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The Business of Love: Valentine's Day and Consumer Trends

Valentine's Day has evolved into a significant , with projected expenditures reaching . The enduring popularity of traditional giftsÂ鶹´«Ã½”48% of consumers purchasing greeting cards and 27% opting for flowersÂ鶹´«Ã½”underscores the holiday's deep-rooted commercial influence. While many embrace these customs, a growing segment , favoring alternative expressions of affection or anti-consumption approaches. Ultimately, Valentine's Day serves as a lens through which to examine the intersection of tradition, commerce, and shifting consumer behaviors.

Suneel Sajnani '85, '92 and Calli Planakis-Sajnani '88

A Dual MBA Love Story

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Meet and , who have been married for almost four decades. They first met in 1983 in the Birnbaum Library on the New York City Campus while both were studying for their MBAs. Calli, a first-generation college student, earned her dual MBA in international business/finance from Pace, then later went on to earn an MS in journalism, as well as a PhD in public policy and administration. Her distinguished career in public policy/public health is a credit to her determination and drive to make a difference in the world.

Suneel, once an international student at Pace, is currently senior managing director, head of Infrastructure and Cloud Services at Cetera Financial Group. He earned both MBA and MS degrees from Pace, specializing in information systems and computer science. He is a seasoned technology executive and a member of Â鶹´«Ã½'s Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information System's Advisory Board.

Suneel and Calli's daughter, Ariana Sajnani, is an MFA graduate of Â鶹´«Ã½ program. She is a highly accomplished actor, producer, dancer, singer, and musician, whose career includes theatre, film, and voice-over credentials. Her production company, , recently produced Sir Madam Sarpanch, an award-winning satirical film which celebrates the resilience of an intergenerational group of women working together within their social circles to fight corruption.

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After earning their MBAs, Suneel and Calli went on to careers in banking, insurance, and public health. Suneel reflects upon the times when they were just MBA candidates studying in the library: "Our classmates and friends included students from around the world representing many countries. We had the opportunity to witness a diversity the likes of which we had never experienced in any other academic setting. Calli and I have achieved much professional success from the theoretical and practical knowledge we gained from our Â鶹´«Ã½ education. What makes this success sweeter is that we found each other at the same time." Take a walk down memory lane and !

Albert Hogan '58 and Betty Stutzman '59

The Phone Number Was Wrong, But the Lady Was Right

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In 1955, Albert Hogan '58 and Betty Stutzman '59 were two accounting majors navigating their classes at Â鶹´«Ã½'s Lubin School of Business. But as fate would have it, a simple petitionÂ鶹´«Ã½”and a bit of humorÂ鶹´«Ã½”set the foundation for a lifetime together.

Betty, who was running for president of the Freshman Student Council, was making the rounds, collecting signatures to support her campaign. When she approached Albert, he signed using the name "Ben Hogan," a nod to the famous golfer. Betty wasn't amused. She called him out on the joke, and before long, what started as irritation turned into a genuine conversation.

From then on, they began meeting before their accounting classes, getting to know one another in quiet moments between lectures. When Betty gave Albert her phone number, another humorous hiccup ensued. After several calls where a man informed him, "Betty's not here," Albert finally reached herÂ鶹´«Ã½”or so he thought. This Betty turned out to be someone entirely different, and Albert found himself apologizing to both her and her husband. Later, Betty gave Albert the correct number.

Life soon threw challenges their way. Albert went on to serve in the Army at Fort Dix (New Jersey), while Betty spent summers with her family in Ocean Grove, New Jersey. But they stayed in touch over the years. By the time they married at City Hall in New York City, across from Â鶹´«Ã½'s Civic Center building in 1962, their bond had only grown stronger.

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The couple started their married life in an apartment in Elizabeth, New Jersey, eventually settling in Cranford in 1964, where they raised two children who, fittingly, both went on to attend Â鶹´«Ã½'s Lubin School of Business. From train rides and ferry commutes to long hours of study, Al and Betty built a life rooted in shared values and experiences.

Today, Albert and Betty's story is a reminder of how the simplest momentsÂ鶹´«Ã½”a name on a petition, a phone call, or a shared classÂ鶹´«Ã½”can spark something extraordinary. It's a story of humor, resilience, and partnership, all beginning in the halls of Â鶹´«Ã½.

Riya Golani '25 and Parth Soni '25

A Journey of Love and Ambition

Riya and Parth's journey from India to the U.S. is a testament to partnership and ambition. Together for eight years, they navigated their master's studies and professional paths side by side, including their work at the Lubin School of Business Office of Communications and External RelationsÂ鶹´«Ã½”a true story of love and shared aspirations. Both are Seidenberg students who met while youngsters in India. They decided to attend college in the U.S. and chose Pace! Riya and Parth continue a long tradition of Lubin and Seidenberg sharing the student talent pool to place graduate assistants, interns, research assistants, and student aides in various roles at both schools.