I graduated from Wellesley in 2008 with a major in sociology and minor in economics. I went straight into investment banking after having worked at a bulge bracket firm during my summers at Wellesley. I ended up working full-time for a boutique investment bank focused on film/entertainment and at a regional firm headquartered in the southeast where I am from. I now work at an early stage startup in San Francisco where I was employee #4. I am also creating a training guide for students who are considering both Wall St. and Silicon Valley.
How has your career changed since you originally envisioned it at Wellesley? What other careers did you consider as a student?
I entered Wellesley as a computer science major with plans to work in Redmond, WA at Microsoft (I have always been a huge fan of Bill Gates). I left Wellesley wanting to work in investment banking because I believed it would provide a good foundation and offer the most favorable exit opportunities afterward.
How has Wellesley contributed to your career?
Wellesley has provided a tremendous foundation for my career. I learned a few key things during college that one cannot learn on the job: how to write, how to think, and how to embrace differences in others.
What is a typical work day or work week like for you?
Now that I have transitioned from investment banking to an early stage startup, my work life has changed dramatically. There is no typical day in startups, but each day is putting out fires and dealing with the endemic uncertainty that is par for the course. These days I spend a lot of time talking to clients and keeping them happy. I try to predict what they will need before they ask!
What piece of advice would you offer students looking to get into your area of interest and expertise?
I would say grades are important, but it is more important to expand your network. Getting in front of the right people will make all the difference. I would also recommend visiting AmbitiousGrad for more info on Wall St. & Silicon Valley Careers.
What do you wish you had known as a student?
I wish I had known that grades don’t really matter that much. I also wish I had learned more coding in college because it is a good skill to have no matter what.
If you could come back and take one class at Wellesley what would it be?
I would probably take another one of Jonathan Imber’s classes 🙂