As daylight dimmed over Collegetown on March 6, burgundy curtains framed the windows of VINIFERA Ithaca, while bartenders behind a marble countertop prepped for the evening ahead. At 5:30 p.m. sharp, attendees donning satin, floor-length dresses began to file in: Cue the soft clinking of martini glasses, the lively rattle of cocktail shakers and high heels clicking on the floor.
The scene at VINIFERA was a far cry from the usual swarm of black blazers in Temple of Zeus — finance pre-professional fraternity brothers ominously hoping to ‘connect.’ That’s because this was not your average networking event, hosted by your not-so-average Cornell Law student: 2025 Forbes 30 Under 30 Education class recipient, Columbia University graduate and founder of Internship Girl. Need we reveal more?
For Cornell’s most career-driven women, second-year law student Avalon Fenster requires little introduction.
She's already on your TikTok For You Page, instructing over 300 thousand followers on “how not to be that young professional.” If you're a loyal fan, you’ve likely used her cover letter or resume template to apply to internships, which she personally perfected in order to land over 10 prestigious internships as an undergraduate. The mission of Fenster’s brand, Internship Girl, is razor sharp: She wants to see young women thrive in their early careers. Having introduced millions to the art of networking, she’s now rewriting the rules of the game from the inside — and Cornell women, you’re all invited.
“Avalon’s Night Out,” sponsored by Degree Mentors and Her Campus, was Fenster’s first time hosting an in-person event for her online community. On the Partiful invite, it was promoted as “a social club connecting you on a personal level with the most ambitious young women at Cornell.” When asked about her hopes for the event, Fenster expressed her wish that her guests “walk away with not only a deep sense of reinforcement and validation that they are on the right path, but also a sense of community — and not [one] just built on their accolades.”
At Cornell, the pre-professional culture is a kind of wild west: the landscape is notoriously mean, competition is fierce and everyone must fend for themselves. “Networking shouldn’t feel like a competition,” Fenster asserted during our interview, although she doesn’t deny it often feels like a “race.” Her goal with “Avalon’s Night Out” was to shift this very attitude on campus by teaching guests how to "operate from a perspective of generosity” while making connections.
In an activity titled “Match made by Avalon,” Fenster distributed glossy, leopard print notecards where guests could list their individual areas of expertise, campus involvements and contact information — inviting every attendee to consider the value they could potentially offer to another guest. The cards also presented non-traditional conversation starters, designed to melt away the awkwardness of first encounters. There were thought-provoking questions such as “Yes or No: Dating in college is always a liability for an ambitious woman,” or “What do you wish more people in your life would understand about you?” brightened the room instantly with the spirit of (friendly) group debate.
For a woman who has built her brand identity on rapidly scaling the corporate ladder, the unconventionality of “Avalon’s Night Out” is clear evidence of Fenster’s vision as a creative. Particularly on a college campus, where corporate ambitions may feel directly at odds with one’s artistic passions, Fenster offers a refreshing argument for embracing both: “When you realize that thinking outside the box is … actually a prerequisite for reaching career success, you feel a lot less fear about being creative.”
Finding balance can be challenging, especially when you are handling personal goals, a social life, a career and academics. Fenster noted that she doesn’t believe in balance. Rather, she believes in “seasons,” where priorities naturally shift over time. She explained that if you “tell a woman that they are [always] going to have it all, many young women are going to feel unsatisfied because that’s just not really true.” However, Fenster advocates that women “should be able to find joy no matter what [their] life looks like.” She explains that women can find happiness while actively working towards their goals — whether they be related to relationships or a career. She reminds us that fulfillment doesn’t always come from reaching an end result, but through finding meaning in the process itself.
At Cornell, the ambition Fenster speaks of is hardly in short supply. The Ivy League is host to a toxic hunger for achievement — and the accolades we crave rarely contribute to any broader social good, on this campus or beyond. Such is the reason that inspirations — individuals who exude confidence, authenticity and poise in pursuit of truly meaningful goals — are a much rarer find on this campus. Fenster is undoubtedly one of these gems, and her event sparkled just as brightly against the otherwise gray canvas of Cornell’s networking culture.
“Avalon’s Night Out” delivered precisely what was advertised: a chic evening paired with gorgeous attire, bubbling conversation and a perfect hit of that moody, New York City ambiance we are all so craving here in Ithaca. We did, in fact, walk away with authentic new connections, “not just a refined pitch.” For all who were fortunate enough to be in attendance, we suspect it will not be easy to return to the icy norms of cold emailing and coffee chats — but for a brief two-hour window, networking had never looked so glamorous.
Ines Hwang is a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences. She can be reached at ish7@cornell.edu.
Katelyn Halverson is a member of the Class of 2028 in the School of Industrial and Labor Relations. She is the Lifestyle editor on the 144th Editorial Board and can be reached at katelynh@cornellsun.com.
