Resume

EXPERIENCE

Writer, Money magazine (and CNNMoney.com)
May 2007–present
New York City

  • Cover consumer advocacy, family finance, banking, credit and other personal finance topics for Money magazine.
  • Report and write features, department leads, front-of-the-book pieces.
  • Help execute cover packages such as Best Places to Live, Best Banks, Best Money Moves.
  • Analyze data for rankings for packages like best credit cards and banks.
  • Blog at CNNMoney.com.
  • Study latest personal finance technologies including apps, web sites, and other tools.
  • Develop social media, iPad and smartphone/tablet application strategies for Money.
  • Tweet @MONEY.

Founder and editor, NiraliMagazine.com
March 2004–2011
New York City

  • Founded online magazine for South Asians in the west.
  • Directed editorial coverage.
  • Developed, assigned, wrote and edited numerous feature, style, food, travel and service stories.
  • Interviewed major South Asian personalities such as MIA, Aziz Ansari, Kal Penn, Vishakha Desai and others.
  • Managed volunteer staff of six people, contracted freelancers, line edited and copy-edited all stories, provided editorial direction.
  • Developed relationships for marketing and promotion.
  • Developed social media, SEO and other marketing strategies.

Reporter and assistant to Marshall Loeb, MarketWatch for Dow Jones
August 2006–May 2007
New York City

  • Reported and wrote daily Marshall Loeb’s Daily “Money Tip” column for MarketWatch.com that was syndicated in more than 200 papers around the country. Columns frequently appeared on MarketWatch’s “Most Emailed Stories” list.
  • Reported and researched Marshall Loeb’s weekly column.
  • Wrote weekly scripts for Marshall Loeb’s Money Minute on CBS Radio.

Associate editor, Michigan Alumnus magazine, Alumni Association of the University of Michigan
July 2001–July 2005
Ann Arbor, Michigan

  • Editor of 4-6 page Arts & Culture section of Michigan Alumnus, a quarterly 64-page alumni magazine with 107,000 circulation. Assigned and wrote stories, contracted freelancers, fact-checked stories, edited and copy-edited content.
  • Wrote and edited feature length and department stories for other sections of Michigan Alumnus and all alumni publications.
  • Copy-edited all Alumni Association communications. Sharpened copy-editing skills through weekly exercises.
  • Helped develop and manage umalumni.com.
  • Managed 2004 and 2005 issues and corresponding web site of True Blue Travel, an annual travel catalog detailing more than 40 trips.
  • From July 2001-2003, editor-in-chief of TrueBlue regional newsletter published three times a year, circulation 87,000. Assisted in transitioning print to electronic version.

INTERNSHIPS

Special projects intern, Forbes.com
Fall 2005
New York, NY

  • Researched and fact-checked “The Tastemakers,” a fall series that identified 100 men and women who shape the way Americans eat, listen, drink, dress and live.
  • Reported on various stories for the Lifestyle section.

EDUCATION

Master’s Degree, Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism
May 2006
New York City

  • Concentration in Print/Magazine.
  • Merit scholarships: Stark-Francis Scholarship for Investigative Journalism, Helen Sanders Memorial Scholarship for Business Journalism, Elizabeth Peer Journalism Scholarship.
  • Coursework in narrative writing, new media skills, business reporting, magazine writing.

Bachelor’s Degree, University of Michigan
May 2001
Ann Arbor, Michigan

  • Concentration in English and Women’s Studies.
  • Merit award: William J. Branstrom Academic Prize
  • Section editor, Michiganensian yearbook.
  • Additional coursework in accounting and economics.

SKILLS

  • Skilled researcher and writer.
  • Fast and efficient copy editor. Proficient in AP Style and Chicago Manual of Style.
  • Proficient in HTML, FTP, Blogger, WordPress, Microsoft Office. Can quickly master most content management systems.
  • SEO best practices.
  • Skilled at using social media tools including Twitter, Facebook and others.
  • Familiarity with Dreamweaver, CSS, Adobe PhotoShop, FileMaker, InDesign.
  • Fluent in Hindi/Urdu. Conversational in Spanish. Can read Arabic.

AFFILIATIONS

Board member, South Asian Journalists Association
January 2011–present