CMC Conversations

Claremont McKenna College

CMC Conversations brings Claremont McKenna College students, faculty, alumni, and staff together to share the unique stories of our amazing community.

  1. 12 Oct

    Three Eras of CMC: Community, Mentorship, and 50 Years of Co-Education

    Three eras of CMC, one conversation. Recorded live at ImpactCMC, the Celebration Kickoff of CMC's 50 Years of Co-Education, Lena Ciganer-Albeniz '29 sits down with Stella Ho '97 and Miles Bird '12 to explore what keeps the CMC community connected across generations. Stella Ho '97 is the CFO and COO at CFT Capital Partners, the Los Angeles-based investment platform that manages alternative assets for the Cherng Family Trust. Her 25+ year career in financial services spans Foresite Capital, LightBay Capital, Moelis & Company, UBS Investment Bank, and PricewaterhouseCoopers. She has served on the CMC Alumni Association Board of Directors since 2019 and the Board of Trustees since 2023, and became President of the Alumni Association this July. At CMC, she studied Econ-Accounting, graduated Phi Beta Kappa, competed on the tennis team, and served as a Residential Assistant. Miles Bird '12 is Founder and General Partner at StoryHouse Ventures, a firm built to back alumni entrepreneurs from the Claremont Colleges. Before StoryHouse, he helped lead enterprise investing at Tuesday Capital and was an investor at Correlation Ventures and head of growth and community at the Kairos Society. A History major at CMC, he continues to give back as an advisory board member at the Randall Lewis Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Together, they reflect on what it means to return to campus, the community that keeps alumni connected to CMC, and the classes, professors, and mentors that shaped their paths. They also discuss how co-education and athletics have evolved at CMC, and what they hope the next 50 years will bring. Learn more: https://www.cmc.edu/50-coeducation https://www.linkedin.com/in/stella-ho-4a864a/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/bird/

  2. 23 Sept

    The Hidden Cost of Resilience - Professor Stacey Doan

    Isabel V. Guerrero '27 sits down with Professor Stacey Doan to unpack the psychology of stress and resilience. Professor Doan is the Norwood and Frances Berger Professor of Psychology, Business, and Society, and Director of the Berger Institute for Individual and Social Development. Her research explores the biological, social, and individual factors behind physical health and emotional well-being. "Resilience comes at a cost," Professor Doan explains, arguing that individuals must learn to take care of the mind first and foremost. Drawing on her research through Project PRISM, she explains how resilience is studied. Since we can't control the adversities that cause stress, she argues, our best strategy is to understand its underlying mechanisms and how to intervene effectively. Her advice for students who feel pressure to do it all: go deep, not broad. Learn more about Professor Doan and the Berger Institute: https://www.cmc.edu/academic/faculty/profile/stacey-doan https://www.cmc.edu/berger-institute

    The Hidden Cost of Resilience - Professor Stacey Doan

  3. 26 Aug

    Coaching, Culture, & Taking Big Leaps — Dr. Vince Minjares ’04

    What does responsible leadership look like in the world of sports? 🏀✨ In this episode of CMC Conversations—recorded live at the CMC Leads Summit—host Parishi Kanuga ’26 sits down with Dr. Vince Minjares ’04 from the Aspen Institute’s Sports and Society program. Vince shares his inspiring journey from playing basketball at Claremont McKenna College and writing his senior thesis on sports economics, to taking a bold leap to launch a backyard basketball academy, completing his PhD in New Zealand, and leading national policy initiatives today. In this episode, we dive into: • Why sports must prioritize human development over commercialization 🏆 • Balancing high standards and supportive culture in coaching 🧠 • Addressing critical youth safety issues like ACL injury prevention in high school female athletes 🏥 • How a liberal arts background cultivates the generalist mindset needed to tackle complex, interdisciplinary challenges 📚 Whether you're a student athlete, coach, parent, or alumnus, this conversation offers powerful insights on leading with humility, passion, and care. 🔗 Learn more about Vince: https://www.aspeninstitute.org/people/vincent-minjares/

