Brendan Murphy, MBA '15

Director, Cross Border Strategy and Execution

NYU Stern Program: Full-Time MBA Program
Industry: Financial Services
Company: Mastercard

Brendan shares his global experience from Stern and his service in the Marines.

Can you describe the work you do at Mastercard?

I work on Mastercard’s Cross Border team, and in the most basic terms, we develop initiatives and strategies to increase the usage of credit, debit, and prepaid cards for international purchases both in person and online.

How often do you travel for work and where have you been?

I travel about once a quarter for work. Last year, I had business trips to London, Singapore, Dubai, and Miami.

What has been your proudest professional accomplishment so far?

I am most proud of my time in the Marines and the work of my platoon while in Afghanistan.

You served in the Marines. Can you tell us about how that shaped your career and the adjustment from the armed forces to the corporate world?

One of the things I realized while I was in the Marines is that I really enjoy working in different countries and working with people from very diverse backgrounds. So, in all my post-MBA career, I have tried to work in globally oriented roles and have been able to either live internationally or work with people from all over the world.

Why did you choose NYU Stern for your MBA?

When I first got out of the military, I was not sure what I wanted to do career-wise, but I was lucky to have a good friend of mine from the Marines, Mike Buckley ('13), who was attending Stern at the time and he encouraged me to come up for a visit. When I visited for the day, I was struck by how friendly, interesting, and driven all the students were. That community and the opportunity to live, study, and work in New York made Stern an easy choice.

How do you stay connected to Stern?

Besides just being in touch and seeing friends from my time at Stern, I have been part of the recruiting team for Mastercard’s MBA Rotational Program, so I have been able to come back to Stern for interviews and to speak with current Stern students and the awesome OCD team.

Favorite Stern memory?

Besides meeting my now wife... traveling to the Philippines Spring Break of second year with a large group of Sternies was an amazing experience.

Where was your last vacation?

I went skiing in Vermont with family and friends, including my roommate from my first year at Stern, Rich Bondi.

What’s your favorite lunch spot?

When I am in the city and near school, I always try to go to Saigon Shack.

Favorite Podcast?

My daily staple is Marketplace by American Public Media, but I have a long commute so I usually follow that up with anything having to do with Boston sports, especially the Patriots and Celtics.