163. Elisabeth (Weinberg) Tavarez, From Finance to Higher Ed to Politics
Release Date: 03/09/2026
163. Elisabeth (Weinberg) Tavarez, From Finance to Higher Ed to Politics
The 92 Report
Show Notes: Elisabeth Tavares (Weinberg) describes her journey post-graduation, dividing it into three main chapters: private sector, higher education, and government sector. Travelling to Egypt, Israel, and Spain Elisabeth shares her initial post-graduation plans, including travel to Egypt and Israel, and her work with American teenagers abroad in Ireland and Spain. She discusses her passion for international travel and her decision to learn Spanish at Harvard, which later led to teaching Spanish. Elisabeth explains her motivation for learning Spanish, including her background in European...
info_outline
162. Liam T.A. Ford, From Journalist to Non-profit Startup Leader
The 92 Report
Show Notes: Liam T.A. Ford, also known as LTAF, shares his initial career plans after graduation. After writing for the Crimson at Harvard, he initially considered a career in academia, but pivoted to journalism. He discusses his first job at the Montgomery Advertiser, where he covered crime and interviewed notable figures including the man who headed the pulpit committee that hired Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for his pastorship in Montgomery. Liam recounts his transition to Chicago, where he became a reporter for the Chicago Tribune, covering notable events like Barack Obama's election to the...
info_outline
161. Elijah Siegler, Religious Studies Outside the Classroom
The 92 Report
Show Notes: Elijah Siegler recalls the day of graduation on June 5, 1992, and the prominent promotion of the movie Patriot Games, which seemed at the time an ominous omen, as graduates began to navigate their post-grad journey. Elijah shares his advice to his kids and students: "You don't need to have your whole life post-college figured out. You just need one cool thing lined up, and that'll lead to another cool thing." Elijah describes his first post-graduation job as the editor of the Greece and Turkey book for Let's Go travel guides, which he found out about due to a last-minute...
info_outline
160. Tobey (Weintraub) Collins, Energy Transaction Expert and International Enthusiast
The 92 Report
Show Notes: Tobey Weintraub Collins pursued a master's degree in international relations at Georgetown, where she met her husband who joined the US Foreign Service. Tobey worked in project finance in Brazil and Venezuela, focusing on energy projects, and later worked for AES Corp in the US and Chile. She eventually moved back to the US and has been at Astris for the past 13 years, specializing in energy and infrastructure investment banking. Life in Venezuela Tobey describes Venezuela in 2000-2001 as relatively normal, with the US still influential, and her work focused on Central America and...
info_outline
159. Josh Morgerman, World’s Top Hurricane Chaser
The 92 Report
Show Notes: Josh Morgerman describes his initial move to LA to work in the movie industry, which didn't work out. He then started a web design company called Symblaze in the late 90s, which survived the dot-com crash by expanding to Eastern Europe and working with Russia and Eastern Bloc countries while living in Prague. Josh shares his dual passion for weather and advertising, leading to a career as a hurricane chaser while still running Symblaze. A Pivotal Moment in the Philippines Josh explains his obsession with violent weather and how he started hunting hurricanes more...
info_outline
158. Allain Roy, A Career in Hockey: Player, Agent, Advisor, Entrepreneur
The 92 Report
Show Notes: Allain Roy shares that he left Harvard to become a professional hockey player, signing his first NHL contract out of college. He recalls winning the national championship in 1989 and the team's tradition of reuniting every 10 years. Al mentions attending Coach Clear's 90th birthday celebration and running into former teammates, Tim Burke, Kevin Sneddon, Rich DeFreitas, Brian McCormack and Greg Hess, along with Chuck Hughes at Harvard games. Participating in the 1994 Olympics Al discusses turning down an offer to play in Moscow before graduation and signing with the Winnipeg Jets....
info_outline
157. Noah Feldman, American Legal Scholar, Academic, and Author
The 92 Report
Show Notes: Noah Feldman, Harvard Law professor, author, and ethical advisor talks about his career in constitutional law and his experiences in Iraq and Tunisia, sharing stories from his time guiding, and in some cases, establishing, the law of countries in turmoil or collapse. He also talks about the themes explored in his books and current pursuits. Real World Projects in Constitutional Law Noah describes his academic journey, starting from his early love for school and his decision to pursue academia full-time, with brief interruptions for real-world projects. He shares his...
info_outline
156. Ted Caplow, Life at the Intersection of Society and Technology
The 92 Report
Show Notes Ted Caplow graduated with a degree in social science and has had a career in engineering and entrepreneurship. He describes his initial interest in science and his experience with physics at Harvard, which he found challenging. Ted shares his interest in humanities, particularly theater, and his involvement in various theater activities at Harvard. He discusses his consideration of theater conservatory programs and urban planning after graduation. Joining the Peace Corps and Sailing across the Atlantic Ted recounts his application to the Peace Corps and the unexpected...
