Alumni Advice:Suzi Cohen ‘88
By SAM ALTMAN and JINMIN LEE
For our third week of Alumni Advice, we have Ms. Suzi Kwon Cohen ‘88, who is a trustee at the Academy. After graduating from Exeter and attending Brown University, she later received her MBA from Stanford Business School. She pursued a career in investment banking and private equity investing and is now the Chief Investment Officer at Mousse Partners, the investment division for the parent company of Chanel Limited.
Cohen reflected on how Exeter prepared her for her professional career, mentioning how Exeter helped her develop certain important skills. “Exeter taught me many fundamental life skills, such as how to learn and figure things out, to work hard, and how to carry oneself around a table for discussion. However, the most important skill I developed was perseverance. Exeter made me realize that even after receiving a bad test grade or struggling through final exams, I can survive, get through anything, and be just fine. Everything you do here will make you stronger and serve as a solid foundation to pursue anything you want to do in life.”
Cohen gave tips on leaving the “Exeter bubble” and acclimating to life beyond Exeter. “When you first graduate from Exeter, you are fully prepared for many things, especially on the academic side, but you might also be under-prepared for some aspects of college and life beyond. Some general advice: be open to challenges, new experiences, and taking risks. You will look back at failures and learn invaluable lessons from these experiences, as well as how these failures also made you stronger and more interesting. And most importantly, always try to keep a positive mental attitude.”
Cohen advised Exonians on how to maximize their time at the Academy. “Value the friendships you make at Exeter. Since it took me a while to find my footing at Exeter, my friends were very important to me as we supported each other. Keep things in perspective, and remember that everything will work out in the end. When I first arrived as a lower, I was very worried because there were so many kids who were smarter or more athletic than me. But in the end, we all graduate and find our place in the world, and it is all good. And lastly, try to keep a positive growth mindset so that everything you do or any challenges you face is framed in a constructive way that will allow you to succeed.”
When asked about her most cherished moments at Exeter, Cohen reminisced, “My favorite memories were in the senior spring semester when life opened up again after a lot of hard work and late nights. When you first get here as a prep or a lower, it can be overwhelming academically and socially. Senior year is when you start to relax, have fun, and get nostalgic thinking about your last days on campus and all you will leave behind.”
Cohen concluded with advice and a book recommendation: “Remember that life is a marathon, so pace yourself and enjoy the journey! And a great book to read about the importance and value of learning and growing is ‘Mindset: The New Psychology of Success’ by Carol Dweck.”
work and late nights. When you first get here as a prep or a lower, it can be overwhelming academically and socially. Senior year is when you start to relax, have fun, and get nostalgic thinking about your last days on campus and all you will leave behind.”
Cohen concluded with advice and a book recommendation: “Remember that life is a marathon, so pace yourself and enjoy the journey! And a great book to read about the importance and value of learning and growing is ‘Mindset: The New Psychology of Success’ by Carol Dweck.”