At MTA, electives are at the core of the curriculum and the Business and Entrepreneurship elective has become a very popular option. Ms. Melanie Felsman, the B & E instructor has developed a unique curriculum that teaches the talmidim how businesses are developed, maintained and grown. In addition, speakers from a wide range of businesses, including the entertainment industry have addressed the talmidim in Ms. Felsman’s classes.
TV and film star Peter Jacobson spoke to Ms Feldman’s B&E classes recently. Joining us via Zoom, Peter discussed the concepts of branding as it relates to being an actor in Hollywood. He shared from his 30 year career the effort that goes into promoting oneself via agents and managers when a preconceived and often “type cast” impression has been established. The talmidim were fascinated about how contracts are formed and how the actor gets paid for their initial work and residuals from syndication. Peter shared how branding oneself on social media is key nowadays and that he feels one’s online persona has become an extension of their brand that casting agents and producers look to when they are hiring.
In addition, the class was privileged to welcome Rich Jaycobs who has had a distinguished 40 year career in finance, engineering, exchanges and crypto currencies. He led the Futures Exchange for the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, was the President and Member of the Board for Cantor Fitzgerald, Cantor Exchange and led the development of sports betting in Las Vegas as a regulated exchange. He has published two books including “New Frontiers in Options,” published by Wiley. He was the CEO of the Chicago Clearing Corporation, started HedgeStreet, and received the first regulatory approval ever granted for retail investors. Working directly with and for now Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, Rich built the technology for Cantor Fitzgerald’s Clearinghouse. Rich now consults for crypto development start ups and is often contacted by law-makers to share his expertise. Rich shared his expertise with the talmidim who learned a tremendous amount and were entranced by his extraordinary work experience.
MTA thanks Ms. Felsman for elevating this elective with her creative curriculum and inspiring speakers.
