Bianca Costa ’15 Masters the Balance of Career, Creativity and Motherhood

Bianca Costa ’15 has enjoyed a highly successful career and currently leads the program management office within group data COO at UBS. Recently, she also achieved a lifelong dream by publishing her debut children's book, Not A Bedtime Story, a playful and relatable tale that turns the nightly bedtime battle into a heartwarming adventure.

"I chose to attend Stevens with the primary goal of securing a great job. To me, that was always the main reason for going to college," Costa explains. "Stevens' prime location offers a competitive advantage for job placement, but it also provides abundant resources and opportunities to help you stay focused and on track. It's up to each student to take full advantage of them. As an undergraduate, I secured internships every year, which culminated in a job offer from JP Morgan before my senior year, laying a solid foundation for my career."

Costa began her career at JP Morgan as a fixed income middle office operations analyst, where she honed her expertise in IG credit. Seeking broader product exposure, she transitioned to OppenheimerFunds as a senior security master analyst in investment data operations, supporting both the fixed income and equity trading desks with trade setups. Following the acquisition of OppenheimerFunds by Invesco, Costa transitioned to UBS, where she took on a role in group finance capital management and supporting the CCAR regulatory cycle. Her strong performance in this position earned her a promotion to director. In early 2024, she made an internal move to group data COO, where she now heads the program management office within the controls and initiatives oversight team. She attributes her adaptability to the skills she developed at Stevens, where she learned to tackle complex challenges, handle demanding workloads and excel alongside driven peers.

During her time at Stevens, Costa skillfully balanced her rigorous coursework with life as a varsity lacrosse athlete. She also studied abroad in Paris and contributed to her community through her involvement in the national service fraternity, Alpha Phi Omega. In keeping with her commitment to service, Costa is donating a portion of her book's proceeds to UNICEF, supporting children who may not always have the privilege of a bedtime story.

One of Costa's fondest memories from her time at Stevens is her active involvement in the vibrant Hoboken community. As a frequent babysitter for families near Castle Point, she read countless bedtime stories to the children, discovering just how inventive kids can be when it comes to avoiding sleep.

The idea for Not A Bedtime Story came during one of those very battles with her older son, Colsen York. His creative bedtime delay tactics sparked the inspiration for Costa to finally turn her long-held dream of writing a children's book into a reality. "Sometimes, the best stories really do come from the most ordinary moments," she reflects.

Writing the book also brought back memories of her babysitting days. "I can't tell you how many nights I spent reading bedtime stories after class," she recalls. "Each child had their own unique way of avoiding sleep, and it was always a little battle of wills. In hindsight, Not A Bedtime Story would have certainly come in handy during those lively nights!"

Costa maintains strong connections with Stevens, particularly through her involvement in recruitment efforts. "I'm happy to support the next generation of hires," she says. "Having experienced the caliber of Stevens graduates firsthand, I confidently recommend them to my colleagues. Stevens consistently produces exceptional leaders."

Reflecting on her journey, Costa beams with pride. "This book has been more than just a side project. It’s a labor of love that has brought me immense joy," she shares. "Watching kids laugh and light up as they recognize their own bedtime antics in the story, and hearing from parents that it's become a staple in their nightly routine, makes it all worthwhile. I'm excited to share this experience with my fellow Stevens alumni, many of whom now have little sleepyheads of their own, and with the Hoboken community that I cherish. I'm confident that both parents and children will absolutely love it!"