LILY ZHANG
“Hi everyone, my name is Lily Zhang, and I am a senior at Columbia College studying Economics. I currently serve as Director of Communications, and have also been a CM on the Conference and D&I committees. This organization has taught me so much about the world of business, and it has certainly been an integral part of my college experience.
As an underclassman, I was quickly introduced to the early finance recruiting timeline. Especially during my freshman and sophomore years, I did my best to be proactive about participating in a wide variety of networking events, office visits, and other programs geared toward undergraduate women. Doing so allowed me to meet so many other like-minded students, get a feel for company culture, and learn more about different industries. While recruiting can seem daunting, my best advice would be to just put yourself out there and get the ball rolling–you never know what doors might open up for you!
I was lucky to have discovered MUFG’s GCIB & Markets Sophomore Summer Analyst Program here in NYC. It was exactly the kind of summer experience I was looking for – by rotating through both the markets and banking sides, it felt as though everything I had learned about the finance industry was finally clicking. In fact, the sophomore final project that summer was to present on how every division of the bank fits and works together–which I researched through shadowing and coffee-chatting with individuals throughout the bank. While culture certainly differs from firm-to-firm, my advice to interns would be to truly take interest in and learn from the people working around you. There is so much valuable wisdom that people can offer, from Analysts to MD’s and beyond. Speaking with employees is the best way to learn about the true experience of working at a firm and the industry as a whole (some people had decades of Wall Street experience to reflect upon)!
During my final presentation, an MD (Columbia Business School alumna) in the Capital Markets group asked a question in the audience, and the rest is history! I agreed to return as a Capital Markets intern for my junior summer, during which I got deeper/more technical exposure and again had a wonderful experience. I will be returning as a full-time Analyst post-grad and am really looking forward to the next chapter! I wish the best of luck to everyone during the exciting job exploration process.”
Lily Zhang, February 2025