The New Jersey Business & Industry Association (NJBIA) will present its 2025 “Rising Star Awards” to five college students at the upcoming New Jersey Women Business Leaders Forum. The event, powered by Citizens, is scheduled for September 17-18 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Somerset Hotel and Conference Center.
This year’s honorees are Alicia Brownstein of Paramus, Melissa De Cunto of Hopatcong, Laasya Kandakurti of Belle Mead, Zeynep Nalan Kus of Clifton, and Alusha Olivier of Irvington. These students were selected for their academic achievements and service to their communities.
The New Jersey Women Business Leaders Forum is now in its eleventh year and is considered the state’s largest professional women’s conference. The forum brings together hundreds of participants for networking opportunities, workshops, panel discussions, and TED-style talks.
“NJBIA’s Rising Star Awards honor students who have demonstrated a passion for their career path, academic success, and a commitment to their communities during their undergraduate careers,” said NJBIA President & CEO Michele Siekerka.
“This year, we are proud to recognize the accomplishments of five inspiring students who are destined for great professional success,” she added.
Alicia Brownstein attends Bergen Community College as a second-year NJ STARS student working toward an honors Associate of Science degree in Business Administration. She works part-time at a marketing firm and volunteers with Phi Theta Kappa International College Honor Society and the college’s Thrive program. Brownstein recently earned the Girl Scout Gold Award—a distinction achieved by only 5% of scouts—and previously competed in DECA events at both state and international levels.
Melissa De Cunto is a senior at New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT), pursuing dual Bachelor of Science degrees in Business and Cyberpsychology along with two minors. After graduation in 2026, she plans to pursue a master’s degree in business analytics at NJIT. De Cunto founded the NJIT Book Club and built a Little Free Library on campus. She holds several executive board positions across student organizations while working multiple jobs on campus. De Cunto aims to open an inclusive bookstore focused on neurodivergent readers.
Laasya Kandakurti studies Psychology and Cognitive Science at Rutgers University with additional minors in Linguistics and South Asian Studies. She conducts research related to adolescent mental health risks with the Hamilton Lab. Kandakurti also participates in music through RU Dhol Effect and has interned with YWCA Princeton’s Breast Cancer Resource Center developing educational materials about breast health. Her goal is to become a clinical neuropsychologist focused on reducing stigma around mental health in minority communities.
Zeynep Nalan Kus majors in Financial Technology at NJIT after coming from Turkey to study independently in the United States. Kus leads Over the Horizon—a scholarship initiative—and serves as president of her school’s Dean’s Executive Leadership Student Council where she works on initiatives that connect students with industry professionals.
Alusha Olivier graduated from Berkeley College with an associate degree in Justice Studies before transferring to Rutgers University for her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. At Berkeley, she was president of the Student Activities Board and volunteered locally while making Dean’s List honors. Olivier has advocated for mental health resources through partnerships like National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) workshops and completed an internship at Mercer County Courthouse this summer.
The forum began in 2015 as part of efforts to advance women into leadership roles within businesses across New Jersey; since then it has attracted thousands seeking career growth opportunities each year through its programming.
Sponsors supporting this year’s event include Amazon, AT&T, Delta Dental, RWJBarnabas Health, PNC Bank among others.
