Join us for a panel discussion on breaking into finance, featuring recent GS graduates. Panelists will share their personal journeys, insights, and practical advice on launching a successful career in finance, including tips on internships, networking, and navigating the industry. This is a great opportunity to hear firsthand from professionals who have recently transitioned from campus to the finance world.
Featuring:
Krista Kalaj '25GS is a recent Columbia University graduate and a first-generation college student whose journey into finance was driven by intellectual curiosity and a desire to build a meaningful, impact-driven career. With a background in modeling and experience in the entertainment industry, she brings a unique perspective to the world of finance. While at Columbia, she found her footing through internships in private equity and credit valuation, and as a TA for the “Money and Banking” course. Now starting her career at KPMG in Miami, she remains deeply committed to supporting nontraditional and first-generation students as they navigate their own professional journeys.
Nico Long ‘22GS competed nationally as a black belt in Taekwondo before giving it up to compete with the New York Redbulls Youth Academy. With some personal circumstances unexpectedly putting a halt to his career, he gave up his athletics dream and adapted to a new role as a student at Westchester Community College (WCC). During the time between submitting his essay to Columbia and getting his acceptance, Nico learned through an Ancestry DNA test that he had a long-lost full sister. Both were adopted at birth, but never knew each other existed. After studying at Cambridge University during the summer before his first semester at Columbia, he found himself not only meeting amazing new GS students but his biological family as well. While at GS, Nico served as an Orientation Leader and was active in student life. As a recent graduate from GS class of 2022 in economics, he finds it both rewarding and enjoyable to stay involved as he gets to continue his dream job working in wealth management
Moderated by Izabela Rutkowski ‘13JRN
A Zoom link will be sent to registrants 24 hours prior to the event.
