Real Advice From the Real World

The panelists were Miriam Kerstein ('15), Manager of Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence at Capital One; Dina Garber, Senior Software Engineer at Wells Fargo; Rachelli Wiederkehr ('07), Staff Software Engineer at Flatiron Health; and Zohar Tal ('21), UX/UI Designer at RTX.

What made the evening distinctive was the panelists’ shared background with the student audience. All four could recall sitting in those same seats not long ago, which created a level of candor rarely found in panel discussions.

The event, organized and moderated by Chairman of the Computer Science Department Dr. Shmuel Fink, opened with the topic of impostor syndrome—the common, sometimes crippling, fear among new graduates that they don’t belong. The panelists offered a simple solution: “Keep reminding yourself that you’re the one who got the job. They hired you because someone decided you were capable.” Over time, they reassured students, most employees realize that even their most confident colleagues occasionally struggle with these same fears.

Turning to professional habits, the panel noted that the skills needed to manage deadlines, focus during remote classes, and communicate with professors are the foundation for workplace success. “The first day of a job is not the time to develop these habits,” they warned. “You need to start today.”

A key discussion centered on the distinction between being a programmer and a computer scientist—going beyond mastering tools to understanding the underlying science. In an era where AI can generate functional code in seconds, the candidates who stand out are those who understand programming theory and the logic that makes systems work. This deeper fluency makes a career more durable; the consensus was that “task-based” roles are more vulnerable than roles demanding scientific thinking.

To achieve this mindset, panelists urged students to “own every line of code you write,” even if they didn't originate it. “Copy-paste has its place, but no one should deploy code they cannot fully explain,” they advised. Rewriting code in your own style, though tedious, is how genuine understanding develops.

The most compelling segment focused on the realities of working as an Orthodox woman in corporate environments. The panelists did not sugarcoat the experience.

One acknowledged the many cultural benefits to working within a smaller, locally owned business but described the salary difference in the corporate sector as “staggering.” In a corporate setting, six figures is often a starting point, not a ceiling, and professional development resources are more substantial.

Yet, the trade-offs are real. Spending days with colleagues who do not share one’s religious practices or calendar can be isolating. On a basic level, this involves explaining why you are unavailable on Friday afternoons.

Another shared that after returning from Pesach, a colleague asked how she enjoyed her “Passover vacation.” “After my ‘vacation,’ I needed a vacation,” she joked. But her underlying point was serious: “You have to accept and make peace with the reality that your colleagues may never fully understand your lifestyle.”

Cultural gaps can run deep. Her advice: know yourself. Choosing a corporate environment offers many upsides, but it should not be pursued blindly. It demands ongoing self-awareness, clear boundaries, and a deliberate effort to remain anchored to your values.

 The event was the second in a series of career readiness workshops at the LAS campus organized by Dr. Fink. The first, held during the fall semester, focused on the application and interview process. For LAS Computer Science students, these practical workshops complement their academic training and help distinguish their Touro University degree in a highly competitive field.