The Low Down

Columbia will be at the center of it all at this year's Sundance Film Festival, celebrating the accomplishments of our alumni filmmakers. More than 20 of their films will be showcased in Park City, Utah, this month.  

We've rounded up all of this year's talented Columbia directors, producers, writers, and actors:

VIEW THE LIST HERE

Planning to be at Sundance this year? Join fellow Columbians for a reception at The Spur Bar and Grill on Saturday, January 21. 

Check out the alumni featured in last year's Festival.

Congratulations to all of the Columbia filmmakers! 

Interested in more arts-related programming? Learn more about CAA Arts Access here.

Jenna Matecki is a Brooklyn-based journalist and the founder and CEO of Matecki & Co., a story development company. She is also the creator and host of Notes on Doing, a weekly podcast that features people who love what they do. 

Before Matecki founded Matecki & Co., she consulted international government clients at a strategic communications and public affairs firm, pitched social media analytics for a tech startup, and consulted at a leading public affairs firm. Matecki graduated from Barnard with a degree in comparative politics. Apart from her work, she teaches classes and is writing a book on Notes on Doing. Jenna also loves traveling, languages (Italian and Spanish), and really good conversations.

Matecki recently spoke with CAA Arts Access about her career.

By Caroline Ceniza-Levine '93BC of the Columbia Career Coaches Network
Originally published on Forbes.com

As a recruiter, I've seen many job offers fall apart over the significant other. For example, in a relocation, the candidate was willing to make the move, but the partner nixed it. Even in an offer situation for the same city, a partner's hesitation could derail the deal. A deal-breaker raised by the significant other was so common that one of my recruiting colleagues always included a dinner with the partner during the selling process. 

Happy New Year, Columbians! Here's what you may have missed from your alumni community:

The 2017 Forbes "30 Under 30" list highlights the achievements of some of the most influential and creative minds today. Of the unique and inspiring individuals honored, several graduated from Columbia. Read more about them below.*

In sub-Saharan Africa, 650 million people lack access to electricity. In Sierra Leone in particular, only 5% of the population is on the grid. That means that six and a half million people can’t study, cook, eat or work after the sun goes down except by dim candlelight or expensive kerosene lamps. To charge their mobile phones, most Sierra Leoneans have to go to public charging kiosks.

Three Columbia alumni from the School of International and Public Affairs found a solar solution to this challenge. Their startup, Easy Solar, hopes to introduce solar-powered products into Sierra Leone households, replacing the kerosene lamps that have negative environmental and health impacts.  

By Caroline Ceniza-Levine '93BC of the Columbia Career Coaches Network
Originally published on Forbes.com

Hannah asks: What are the best ways to determine alternative careers based on one's skills and experience, careers that might not be obvious?

The best way to learn a job is to do the job, but you can't try out every single career idea before settling on one—who has the time or energy? So, you need to find a way to learn about a career from the outside looking in. Then you can make an informed choice about whether to commit your efforts in that direction. Here is an eight-step process for identifying viable alternative careers:

By Melody Wilding '11SW of the Columbia Career Coaches Network
Originally published on Forbes.com

You're sitting in a meeting and a coworker takes credit for your idea. Or maybe you stay late to finish a project, but your name is left off of the final presentation. Your boss grabs the limelight and accepts all the praise.

BY FRANCIS CARR '18JRN

In many ways, 2016 was a year for the books, including the annals of the Columbia Alumni Association (CAA).

This year, Columbia alums made history while making unprecedented scientific discoveries, winning prestigious medals, awards, and board appointments, and causing havoc in the world of television game shows.

Here are just 10 of our favorite Columbia alumni achievements from 2016, in no particular order.

Bound by our shared Columbia connection and our collective passion, intellect, and drive, together, it's blue skies ahead.

Best wishes for a bright and happy new year.

- Columbia Alumni Association