Statement of Interest

My interest in investment banking did not start in a textbook, but rather from my foundations in entrepreneurship.

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In high school, I started my first business, reselling Funko Pops. I tracked sales by hand, visited Hot Topic and F.Y.E. to ask about restock dates, then moved to buying online when I saw which figures sold fastest. I taught myself Excel to clean up my notes and copied strategies from larger resellers. Without naming it, I was studying demand, pricing, and a small market.

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At WashU, WUSIF turned that curiosity toward public companies. Building models and valuing firms felt similar to my earlier projects, just on a bigger scale. I liked putting information together piece by piece and fixing my assumptions when something did not add up. That mix of analysis, pressure, and practical problem-solving is what draws me to investment banking.

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From my understanding, investment bankers spend most of their day working on meaningful projects. Their workday typically begins at eight in the morning and often runs late into the night. Most of those hours are spent in Microsoft Suite, building and fixing models on Excel, adjusting PowerPoint slides, and responding to emails, calls, and meeting requests from their teams and clients. Meals are typically eaten in tight windows at their desks to maximize work efficiency.

 

For the first few years, many analysts work close to ninety or even one hundred hours a week. While schedules are intense, they mold analysts into competent financial professionals and can lead to strong connections and valuable exit opportunities later on. Most roles are located in large cities such as New York, Chicago, Boston, or San Francisco. Analysts don professional attire, which matches the serious nature of the work and the clients they serve, while promoting the general sentiment of "look good, feel good," and acting as models for the company they represent.

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Investment banking is defined by long hours and steady pressure. I expect it to push me beyond my limits, and I anticipate burnout. However, I know that when I commit to something, I tend to stay with it. Right now, my weakest area remains the technical side of investment banking. Although I have gained foundational knowledge in modeling and investment research practices from WUSIF, I have no real-world industry experience yet and have a lot to learn. I have competency in Microsoft Suite, and I am confident in my written and verbal communication skills. Pursuing investment banking allows me to push myself in a fast-paced, high-stakes setting, and I do my best work when the expectations are high, and quitting is not the easy option. Pressure makes diamonds, and I plan to shine.