I am the backbone of a sustainable future, or more commonly known as a future investment banker. While the connection isn't immediately recognized by most, a major push for my career choice was the influence I would have on where money is placed into the economy, and the type of projects the world's largest corporations are investing in. Sustainability should be a major priority in investment banking because long-term value increasingly depends on it. Part of this comes from the immense growth in green assets and sustainable investing, but it also comes from the reality that companies cannot ignore climate risk, changing regulations, and public pressure forever. It is both an expectation and my personal hope that the future will continue to bring stronger environmental standards, more investment in clean technology, and a greater social push toward sustainable projects. If finance is responsible for helping companies grow, then it also has a responsibility to help that growth happen in a way that does not create long-term harm. As an investment banker, I would advise companies and act on their interests while helping organize the future value of their firms. That means I would not only be thinking about what creates value now, but also what protects and builds value over time. I want to do everything in my power to help place capital in the right places, whether that means supporting renewable energy, cleaner infrastructure, sustainable transportation, or companies making serious efforts to reduce their environmental impact. I chose my future team this recruiting cycle because they were already deeply invested in sustainable projects and had built a reputation as a leading firm in the push toward a greener future. My job will be to continue and expand that reputation by helping direct capital toward projects that are not only financially strong but also environmentally responsible. Another reason sustainability matters in investment banking is that finance can help shape what companies are rewarded for. If investors and advisors only focus on short-term profits, companies have less incentive to think about their long-term environmental impact. However, when sustainability becomes part of how companies are valued, financed, and advised, it pushes businesses to take cleaner operations, lower emissions, and responsible growth more seriously. In the future, I hope to be part of deals where sustainability is not treated as a side issue, but as a core part of a company’s strategy and long-term success. By helping clients understand that environmental responsibility can also create financial strength, I can contribute to a future where the best investments are not just the most profitable, but also the most responsible. Anyone can say that they will work toward a sustainable future, but I can assure you that I will actually do it. Finance is strung through every part of this country, and it is one of the most powerful tools we have for creating the changes we are all looking for. My research with the MIT Energy Initiative ignited something in me that will not be put out. While my work on a constraint equation used in a hydrofacility model for climate adaptation in New England was interesting, the most meaningful part of my experience was eating lunch with PhD students who have dedicated their lives to building a more sustainable future. Those conversations showed me what real commitment looks like. I will carry everything I learned and felt in those rooms throughout my future career, and I will use the position I am in to help push capital toward the projects, companies, and ideas that can make a lasting environmental impact.

My earliest memories include the swift footsteps of my mom pacing around the kitchen as she speaks rapidly on the phone about things I wouldn't understand until many years later. Growing up I never questioned if business had a place for women; I knew I could make my own. I loved math, but the things I learned in econ interested me like no other. Finance became the perfect bridge between the two. I wanted more than what my school offered, so I spent 3 of the summers in high school taking finance classes and interning at financing firms. With a lot of work and even more luck I received an offer of admission from MIT. Now I've completed my first year I am extremely proud of the challenges I took on in and out of the classroom. I remain in complete awe of every person I meet. I declared Finance (15-3) as my major with a planned double in Computer Science, Economics, and Data Science (6-14). Lacrosse was the year's highlight with a conference win and NCAA birth. I am Director of Finance in my sorority for this upcoming year and VP of professional development in the MIT Scholars of Finance Chapter. Currently I remain on campus doing research this summer at the Sloane School of Management. I am working under lecturer Melissa Webster researching applications of Artificial Intelligence in businesses and individuals. My research focuses on the implications of artificial intelligence within stock prediction and financial analysis. Up until now AI has not been able to beat predictions and investments of financial analysts. AI is able to look at historical trends and store knowledge far greater than what a human analyst can. Shouldn't it be better? Many of these models don't account for behavioral biases, investor sentiments, and unpredictable/irrational choices investors make. New models try to incorporate this, but are still underperforming. I don't quite know what I will find on the topic, but I am extremely excited to dive into it. One day I want to walk into an office where women are not a clear minority. I want articles about female financial movies and I want the headlines not to have to mention it was a female-made decision because the decision holds significance instead of who made it. The only way to do this is to provide role models for young girls. Women succeeding in finance and loving what they do. In a recent interview I was told that I would make a great secretary simply because I was able to name what was next on the agenda. I was a second round candidate for a wealth management internship. I am hard working and intelligent. In a second a man diminished me to a secretary. Things like that need to stop happening. There needs to be a change in who runs these companies, who is hiring, and more mandatory training to best eliminate biases. Finance needs to be about more than returns. Financial reputations are filled with greed and corruption. There are so many ways to ethically invest and use financial knowledge to better this world. It is firms making positive efforts to do good that I want to work with and enforcing stricter rules about ethics is needed. Thank you for the opportunity to apply to this scholarship and thank you for supporting women in finance. It would be an honor to receive this scholarship and it will go to someone who is going to change the world for the better, because I know I can.

My best tip for going back to school is to talk to your teachers or professors right away. Let them know what kind of student you are; what allows you to succeed. Tell them your goals for this year, what you hope to get out of the class, and what goes on your mind. Then get to know your teachers. The goal is to form a relationship early on in the year. Teachers are resources that I don't think we use enough. They have seen thousands of students, they know what it takes to reach goals. A lot of times I waited until the middle or even the end of the year to get close and I missed out on a lot of knowledge and help. Don't wait, talk to your teachers right away.