How did you choose your major and minor at SCU? What did you enjoy most about these areas of study?

I chose Finance as a major because I was interested in the stock market and thought that I was decent at math, which I quickly found out was wrong after taking something other than Algebra II : P. I also chose German as a major as I am half German and a dual citizen. I always spoke it at home growing up, so I was verbally fluent, but lacked reading and writing skills. I thought that by picking up the major, I would begin to develop those skills (which I did). I chose to minor in Business Analytics as I was always interested in the convergence of Finance and Tech, so this minor really helped with my coding skills and to become more technically proficient.

I thought the German and Finance degrees would mix well due to the global state of the world’s economy. If you look at banks in Europe, for example a bank in London … they will have a huge population of employees who are not natives of England. America, since our closest neighbors are Canada and Mexico and not 10+ European countries, has cities that are not as global as London, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, etc. (I could be wrong, but this makes sense to me … with the exception of NYC). Pairing the degrees would give me the flexibility and maybe the credentials to pave my own path if I chose to pursue opportunities in other parts of the world.

What were your favorite classes you took at Santa Clara and why?

Business writing with Sean O’Keefe: it gave me actionable insight on how to create your personal brand, network, and create your own luck. Additionally, International Business with Long Le: it showed me how interconnected the world really is. We created small groups and raised money by selling a widget of our choosing (we created and ordered SCU branded beer openers … because let’s be honest … these are very much needed on campus). With the money we raised, we issued microloans to women farmers in Africa to start their small businesses. This gave me insight into different cultures and made me feel like I was a part of something super connected.

What do you enjoy most about your current work as an analyst?

What I enjoy most is seeing how the work my team does is an integral part of a company’s success. Whether that is raising capital or growing through the use of acquisitions, I feel as if my work/my team’s work makes a difference. I also like that it is so global. I get to work with people on various continents and get to listen/watch people in different countries think and act/work through issues.

Given your experiences, what do you see as the biggest challenge facing globalization and international business today?

Countries are starting to push away from globalization and beginning to worry about only themselves and their interests, such as Brexit. This will hurt workers and immigrants and make anything cross-border related slow down (migration, visas for work, etc.). With everything becoming more global, countries are fighting to come out on top in certain industries (Tech, Energy, etc.). This could lead to unfair/damaging trade deals, the banning of technologies, or other negative externalities in the race to get ahead.

What is your best advice for current SCU students to make the most of their time at SCU?

1. Try to make as many friends as possible and form meaningful relationships with people
2. Don’t just study to pass a test, try to study to understand the material because tests don’t matter in real life
3. Have fun and enjoy college. Many say that they are the best years of your life – life only gets harder after graduation

What is your best advice for SCU students (especially IB minors) navigating the search for summer internships and post-graduation jobs?

1. Network, network, network: it’s not what you know, it’s who you know. You’re much more likely to get an interview with a company if you know the hiring manager or someone that knows the hiring managers rather than having a 4.0 while you are triple majoring
2. Don’t be afraid to take risks: why not apply to an internship at a small company in Europe or Asia? Employers will look at your international experience favorably
3. Try to get to know your professors: professors have a huge network and a lot of knowledge. Try to see what they like to do outside of giving out last-minute homework. You might be able to pick up some advice that will stick with you for the rest of your life.