Mark Kolakowski

Experience

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  AT&T

  Jun 1982 - Oct 1985

  Staff Manager

  Developed a comprehensive system of econometric and financial models to forecast the impacts of the 1984 Bell System breakup on capital spending in the new Regional Bell Operating Companies and on telecom equipment sales to them by AT&T's manufacturing subsidiary, Western Electric. Later entered project analysis at AT&T Information Systems, reviewing capital spending plans, proposed acquisitions, and product pricing plans.

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  Touche Ross

  Dec 1985 - Oct 1987

  Consultant

  Mangement Consultant based in NYC. Engagements included: M&A analysis; mutual funds accounting systems and operations redesign for a money center bank; operations and process redesign for retail chains; litigation support through forensic accounting.In 1989 Touche Ross merged with Deloitte Haskins & Sells to create Deloitte & Touche, a member of the present-day Big 4. Both predecessor firms were members of what had been the Big 8 in international public accounting.

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  Merrill Lynch

  Nov 1987 - May 2001

  Vice President

  Financial Management Reporting: designed & implemented advanced transfer pricing and profitability analysis methods. Private Client Finance: enhanced profitability reporting at the product and client segment levels, and initiated analysis of individual clients' profitability; also led efforts in long-range business forecasting and modeling. Private Advisory Services: controller, head of market research, and head of strategy for the High Net Worth client segment marketing group; designed the sales force compensation program. Wealth Management Services: client information management and data mining related to high net worth clients. Show less

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  Self-Employed

  Mar 2001 - now

  Freelance editor. Credits for Bamboo Books (Arlington, VA): "On the Great Wall," one woman's personal memoir of life in China from the Japanese occupation in World War II to Mao's Cultural Revolution and beyond; "Treasures of the Fourth Reich," a suspense novel about Nazi Germany's theft of fine art during World War II (9 years after its publication, a Hollywood movie, "The Monuments Men," would be based on the same topic); and "Chinese Characters: First Steps," an introduction to common characters used in Chinese and Japanese writing. Edit academic papers for publication in economics journals, as well as classroom assignments in economics.Author of "Career Confidential: An Insider's Guide to Business" (Bamboo Books, Arlington, VA). Case studies in career choice and career management drawn from my own experiences. Show less

  • Consultant and Lecturer

    May 2001 - now

  • Editor and Author

    Mar 2001 - now
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  About.com

  Feb 2008 - May 2016

  Financial Careers Expert

  Initiated coverage of financial careers for About.com, focusing on both the financial services industry and financial management positions in other industries. Contributed over 1,900 pieces and over 400 weekly newsletters. Covered a wide range of topics germane to the field, such as career choice, education, training, certifications, compensation, employer choice, career development, and current trends in finance.IAC acquired About.com from The New York Times in 2012, and renamed it Dotdash in 2017. My articles now appear in a Dotdash website called TheBalanceCareers.com. Show less

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  Investopedia

  Jan 2016 - Jan 2023

  Contributing Writer

  Lent my expertise in economic and financial analysis, derived from a combination of academic studies and hands-on work experience, to readers of Investopedia, "the world’s largest digital financial education platform." Contributed 1,507 articles under my own byline.

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  KYCOON

  Dec 2017 - Dec 2021

  Strategic Consultant

  Assisted the launch of a new online English language instruction program for Korean-speaking business people and university students. Developed lesson plans based on English language books and articles related to business, finance, and economics.