INTELLECT CHEN

Hello! I'm Intellect, I'm a senior at Columbia College, and I have the great privilege of being CWBS' Vice President this year. This past summer, I interned at Barclays as an investment banking summer analyst. I had a phenomenal experience, but I never would've imagined working there when I first started college.

Three years ago, I was an architecture student at The Cooper Union. When I transferred to Columbia, I thought I'd explore the corporate world, but I didn't know where to start. After being rejected by a bunch of clubs and career opportunities, including a program for Barclays, I thought I was simply not built for the world of business. It took time and mentorship, but I ultimately grew to express the differences in my background as strengths, which also helped me be more successful in recruiting. The roles I eventually found— in both my extracurriculars and career— were all the result of being honest with people about where I was coming from and where I was hoping to go, and fortunately, finding those who could understand and advocate for me.

To those who may be starting something new and unfamiliar, trust that you have what it takes to succeed. There are more people similar to you than you'd imagine, and it becomes easier to find them when you're proactively and passionately sharing your story. Don't underestimate the value of the experiences and relationships you developed in the past because what you make of those opportunities is way more important than their immediate relevancy or prestige. Lastly, take full advantage of being at such a well resourced university. CWBS is always rooting for you, so please reach out and let us know how we can make navigating the professional world a little bit easier, regardless of whether you're a general body member, committee member, or alum. Wishing you all the best in your endeavors!