Samson Feldman (BS'12)
Samson Feldman came to Stern with a wide range of expectations—from discovering New York City, to learning about the business of entertainment and sports, to studying abroad. Samson is now a senior, and the most striking thing about his story may be that he’s done exactly what he intended.
Samson’s experience at Stern started with his immersion in the city. “I’d gone to high school in New York,” he explains, “but I lived in New Jersey and really only knew the Upper East and West Side. When I got to Stern it was my chance to have the full downtown experience, and I loved it.”
Samson says he arrived with an exhilarating sense of freedom and a desire to see and do everything. Highlights ranged from exploring to the Village and Chinatown, to discovering great—and affordable—restaurants. (Mamoun’s, a falafel spot on MacDougal St., is a favorite.)
As for the business of sports, Samson has always been passionate about athletics, not just as a player, but also as a fan fascinated with free agency, player contracts, and endorsement deals. “I get excited whenever I hear about a big new sponsorship,” he admits. It’s no surprise that Sports Economics proved to be one of his favorite courses at Stern. “We learned about everything from corruption in Japanese sumo leagues to the superstar effect in the NBA—the impact one marquee player can have on ticket sales.”
Samson’s other hope—to study abroad—was realized more than once, first with a short trip to Argentina, and later with a full-semester immersion in Shanghai, where Samson was able to apply his fluency in Mandarin Chinese. While in the city, Samson ended up making a connection with the manager of a local night club. That led to Samson and two friends deejaying at the club, and Samson writing a final paper for one of his courses about the business of night life in Shanghai.
Among the lasting insights he took away: an appreciation for Guanxi, a Mandarin term for networking. “It’s a business culture founded on relationships,” Samson says. The experience also illustrated the importance of stepping forward and speaking up when you see a business opportunity—a valuable lesson in any culture.
Samson says he arrived with an exhilarating sense of freedom and a desire to see and do everything. Highlights ranged from exploring to the Village and Chinatown, to discovering great—and affordable—restaurants. (Mamoun’s, a falafel spot on MacDougal St., is a favorite.)
As for the business of sports, Samson has always been passionate about athletics, not just as a player, but also as a fan fascinated with free agency, player contracts, and endorsement deals. “I get excited whenever I hear about a big new sponsorship,” he admits. It’s no surprise that Sports Economics proved to be one of his favorite courses at Stern. “We learned about everything from corruption in Japanese sumo leagues to the superstar effect in the NBA—the impact one marquee player can have on ticket sales.”
Samson’s other hope—to study abroad—was realized more than once, first with a short trip to Argentina, and later with a full-semester immersion in Shanghai, where Samson was able to apply his fluency in Mandarin Chinese. While in the city, Samson ended up making a connection with the manager of a local night club. That led to Samson and two friends deejaying at the club, and Samson writing a final paper for one of his courses about the business of night life in Shanghai.
Among the lasting insights he took away: an appreciation for Guanxi, a Mandarin term for networking. “It’s a business culture founded on relationships,” Samson says. The experience also illustrated the importance of stepping forward and speaking up when you see a business opportunity—a valuable lesson in any culture.