This week I spoke with Adam Cohn, a 2007 UVA alumni who’s now the Executive Vice President and CFO of CNN.

The Rundown:

• COLD OPEN: How a Christmas Eve favor led to an internship

• STEAL THIS: Adam’s favorite coffee chat question

• BEATING THE ODDS: Engineering → Finance Shift

• HOW IT WORKS: Why networking isn’t fake – it’s just unfamiliar

• IF I WERE YOU: Adam’s advice on career momentum

COLD OPEN

How Did You Get Your Start?

Funny enough, what led me to my first internship in finance was staying up late on Christmas Eve helping a neighbor build a basketball hoop to give to their kids the next morning.

I didn’t do it thinking I was getting a job, but that connection led to an interview, which led to an opportunity.

For full time roles, luckily, there was a UVA alumni at JPMorgan who was open to talking to E-school students.

When I left JPMorgan and ended up at CNN, there was also a UVA alumni who happened to interview me as well.

STEAL THIS

What’s A Question You Love Being Asked (Or Asking)?

What’s your superpower? Or said differently, what do you bring to the team or group that NO ONE else will bring?

It’s a simple, sometimes silly question, but I like to ask it in networking sessions and interviews.

It’s a good reminder to stop and ask yourself what you do well and what you’d always add to an excellent team.

TURNING POINT

What’s A Challenge You Faced Early On?

At UVA, I was a mechanical engineer, but had an interest in business and finance.

I was interested in exploring new areas and, in a way, had to figure out how to convince people an engineer could succeed or learn on the job in the finance world.

INDUSTRY INSIDER

Some View Networking As Fake. How Do You See It?

I wouldn't call it fakeness, I’d call it operating with limited information.

In college - you go in with the same few questions. “Where are you from?”, “What are you studying?” For me, meeting parents at my kids’ school during open house, it's “I’m so and so’s dad. Who’s your kid?”

It's not fake. It's the natural dynamics of meeting new people. And then eventually you’re going on trips or having people over for dinner that you didn't know a year prior.

Or in college or early career development, you may end up working together or working for someone.

I'm a big believer in that you start with the information you're given and build on it from there.

IF I WERE YOU

Do You Have Any Advice For Students?

My go to career advice came from the first company I worked at.

It’s to constantly make yourself a little bit uncomfortable.

That may mean signing up for a group networking session or taking a public speaking class.

It's not your job to get it right on day one. It's your job to apply yourself, be yourself, learn and keep going.