Post SIPA Life in DC: A Lunchtime Panel Discussion

John Sakellariadis

https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-sakellariadis-651199105/

Tala Haikal

Strategy and Operations Consultant

Deloitte

https://www.linkedin.com/in/tala-haikal-1447953b/

Tala Haikal - Panelist is a Strategy and Operations Consultant at Deloitte. She is an experienced analyst, writer, and communicator. She previously worked at USAID’s Flagship Maternal and Child Survival Program highlighting strategic U.S. government investments designed to improve the health of women and families within developing countries. She also worked for the Center for Health and Gender Equity elevating the organization’s brand, growing its online network of supporters, and providing traditional media support. Tala’s professional experiences have provided her an intricate perspective on the complexities of the public sector, along with the energy and imagination to devise unique approaches to solving current problems.

Tala holds a B.A. in International Studies from American University right here in D.C. She obtained her master’s degree from Columbia University in International Affairs, with a concentration in International Security Policy and a specialization in Middle Eastern studies in 2019. Tala lives in the Mt. Vernon Triangle neighborhood in D.C. and occasionally dog sits a French bulldog named Penny.

Brandon Thompson

Nuclear Security Fellow

National Nuclear Security Administration

https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandon-thompson-3592201b/

Brandon Thompson - Panelist is a Nuclear Security Fellow at the National Nuclear Security Administration, a semi-autonomous agency within the Department of Energy. The fellowship places post-graduate and post-doctoral students of policy, engineering, and science into yearlong positions within the federal offices that maintain the nuclear deterrent, curb proliferation, and prevent radiological terrorism. Brandon supports the Program Executive Office for Strategic Materials in Defense Programs. When not travelling to the national laboratories tasked with executing NNSA’s mission, he is focused on improving operational effectiveness of a federal office plagued with the atrophy that comes with government bureaucracy.

Prior to joining the NNSA, Brandon was the head writer for a second-rate follies program and sometimes attended graduate courses at SIPA. Only kidding, he only skipped macro a few times and still regrets it. (Word to the wise:  Don’t take 17.5 credits in one semester.) He graduated in 2019 with a Master of International Affairs with a concentration in International Security Policy and specialization in Management. Before SIPA Brandon climbed the corporate ranks in sales and management at Dell, Inc. where he spent the better part of his time with the company’s Advanced Systems Group. He holds a B.S. in Accounting from Auburn University and grew up in Decatur, AL. He now lives in JSNOMVT in D.C. (Just Slightly North of Mt. Vernon Triangle.)

Nils Osterberg

Data Modelling Specialist

Ipsos Public Affairs

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nils-wollesen-osterberg-a65a6059/

Nils Osterberg – Panelist is a Data Modelling Specialist at Ipsos Public Affairs. Working in the Risk Analytics Division, the work includes innovative solutions to conflict zone assessments and political forecasting using both social media data and more traditional survey inputs. Nils is applying data modelling methods to remote sensory data in conflict zones to assess damage and economic activity as well as statistical methods to improve the accuracy of political forecasting that relies on non-representative samples. The team is relatively newly established, allowing for an agile culture, innovation, and novel and challenging projects.



Nils holds a B.Sc. in Applied Economics and Management from Cornell University. He proceeded to Columbia SIPA immediately after his undergraduate studies. At SIPA, Nils concentrated in International Finance and Economic Policy, and graduated with an MIA in May 2019. Originally from Sweden, he has previous experience from international trade policy with the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs and lobbying in Stockholm. Nils currently lives in the U Street Corridor in D.C. and bikes to work on K Street.

Kelsey Orr

Foreign Service Officer

US Department of State

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelsey-orr/

Kelsey Orr - Panelist is a Foreign Service Officer at the United States Department of State. Kelsey graduated from Furman University with a double major in Politics and International Affairs and Asian Studies. While at Furman, Kelsey studied Japanese language and participated in study away programs in Japan, Scotland, and Hawaii in addition to serving as a Student Delegate to the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation in the Philippines. After Furman, Kelsey enrolled at SIPA, concentrating in International Security Policy and a specializing in Management, and graduating with a MPA in 2019. At Columbia, Kelsey worked as a Program Assistant at the Institute for the Study of Human Rights and completed a Capstone Project with Mercy Corps in Nepal.

Before coming to the Department of State, Kelsey worked as a legal assistant and for Southwest Airlines on their Community Affairs and Grassroots team. Previously, Kelsey has served the Department of State in the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs both in Washington and at the United States Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City. Currently, Kelsey is studying Spanish at the Foreign Service Institute in preparation for her first tour as a Political Officer at the United States Embassy in Mexico City. Originally from North Carolina, Kelsey now lives in Arlington.