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Kamaria Brisseau
Kamaria Brisseau
01:21

Kamaria Brisseau

Brooklyn Community Foundation

Brooklyn, NY USA

"Courage doesn’t mean that you’re not fearful—it means that you’re fearful, but you’re doing it anyway."

Career Roadmap

Kamaria's work combines: Business, Numbers, and Problem Solving

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Day In The Life

Finance and Administration Manager

I oversee finance and budgeting for organizations.

Skills & Education

Here's the path I took:

  • High School

  • Bachelor's Degree

    Business Administration and Management, General

    Brooklyn College

  • Graduate Degree

    Advanced Management and Organizational Behavior

    Columbia

Life & Career Milestones

My path in life has been direct

  • 1.

    After high school, I got a full scholarship to St. John’s University.

  • 2.

    I spent a year at the university, but while my scholarship didn’t increase, tuition did—I ended up transferring to community college, which was more affordable and also allowed me to parent and work.

  • 3.

    While in college, I started working as an administrative assistant at a nonprofit organization—by the time I graduated, I was the organization’s senior budget analyst.

  • 4.

    One of my supervisors recommended I participate in an executive program to earn my master’s degree while continuing to work full-time.

  • 5.

    I earned my master’s degree in advanced management and organizational behavior from Columbia University and continued to develop my career in business and finance.

  • 6.

    I spent almost five years as the director of budget and administration for Columbia University, followed by a year as the director of finance and administration for the National Academy of Design.

  • 7.

    I currently work as a finance and administration manager for Brooklyn Community Foundation.

  • 8.

    I will soon be moving into the role of senior director of budget and administration for the City University of New York—the same community college where I started my journey!

Defining Moments

Experiences and challenges that shaped me

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  • My parents emphasized the value of education but didn't know the ins and outs of the U.S. college system. We didn't know that my scholarship wouldn't increase as tuition did. I ended up transferring to community college, which was more affordable.

  • I was going to college and working full-time while raising two kids. It was challenging, but I realized that doing what's best for me will also be best for my children.