Jorge D. Ballestero

Supporting development of macroeconomics textbook for government officials in Small Island Developing States, translating technical economic concepts into policy frameworks for decision-makers navigating climate resilience and sustainable development trade-offs. Conducting background research synthesizing academic literature, policy reports, and case studies into accessible educational content. Preparing empirical examples, figures, and tables using R, Excel, and LaTeX, connecting abstract macro models to real-world policy interventions.

Building automated cost of equity estimation models processing portfolios of 20+ firms using Compustat, CRSP, and IBES datasets. Developing regression pipelines in R and Python that iterate to calibrate optimal parameters based on Easton (2004) methodology. Cleaning, merging, and validating large-scale panel datasets across multiple financial data sources, ensuring consistency and accuracy in high-dimensional empirical analysis.

Selected as TA for a 200-student intermediate macroeconomics course, supporting core instruction in growth, business cycles, and dynamic macro models. Led weekly recitation sections and office hours, translating formal models into intuitive economic reasoning and guiding students through applied problem-solving. Graded and provided structured feedback on problem sets, balancing mathematical precision with economic interpretation.

Designed and programmed 2 incentive-compatible experiments in oTree with 100+ participants examining how information framing and risk structures influence contract evaluation and choice behavior. Built probabilistic models calibrated to historical data and automated R data pipelines for behavioral pattern analysis. Translated experimental findings into insights on how information design affects decision quality in high-stakes contexts.

Delivered 5 strategic negotiation briefs analyzing voting patterns across 15+ delegations to support Ambassador in bilateral meetings and multilateral positioning at ECOSOC and UN General Assembly sessions. Drafted 4 official statements delivered at UN General Assembly meetings on disarmament, sustainability, and humanitarian issues. Synthesized real-time multilateral negotiations into actionable recommendations for senior diplomats under tight deadlines.

Launched peer mentorship program supporting 50+ international students navigating dual-degree academic systems, securing administrative buy-in and organizing 5+ academic panels and community-building events. Developed proposals to democratize research access through GS policy committee.

Managed daily logistics for distributing 100 meals to Ukrainian refugees under resource constraints. Designed and implemented "Free Supermarket" model to streamline equitable access to resources, prioritizing dignity and personalization in humanitarian aid delivery.

Translated technical proposals and policy documents across English, Spanish, and French for vaccination campaigns and pedagogic initiatives. Produced stakeholder-facing summaries to improve cross-linguistic accessibility and operational clarity for international coordination.

Highly selective dual degree program combining rigorous economics training with philosophical analysis of political institutions. Dean's List at Columbia University, Cum Laude Honors at Sciences Po Paris. Coursework includes Behavioral Economics, Financial Economics, and advanced quantitative methods.

Competitive undergraduate concentration providing graduate-level business education alongside liberal arts degree. Only 45 students admitted from both Junior and Sophomore classes. Coursework includes Corporate Finance, Strategy Formulation, Marketing, and International Finance and Trade. Integration of behavioral economics insights with business strategy and decision-making frameworks.