  4. 12 Aug

    Leading with Vulnerability & Purpose – Tom Linebarger '86

    What does it mean to be a responsible leader in the modern business world? In this special episode of CMC Conversations, recorded live at the CMC Leads Summit, host Parishi Kanuga '26 sits down with distinguished alumnus Tom Linebarger '86, former Chairman and CEO of Cummins Inc. Tom shares his unique journey from a 3-2 economics and engineering student and Head RA to leading a global power giant for nearly 30 years. With profound honesty, he opens up about the pivotal career moment that forced him to confront his blind spots, embrace executive coaching, and develop the emotional intelligence required for authentic leadership. He also dives deep into the 'Stakeholder Model' of capitalism—explaining why long-term corporate success requires optimizing value for employees, suppliers, and communities alongside shareholders. Tune in to learn why true leadership means leaving a place better than you found it, and why showing your humanity is the ultimate leadership superpower. Read more about Tom: https://www.cmc.edu/news/learning-live-purpose-driven-life

  5. 29 Jul

    32 Years in Congress: Institutional Respect & Bipartisan Action – Hon. David Dreier '75

    What does it mean to practice responsible leadership in a deeply polarized world? In this special episode of CMC Conversations, recorded live at the CMC Leads Summit, host Parishi Kanuga '26 sits down with Claremont McKenna College Trustee and former Congressman David Dreier '75. Congressman Dreier served 32 years in the U.S. House of Representatives, making history as the first Californian to chair the powerful House Rules Committee. In this expansive dialogue, he shares foundational insights from his time on Capitol Hill—from shaping monumental trade policy like NAFTA/USMCA to defending minority party rights and fostering institutional respect across the political aisle. He also discusses his post-congressional dedication to global trade, press freedom via the Fallen Journalists Memorial Foundation, and his commitment to nurturing the next generation of collaborative public servants through the Dreier Roundtable at CMC. Tune in to discover why institutional values, civil discourse, and bipartisan collaboration remain the ultimate bedrocks of modern democracy. Learn more about the Dreier Roundtable at CMC: https://www.cmc.edu/drt

  6. 16 Jun

    Why Deeper Community Matters: From the Abolitionist Movement to Modern Healthcare - Professor Esther Chung-Kim

    In this episode of CMC Conversations, host Parishi Kanuga ’26 sits down with Professor of Religious Studies Esther Chung-Kim to unpack some of today’s most complex societal issues. Moving past "the danger of a single story," Professor Chung-Kim explains how looking at problems through multiple vantage points is essential for tackling contemporary challenges—from inequities in healthcare access to the decline of communal structures. She also shares powerful, personal reflections on her recent work with The Dialogue on Race and Faith Project, illustrating how historical research into the 1830s abolitionist movement and early integrated communities like the Oberlin Institute taught her what it truly means to build trust, lean into discomfort, and practice real empathy. Check out the links below to explore The Dialogue on Race and Faith Project and Professor Chung-Kim’s work: https://www.awakeningtojustice.com/ https://www.cmc.edu/academic/faculty/profile/esther-chung-kim https://sites.google.com/site/profchungkim

    Why Deeper Community Matters: From the Abolitionist Movement to Modern Healthcare - Professor Esther Chung-Kim

  7. 9 Jun

    Welcome to CMC: Class of ’80 Roundtable

    During CMC’s Alumni Weekend 2025, members of the Class of 1980 gathered for their 45th reunion. As the first four-year graduating class after the College adopted co-education in the fall of 1976, CMC Magazine asked six 1980 classmates—four women and two men—to join us for a campus conversation to reflect on the history of the landmark year, focusing on their arrival to then-Claremont Men’s College and all that followed. With an eye on CMC’s 50 Years of Co-Education Anniversary celebration beginning in the fall of this year, the group shared memories and moments that were special to them individually—and with decades of additional life experiences and introspection, feel even more significant collectively.

  8. 14 May

    Passing the Mic: A Senior Send-off with Parishi Kanuga '26 and Natalie Chen '26

    Just days before they walk across the Commencement stage, our beloved senior podcast hosts, Parishi Kanuga ’26 and Natalie Chen ’26, settled into our studio —this time as interviewees. A full-circle moment. Hosted by Lena Ciganer-Albeniz ’29, this special episode is a heartfelt reflection on the Claremont McKenna Collegeexperience. From the 'summer camp' feeling of freshman year to the intellectual depth of senior theses on love and microfinance, Parishi and Natalie share the CMC stories that shaped them. Tune in for a beautiful 'passing of the torch' as we celebrate our graduates and the lifelong community they leave behind and carry with them.

    Passing the Mic: A Senior Send-off with Parishi Kanuga '26 and Natalie Chen '26
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About

CMC Conversations brings Claremont McKenna College students, faculty, alumni, and staff together to share the unique stories of our amazing community.

Information

  • Creator
    Claremont McKenna College
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    27
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Claremont McKenna College
  • Show Website
    CMC Conversations