Exploring the Finance Industry
Ever since I was a little girl, it has always been a goal of mine to follow in my dad and grandfather’s footsteps and go into the finance industry. My dad works in wealth management and watching him on the phone with clients every day as well as following the stock market together, sparked a fascination in me that never went away. Even on the weekends, when the stock market was closed, we would watch highlights from the week and try to predict what would happen the next. These moments meant so much to me and basically molded me into the person I am today, and I knew I wanted to continue this tradition with my future family, as well as with my dad moving forward.
I feel incredibly fortunate to have had the opportunity to gain real, hands-on professional experience while still in school and through prior internships. Over the past few years, I have explored many different areas within finance, each of which has added a new layer to my understanding of how financial markets work and the kind of professional I want to become. Through those experiences, I discovered a deep passion for investment banking specifically, as I love the fast paced and high stakes nature of the work, as well as the complexity of the deals, and the opportunity to advise companies on some of the most important decisions they will ever make. The combination of analytical rigor and strategic thinking truly excites me in a way no other industry has. Furthermore, I am so excited that this upcoming summer, I will be working as an Investment Banking Analyst at Jefferies in New York City, and I could not be more ready for what is ahead.
Venture Capital
During the summer of 2023, I had the opportunity to intern at Ghostzapper Inc., which is a venture capital firm headquartered in New York City that focuses on Series A and Series B investments in the technology sector. It was my very first professional experience, and it immediately confirmed that I was exactly where I was supposed to be.
At Ghostzapper Inc., I analyzed eight early-stage companies and played an active role in supporting the investment decisions of the company by using financial modeling and performing in-depth market research. On the modeling side, I built revenue projection models, conducted valuation comparisons using comparable company analysis, and ran scenario analyses to evaluate potential growth outcomes for each individual company.
What I loved most about the experience was getting to work directly underneath the CEO as it was a small deal team. This helped me sharpen my analytical instincts in a way that no classroom could fully replicate and gave me a real appreciation for the buy side of the business as I had to made sure I was giving the right information to my bosses as it was even more crucial, I was correct as there was only one other analyst. It also made me curious about the sell side of a transaction, which ultimately led me to explore investment banking next and understand how deals get structured and executed from an advisory perspective.
Investment Banking
After my first year at the University of Miami, I had the opportunity to intern at Riverside Management Group, which is an investment banking firm, and I was able to work on a wide range of investment analysis and valuation projects that pushed me to grow in ways that made me even more interested in this field.
During my time there, I assisted with financial modeling and valuation analyses to evaluate potential investment opportunities on the sell-side. This included building discounted cash flow models, analyzing projected cash flows, and assessing the potential returns of different investment scenarios. I was able to see how each company’s EBITDA directly impacted a company’s valuation and how small changes in the assumptions table could affect the company’s outcomes. I was also able to conduct comparable company and market analysis by reviewing industry benchmarks using Tableau alongside transaction multiples to help determine reasonable valuation ranges.
I also contributed to investment memos and research materials by compiling financial data from Bloomberg to predict my own market insights and risk considerations to support the investment decisions of the company. This allowed me to put the numbers together and develop my own theses on a company, which is something I never experienced before. This internship gave me a much deeper understanding of how financial professionals assess opportunities and advise on strategic decisions. More than anything, it made me realize how much I genuinely enjoyed the detailed, analytical nature of this work and solidified my decision to pursue a career in investment banking.
Wealth Management
In the summer of 2025, I wanted to round out my experience in finance by stepping into a more client facing environment, just like my dad, and I had the opportunity to intern at Fifth Avenue Financial, where I gained hands-on experience in wealth management and portfolio advisory.
During my time there, I was able to review and analyze client portfolios valued at over $1 million and evaluated asset allocation, diversification strategies, and overall portfolio performance for high net-worth clients. I was able to perform research on the equities market, fixed income securities, ETFs, and alternative investments to identify opportunities aligned with each client's customized investment objectives and risk tolerance. I also assisted in preparing portfolio review materials and investment summaries used to communicate performance and strategic recommendations directly my boss’ clients.
I also spent time researching macroeconomic trends, interest rate movements, and broader market developments to understand how every single economic conditions shape portfolio strategy. This experience gave me a deep appreciation for the trust and relationship driven nature of wealth management and reinforced just how much responsibility comes with advising individuals and families on their financial futures.