ianni loves working with EMBA students. “Most of the students I’ve come across in the EMBA space want to make a difference – they want to further their own professional development, and I really feel like I’m making a difference to them.”

Very early in her EMBA journey, Ianni learned about EMBAC from her boss, who encouraged her to attend a regional meeting and then the annual 2012 conference in Paris.
“I just remember thinking how collegial it was and how much I learned,” she says. “I found it really valuable right off the bat.”

The networking within EMBAC continues to prove a significant benefit. If she has an issue she wants to talk through, she can call other EMBAC members in her network. She has been involved as a volunteer with EMBAC since her first exposure to the association, serving on the conference committee for the 2018 EMBAC Conference in Madrid, Spain, hosting regional conferences, presenting at conferences, and participating on committees.

Ianni was elected to the EMBAC Board of Trustees in 2024, assisting with the Membership and Research Committees and agreeing to serve as the chair for the 2026 conference in Los Angeles. As a board member, she’s eager to follow the way of other members.

“I’ve seen so many people that I admire in the organization giving back,” Ianni says. “I wanted to make sure this is an association that’s around for a long time.”

Ianni also shared the following insights with EMBAC Voice:

My hobbies include: “I like to crochet, I love cooking, and I’m on a trivia team that plays weekly. I love going to the theatre and supporting performing arts.”

My favorite city is: “New York City.”

I’m most proud of: “My community, my family and friends.”

I’m reading: “The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig.”

I’m passionate about: “Education and access to education.”

My next project is: “I’m starting another baby blanket for crochet for a friend that’s expecting.”

You may not know that: “About the people.”

Less...