Four Gabelli School Undergraduate Finance Scholars Launch Promising Careers at Top Financial Institutions
Undergraduate | Aug 28, 2024 | Gabelli School of Business
The Benefit of Stellar Career Development Services, Networking Opportunities, and Alumni Mentoring Helped Pave the Way
Part of the intrinsic value proposition of earning an undergraduate degree in finance at the Gabelli School of Business is the ability to access and leverage comprehensive career development services, critical networking opportunities, internships at global financial institutions, and the continuous support of advisors and alumni mentors—all of which connect the dots between classroom learning and outstanding career outcomes.
The Gabelli School’s Finance Scholars Program provides a wonderful example of the ways in which the quality of the education delivered in the classroom is paired with a wide range of career-focused services that build the confidence and professional relationships needed for success.
High performing sophomores in the B.S. in Finance who seek to forge important career connections, gain critical industry insights, learn about future job prospects, and prepare well in advance for the world of work, are invited to join the prestigious Finance Scholars Program. These scholars benefit from career coaching and services strategically designed to ready them for the highly competitive job recruitment process they will face after graduation.
Through the Gabelli School’s Undergraduate Personal and Professional Development Center (PPD), scholars have access to resources such as résumé reviews and mock interviews, while gaining the industry insights that will provide the competitive edge. In addition they network, on and off campus, with successful Gabelli School alumni and other industry leaders who provide opportunities for internships and jobs.
The scholars become part of a community of peers that support, inform, and encourage each other through shared study and interests. Older students guide new scholars in understanding the importance of taking advantage of all the opportunities the Finance Scholars Program affords, as well as the need to prepare early for a career in this rapidly evolving global industry. These bonds and best practices remain long after graduation and serve the Scholars throughout their careers at major financial institutions such as Bank of America, Merrill Lynch, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Barclays and UBS among so many others.
2024 Finance Program Scholars were as accomplished as their predecessors. Here we highlight just a few of their many success stories.
Michael Hamlet, GABELLI ’24, greatly enjoyed the supportive peer network the Finance Scholars Program afforded because it provided an outlet for developing and sharing ideas, navigating college, and ultimately figuring out what he wanted to do. While he was initially hesitant to join the Program, Cynthia Bush, director of career advising for undergraduate programs, encouraged him to take part. “I was working for a start-up and was very focused on that when I was invited to join the Finance Scholars Program,” Hamlet commented. “At first, I wasn’t sure I could make every single event, so I declined. But Cynthia called me and explained why I should join.” The commitment paid off, and within a couple of months, he secured an internship at Loop Capital. Not long after, he was offered his current role as a junior trader at Goldman Sachs. “I am where I am today because of the Finance Scholars Program,” he asserted. “Even now, I bounce around ideas with my friends from the group.” One such discussion helped him to decide to work in fixed income trading rather than in equity research. It was a decision that has played an instrumental role in shaping his early career success.
Kalandra Marinopoulis, GABELLI ’24, appreciated the opportunities to connect with Gabelli alumni working in investment banking. As a Finance Scholar, she was able to engage one-on-one with guest speakers, learn about industry trends and what hiring manager were looking for in job candidates, helping her to develop a unique knowledge profile that resonated with recruiters. “It was great to have access to senior bankers,” she commented, citing a visit from several bankers at Barclays that provided her with the opportunity to connect and eventually secure an internship there. This, in turn, led to a full-time role as an investment banking analyst, which she started this summer. “I had the chance to develop an ongoing relationship with prospective employers, rather than meeting them just once. It definitely helped me to stand out when it came to the interview process.”
Bianca Sendra, GABELLI ’23, a credit analyst at TD Securities, attributed the help of the Finance Scholars Program with allowing her to identify which roles she wanted to pursue in banking by learning about product groups as well as coverage groups. This challenged some of her preconceived notions of what a career in finance would be like and expanded her horizons beyond the field of investment banking. “We had access to seniors who had already completed the interview process and junior year internships, and who could share their experiences with us. This made the process of interviewing and finding a job less daunting. We also learned about career tracks, which helped us to understand what day-to-day life would be like in different roles.” Of her experience with the PPD team, she noted, “When it was time to interview, I felt very prepared. One of the most valuable things I learned was how to market myself as a professional and how to introduce myself to senior executives. It gave me tremendous confidence in highlighting my strengths and abilities.”
Gabriel Guedez, GABELLI’24, an investment banking analyst at Goldman Sachs, emphasized that the assembly of like-minded people in the Finance Scholars Program was much more collaborative than competitive. This created an environment in which all could thrive. He also highlighted the myriad networking events as being a major benefit for scholars. “One initiative that helped me was the Goldman Sachs roundtable event, which brings alumni and current students together and makes you feel part of a special group. These alumni shared their perspectives and expanded my horizons about what I thought I wanted to do with my career.” An internship with CapM Advisors, which he found through an alumnus, solidified his decision to head in the direction of investment banking. Ultimately, the Program helped him to improve his understanding of the finance industry and prepared him for the job search and recruitment process.
