Hello Katie, thank you so much for joining us today. Before we begin asking you questions, would you like to give a brief background as to who you are?
I am a first-generation student from New Jersey, the oldest of four kids in a supportive family that owns a small business in our hometown. My interest and passion for business have been a significant part of my life, having grown up with a background in business. As the first in my family to go to college, I attended the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School and pursued a career in the finance industry.
Currently, I work at BlackRock, where I lead the mutual fund and ETF product pillar for the US wealth market. My role involves managing and ensuring that our products remain competitive and sustainable for the future of finance. My passion, work ethic, and success stem from my curious nature. From a young age, I’ve always been curious and eager to act upon my interests. Today, I continue to nurture this curiosity in both my personal life and career.
One of the challenges I faced was taking the first step and finding opportunities.
My parents were supportive and willing to help me, but they did not have the exact experience to guide me with college applications or my career journey.
I sought guidance from people who could help me and whom I could ask for advice and mentorship throughout my college and career journey, including my friends’ parents who worked in the banking industry.
The story of how I first stepped into the finance world began with connecting with my family’s financial advisor. The summer after high school, my father and I met with the financial advisor. I told the advisor about my AP Economics class and that I was planning to major in finance. I was then offered an internship to work and get exposed to the financial world. I had no idea what the financial advisor role entailed, but I took the opportunity to learn, and the financial advisor became one of my mentors. I realized, “It is important to be able to tap different people for different things in your life.” This experience opened up my circle of trusted people who could be advocates for me and give me advice.
Can you talk about the support systems, such as family, friends, or institutional resources, that helped you succeed in college and your career?
One prevailing theme I always emphasize is that “you get what you put into something.” This mindset applies to all aspects of life, whether professional or personal. This statement underscores the foundation of how I have built my success. In college, I always sat at the front and asked questions whenever I could. College is a place of education, and I gained the most from my experience by being engaged with my classes, assignments, and educators.
Beyond the classroom, I always made an impact on whomever I was building a relationship with. To me, the responsibility of a relationship requires ownership and an effort to grow it. Building these relationships throughout life also builds your support system, network, and interpersonal connections. I emphasize that the relationships you build represent you when someone speaks on your behalf.
I emphasize the importance of networking and keeping an open mind. I have a story of how I got my job at BlackRock through my former employer during my college years, having worked at the company since my high school summer. After starting my career, I kept in touch with him, and six and a half years later, he reached out to offer me a position at BlackRock. I wouldn’t be here today if he hadn’t reached out to me then.
Secondly, keeping an open mind is crucial. When I first started my internship in high school, I wanted to become a financial advisor because it was the only exposure I had. However, by keeping an open mind and exploring other opportunities, I discovered new paths I could pursue. I believe that keeping an open mind about the companies you want to work for and the types of projects you want to engage can provide a significant advantage in finding opportunities.
Lastly, it is important to use the resources your school provides while in college. This includes looking into news article subscriptions and networking platforms the career center offers. These are valuable resources. Attending professors’ office hours is also essential. A professor once said, “You can have the student who will always have the answer, but you can also have a student who does not know the answer but will always try.” I believe that what matters most is showing up, trying, and asking questions.
If you could go back and give advice to your younger self when you were just starting college, what would you say?
As I reflect on the many successes I shared throughout my life, I remind myself that not every decision is a make-or-break decision. Outside influences can create pressures when making decisions or selecting between choices in our lives. However, while many decisions require thoughtful consideration and hold importance, they do not determine who we are as human beings.
I highlight this by sharing my college journey. I always dreamed of my path to college and faced rejection, but then I found my place at the University of Pennsylvania Wharton. Now, as an adult, it is rare that I reflect on my college decisions.
A key piece of advice I offer is that success comes from hard work, and you cannot place too much emphasis or pressure on every decision in your life.