We’re thrilled to welcome Ayana Fernandes Pilgrim as the new Career Development Advisor for Bard’s MBA in Sustainability. With more than 20 years at the forefront of recruiting, hiring systems, and inclusion work—and now as Founder & CEO of The Talent Cornerstone Co.—Ayana brings both deep technical expertise and a coach’s heart to Bard.
Through one-on-one coaching, an interactive Career Lab series, and a focus on self-leadership, she’s helping students lead their own career journeys with confidence, clarity, and purpose.
We sat down with Ayana to learn more about her path to Bard, her approach to career advising, and how she’s helping students navigate the evolving world of sustainability and leadership. Read our conversation below, or check out this snippet from our conversation:
Q: Can you start by introducing yourself and sharing a bit about your professional background?
I am the founder and CEO of The Talent Cornerstone Co., a business on a clear mission to transform talent and talent systems for the future of work and inclusion.
My history has been built in the corporate sector. I've worked at the forefront of recruiting and inclusion work for more than 21 years. It’s a privilege to now lead my own business during this time of dynamic change—to help organizations to manage through the change, manage risk, to still continue to do the work, and then also to help professionals who are in transition.
Many are in transition now, so I serve as a career and life transformation coach. Really honing in on helping professionals to navigate through this moment of change, to align their work with greater purpose and today's workforce realities. And in some instances, folks will start their own organization as well, which is exciting.
Here at Bard, I'm so glad to serve as the Career Development Advisor to our sustainability and justice leaders of today and tomorrow. This is an important time in our history, and this work matters greatly. I bring my corporate expertise from recruiting and hiring—developing inclusive hiring systems in fintech, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and financial services—and I’m happy to share that experience with our students as they navigate opportunities across nonprofit, for-profit, and entrepreneurial paths.
Q: What experiences have most shaped the way you coach?
My background in corporate heavily influences my coaching—creating inclusive hiring systems and training leaders on how to hire, how to engage in inclusive sourcing tactics, and how to reach talent in different places. A part of the tagline for my business is uplifting the underestimated and bridging the opportunity gap.
My personal story impacts how I show up as a coach. I grew up in Massachusetts, a child of immigrants. My parents both faced workplace discrimination when I was young, and that sparked my interest in human resources and equity. It made me wonder how I could make things fair and just—how I could make the workplace better. I’ve also experienced layoffs and hardship, so I bring compassion from my lived experience, along with technical expertise from my profession as a recruiter. Those two things together help me coach in a way that’s meaningful and leaves students with a sense of hope.
Q: What drew you to Bard and to working with sustainability-focused students?
My father worked in environmental justice all throughout my life. He was a professor at Tufts University, helped to inform their environmental studies program, worked for the EPA, and retired a few years ago. He still has a nonprofit helping young people connect to green jobs.
His legacy gave me a deep appreciation for sustainability work. So when I heard of the opportunity at Bard, I thought, nothing is missing. Helping to grow justice and sustainability leaders is a perfect combination of both my work and my family’s legacy.
Q: What can students expect to walk away with from your advising sessions?
I hope students walk away with hope—that sense of I can do this, I’m in the right place, this is the right time to make an impact.
I also want them to leave with what I call my three E’s. Everyone has their own personal career compass, and mine is: if I can educate, empower, and encourage, I’m doing what I’m meant to do. I want students to feel empowered to be in the driver’s seat of their career. These are lifelong skills that will help them navigate their professional journey, including integrating AI and developing a greater sense of self-leadership.
Q: How does career advising at Bard actually work?
At Bard, we use an individualized career planning process—a thorough, living document that helps students create a clear vision and plan around internships, jobs, and networking. It puts the student in the driver’s seat, and we come alongside them to help as they steward that journey.
We want to make sure students have future-ready skills, including leaning into technology, so they can be the solution-makers of today and tomorrow.
Q: What is the new Career Lab series?
In addition to one-on-one meetings, we offer community space for learning through our new Career Lab series. These sessions are interactive and experiential—one part small-group coaching and one part education.
We recently hosted one on leveraging AI in your career journey, and it was beautiful to see how students and alumni learned from one another. The series is informed by feedback from students, alumni, and faculty. We’ll cover topics like stewarding your social capital and the nuances of networking, combining tactical advice with real-time practice.
We’ll host four Career Labs each semester, virtually, open to both students and alumni.
Q: What common challenges are students bringing to sessions?
Anxiety is a big one—around the job market, funding cuts, and uncertainty in the sustainability field. Another common theme is storytelling—how to knit together your career narrative and articulate your value with confidence.
Our students are doing incredible work, but sometimes they don’t fully believe how impactful it is. My goal is to help them own their story, build confidence, and show up as the leaders they already are.
Q: How are you connecting students with alumni and mentors?
We believe in mentorship. Our alumni are out there changing the world, and we want to serve as a bridge between the student and alumni communities.
We provide resources that connect students to mentorship opportunities, coffee chats, and networking events. In one-on-one sessions, I often review LinkedIn profiles with students, giving real-time guidance on how to contact professionals, maintain connections, and navigate networking with confidence. We’re fostering a culture of continuous networking and empowerment.
Q: What advice would you give to current or prospective students considering purpose-driven work in sustainability?
For students looking to pursue work that’s aligned with their purpose—now is the time. There’s no greater time than today. We need solution-makers, disruptors, people at the cutting edge and the vanguard of change.
For anyone considering a program, Bard is such a program. Where there’s great challenge, there’s also great innovation. You can be part of making a major difference in the world.
Leading with Purpose at Bard
Ayana’s message is simple and powerful: you’re in the driver’s seat. With individualized planning, practical skill-building, and a supportive community, Bard MBA students are turning purpose into performance—one career step at a time.
Ready to align your values with your career?
Editor’s note: Portions of this article were drafted with the assistance of AI technology and reviewed for accuracy and clarity by Bard College staff.
