Catchin' Up With a Cookie: Nadia Vaso
Nadia Vaso
2017 Undergraduate Transfer Scholar, Columbia University/School of General Studies
Could you start by introducing yourself?
Hi Cookies! I am a 2017 Undergraduate Transfer Scholar who graduated from Columbia University/School of General Studies. I was born and raised in Italy from Albanian parents and moved to the United States right before college. At Columbia, I studied political science and graduated in 2020. Upon graduating, I joined and am still employed at CornerStone Partners, an outsourced chief investment office that serves a number of endowments, nonprofits and foundations, including the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation. I am currently an investment associate, and my role primarily entails evaluating investments in private markets investment managers, more specifically in the venture capital space. I love spending my free time with my two dogs Mimi and Coco (Picture included of them in Halloween costumes. You’re welcome!), going to Pilates, or watching movies and tv shows.
What does being a Cooke Scholar mean to you?
Being a Scholar to me means being part of a community that is deeply focused on uplifting others and creating opportunities for those who are often overlooked. The word “community” deserves to really be highlighted; from the moment I became a Scholar, I felt deeply connected to this group of people that fostered a deep sense of belonging and was there for me every time I needed it. What makes this community even more special is its ethos; every Scholar I know intimately understands what it means to be given a life changing opportunity, and for this reason they are so focused on making sure that they can give back to others, particularly those most in need.
Tell us about a memorable moment in undergrad or graduate school.
I think my undergraduate experience was filled with memorable moments, and while there were obviously many ups and downs, I look back fondly at all those years. I would say the most “daring” thing I did as an undergraduate, was deciding to run as VP of Finance for the student council. I remember vividly when it hit me that if I was going to commit to this, I was going to have to be ok with printing my face on posters and plaster them all around school, which would be followed by a live debate and therefore potentially a very public loss. It took me some time to muster the courage to do it, but I eventually decided that I’d worked too hard to be in my dream school, and that I owed it to myself to take some daring chances without fearing failure. I was eventually elected into the position, which led to a very fulfilling and formative experience that also allowed me to serve my community of fellow students.
What is ONE THING YOU DID TO HELP TRANSITION TO YOUR FIRST YEAR OUT OF COLLEGE?
I graduated in May of 2020, so like all of us, I spent that first year not only adjusting to not being a college student anymore, but primarily trying to navigate a very, very different world. That said, if I could give newly graduated students a piece of advice to help with the transition I wish I’d followed myself, it would be to be very intentional about maintaining relationships with people that meant a lot to you in school and were an integral part of your experience. As we enter the workforce, it can be surprisingly easy to lose touch with people, but I think a proactive approach can help mitigate it.
What was the last show you watched that you really enjoyed and highly recommended?
The last book I read that I would highly recommend is “Hidden Potential” by Adam Grant. The book is not only a very pleasant read, but it is an insightful exploration of how anyone, not just those with innate talent, can achieve great things. I really think a lot of the content and stories would resonate with most Cookies
Recently, I also rewatched “Breaking Bad”. I had watched the show a very long time ago and didn’t really appreciate it. I am a TV show nerd, and I can confidently say this is one of the greatest (if not the greatest) pieces of television ever created. Cannot recommend it enough!
If you were to create your own cookie, what would it consist of and what name would you give it?
I love this question! After trying a Levain cookie in NYC that was one of the most scrumptious things I’d ever had in my life, I have spent a lot of time baking cookies and playing around with cookie recipes over the past few months. I think my ideal cookie is one that marries the American cookie tradition with the Italian one. I envision it having Nutella and hazelnut chunks in it. I would name it Nocciolino (translated: tiny hazelnut).