info_outline
155. Lloyd Lee, A Blessed Life and Real Estate Private Equity
The 92 Report
Show Notes: Lloyd opens the conversation by talking about the infinite opportunities at Harvard and encourages incoming freshmen to make the most of their time there. Lloyd shares his initial plan to study pre-med but also pursued fine arts, specifically architecture, and theater work. He mentions meeting Professor James Stilgoe at the Graduate School of Design, which opened his eyes to opportunities beyond STEM. From Cornell to New York City Lloyd discusses his decision to attend Cornell and his subsequent move to New York City. He had two job offers: working at Disney or a consulting firm,...
info_outline
154. Trisha Pérez Kennealy, Culinary Arts & Community Building
The 92 Report
Show Notes: Trisha Pérez Kennealy describes her initial stint in New York in commercial banking, followed by investment banking and studying to become a chef at Le Cordon Bleu in London, where she lived for three years. She moved back to the United States, settling in Lexington. She has three children and while they were little, she was active in town meetings, became a town official, and advocated for public education. In 2010, Trisha bought a property near the Battle Green in Lexington and converted it into a luxury hotel with 22 guest rooms and a restaurant. It opened in 2014...
info_outlineShow Notes:
Elisabeth Tavares (Weinberg) describes her journey post-graduation, dividing it into three main chapters: private sector, higher education, and government sector.
Travelling to Egypt, Israel, and Spain
Elisabeth shares her initial post-graduation plans, including travel to Egypt and Israel, and her work with American teenagers abroad in Ireland and Spain. She discusses her passion for international travel and her decision to learn Spanish at Harvard, which later led to teaching Spanish.
Elisabeth explains her motivation for learning Spanish, including her background in European history and her love for the language and culture. She discusses taking Latin in high school and Spanish at Harvard.
A Career in the Financial Sector
Elisabeth describes her early career in the financial sector, starting in Boston and later in New York at Scudder Stevens and Clark, where she worked in communications. She expresses her lack of fulfillment in the financial sector and her dislike for New York City, preferring the Hudson Valley.
On to Marist College and Speechwriting
Elisabeth recounts her transition to Marist College (now Marist University) as a speechwriter for President Dennis Murray. She highlights the positive experience of working at Marist College for 17 years, including writing speeches and communications for the college community. Elisabeth shares her admiration for President Murray, describing him as a transformational leader and a mentor. She mentions her pursuit of a master's degree during her time at Marist College.
From a Non-profit to Public Service
Elisabeth discusses her decision to step back from full-time work to care for her husband, who had open-heart surgery, and her aging parents. She describes her involvement in non-profit work and writing for her local newspaper during this period. Elisabeth shares her unexpected transition to public service as the district director for New York State Senator Michelle Hinchey. She describes her role, which includes overseeing the district office, managing constituent services, and running a capital grants program.
Impacting Local Communities
Elisabeth details her responsibilities in her current role, including managing a team of constituent services staff and running the capital grants program. She shares her experiences of meeting with organizations throughout the district and the impact of the grants on local communities. Elisabeth reflects on her changed understanding of government, particularly at the state and local levels, and the direct positive impact it can have on people's lives. She highlights the importance of being responsive to constituents' needs and the satisfaction of helping people and organizations.
Understanding Community Life
Elisabeth discusses the day-to-day activities in her role, including handling constituent inquiries, meetings, and managing the capital grants program. She reflects on the rich understanding of community life she has gained through her work, including insights into local issues and government operations. Elisabeth shares her admiration for Senator Hinchey's focus on issues important to the district, such as agriculture and affordability. She mentions the importance of being responsive to constituents' needs and the satisfaction of helping people and organizations.
Harvard Reflections
Elisabeth reflects on the impact of courses and professors at Harvard, particularly her Spanish classes and Michael Sandel's Justice class. She shares her long-lasting interest in Spanish, influenced by her family and friends, and her continued practice of the language. She also mentions the influence of other courses, such as the Russian Revolution class with Richard Pipes, and the lasting impact of these educational experiences.
Family Life and the Benefits of Being Bilingual
Elisabeth discusses her family life, including her husband David, her daughter, and their bilingual household. She shares her experiences of traveling with her family, including trips to Mexico and Spain, and the importance of being able to communicate in Spanish. Elisabeth reflects on the role of Spanish in her personal and professional life. She highlights the benefits of being bilingual and the opportunities it provides for travel and communication.
Timestamps:
02:54: Learning Spanish and Early Career in Financial Sector
06:50: Transition to Higher Education: Marist College
14:13: Challenges and Transition to Public Service
17:01: Role in Public Service and Impact on Understanding Government
23:52: Personal Reflections and Professional Growth
27:06: Influence of Harvard Courses and Professors
31:14: Balancing Personal and Professional Life
32:54: Connecting with the Community and Future Plans
Link:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elistavarez/.
This episode on The 92 Report: https://92report.com/podcast/episode-163-elisabeth-weinberg-tavarez-from-finance-to-higher-ed-to-politics/
*AI generated show notes and transcript