The Founders
Advisors who have been where
you are going
Our co-founders bring decades of combined experience from the very institutions and industries they now guide clients into.
Dr. Sharon Poczter
Co-Founder & Director of Advisory
01
Co-Founder
Dr. Sharon Poczter
Co-Founder & Director of Advisory
Sharon is an accomplished academic leader, economist, and educator serving in multiple senior leadership roles at Yeshiva University, the flagship Jewish University in New York City. She is the Founding Director of the Senator Joseph Lieberman-Mitzner Center for Public Service and Advocacy, where she leads initiatives designed to cultivate the next generation of leaders in public service, policy, and advocacy. She also founded the Yeshiva University Women’s Initiative for Leadership and Learning (YUWILL) and the Golda Meir Fellowship, programs dedicated to advancing leadership development, mentorship, and professional growth for high-achieving students.
Dr. Poczter is an Associate Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship at the Sy Syms School of Business and previously served as Chair of the department, where she led a major transformation of the program, significantly expanding student enrollment and modernizing the curriculum.
A recognized scholar in entrepreneurship, finance, and organizational strategy, Dr. Poczter’s work has been published in leading academic journals, and she is a frequent contributor and commentator for media outlets including Inc, Forbes, Bloomberg, and Fox News.
Having personally mentored hundreds of students during her career, Dr. Poczter brings deep expertise in mentorship, higher education strategy, and leadership development to her clients at AMA.
Education:
PhD, University of California Berkeley, Haas (Business and Public Policy)
MSc, University of California Berkeley
BS, Applied Economics, Cornell University
Former Roles:
Professor, Applied Economics, Cornell University
Research Associate, Harvard Business School
Analyst, Ernst & Young, Global Investigations and Disputes Advisory
Specialty:
Undergraduate and Graduate Admissions, University Navigation and Advising, Young Professional Careers
Industry:
Business, Economics, Entrepreneurship, Higher Education (University, PhD), Public Policy, Government
Melanie Shapsis, Esq.
Co-Founder & Director of Advisory
02
Co-Founder
Melanie Shapsis, JD, MBA
Co-Founder & Director of Advisory
Melanie is a corporate attorney, seasoned real estate investor, and experienced business operator with deep expertise in scaling and optimizing operationally intensive companies. She has executed and advised on over $25 billion in complex M&A and real estate transactions at top-tier institutions including Morgan Stanley, Apollo Global Management, and Simpson Thacher.
She was also a founding executive at a national real estate hospitality company, where she built and led the firm’s real estate and operations divisions, driving expansion from launch to hundreds properties across major U.S. markets, managing capital deployment, financial strategy, and day-to-day execution. Melanie has built and overseen high-performing cross-functional teams spanning investments, finance, operations, and technology. She is known for her ability to architect scalable business systems, lead transformative growth, and execute at both strategic and operational levels with precision and speed.
Melanie holds a B.S. from Cornell University, a J.D. from NYU School of Law, and an M.B.A. from NYU Stern School of Business.
Education:
BS, Cornell University, Applied Economics
JD, NYU, School of Law, Corporate Law
MBA, NYU, Stern School of Business, Finance and Operations
Former Roles:
Corporate Associate, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett
Real Estate Private Equity, Apollo Global Management
Director of Investments, Domio
Real Estate Private Equity, Morgan Stanley
Specialty:
K-12, Graduate School Admissions, Young Professional Careers
Industry:
Business, Financial Services, Law, Higher Education (University, JD, MBA), Entrepreneurship
