March 2023

March 2023
Kathy Azeez-Narain

(BS, Computer Science, ’04)

Q & A:

1. What was your favorite class, who was your favorite professor, or what is your fondest memory of Hofstra?
   There were so many classes that I loved, and I learned so much in all of them. Fun fact: Not all of them were computer science related since I’m a secret Shakespearean reader and regularly took my electives in the literature space. My favorite teacher throughout my time at Hofstra was Professor Krish [Krishnan Pillaipakkamnatt]. He was always willing to work through problems with me, especially when we got to the tough parts of the curriculum. Lastly, my fondest memory was walking to Bits and Bytes to meet classmates, friends, and even some of the professors during our break times – just enjoying the atmosphere and culture of Hofstra. Some of my strongest bonds today were formed in that café.
2. What was your first job after graduating from Hofstra, and what was the most valuable thing learned in that position?
   My first job was at Experian. I was developing email campaigns for large brands, e.g., Disney, Bloomingdales, etc. My role was to build the emails (code/design) and deploy them to their members. It was a great first role in just getting my feet wet in the world of work, but I quickly learned that I was underestimating my abilities and needed something more challenging. After a year, I left Experian and took my first role at American Express.
3. What is your field of specialty, and how did you come to work in the industry?
   My current specialty is digital product and marketing. In my 15 years at Amex, I was lucky to get many opportunities that allowed me to use my computer science background but also learn new spaces, like marketing, building product, design, big data, etc. I was always finding myself tapped to take on new areas where I could challenge the status quo and build new systems/teams/products for American Express. That experience led to many new/bigger roles and, ultimately, to my joining the healthcare industry and taking on a chief digital officer role.
4. What advice would you give Hofstra students?
   STEM backgrounds open tons of opportunities in the working world to expand your career. The STEM talent set is in such demand, and while the curriculums can seem daunting or challenging, going through that journey creates other skill sets that become very useful in your career. In addition, I would love to see more women pursue degrees like these. I’ve seen the value in getting a degree in STEM and, looking back, it was one of my best decisions.
5. In one word, how would you describe Hofstra?
   Creator. Hofstra played a pivotal role in helping me create many skills that I use today.
6. What is a typical day like for a chief digital officer?
   It’s a hectic day. You move between helping solve big transformation problems to really small, detailed fixes in the ecosystem. There is no shortage of things to do. Lots of meetings to build relationships and help drive change management, which, when you are tackling digital transformation, is just as important as the products you’re building. Lastly, there is a significant investment of time with your team. They are the true stars, and that time helps you drive the agenda forward.
7. What is the single most rewarding/exciting experience in your career thus far?
   The opportunity to build products that have the potential to change health care.
8. How do you balance work and life?
   You live. Life is made up of working, living, family, taking a break, shutting off, grabbing that lunch, taking that call, spending time with your kids, stressing about work, etc. There is no clear line, and I think to get to balance you have to embrace how work and your personal life intermingle, so you can get the best out of both.
9. How has your degree from Hofstra University helped you in your career?
   It has shaped how I think and solve problems. I’ve used direct skills from that degree as well as indirect skills, e.g., how to persevere even when the challenging projects comes up. It helped give me the confidence that I can do hard things.