The best place for a fledgling in a new finance career is under the wing of a talented mentor.
That idea is what prompted seven senior leaders in finance to pay it forward. They are mentoring Lehigh graduates new to the field. In turn, those newcomers are mentoring students back on South Mountain.
Meet several leaders and a few mentors in the Lehigh Finance Mentorship Program (FMP), and hear the origins of the program and the tremendous benefits it offers.
Leaders
Paul Knollmeyer ’87, managing director and chief finance and risk officer, HPS Investment Partners
Greg Geiling ’94, managing director and co-COO, Bayview Asset Management
Chris Scott ’94, managing director, fixed income division, Morgan Stanley
Dan Pietrzak ’97, partner, KKR & Co. Inc.
Rob Camacho ’04, senior managing director, The Blackstone Group
Charlie Bustin ’04 ’05G, partner and portfolio manager, Douglas C. Lane & Associates
Mentors/Mentees
Matthew Vine ’17, MBA candidate, Columbia Business School
Mayra Juarez-Gutierrez ’15, vice president, Wells Fargo
Neha Rachumallu ’15, vice president, investor relations and fundraising, PennantPark
Origin of FMP
Knollmeyer: A few of us were having lunch with Georgette Chapman Phillips, the dean of the College of Business, who was wanting to find ways to get finance alumni more involved in creating an impact, whether that was job opportunities, career advice, resources, mentoring, or support. That’s when Rob drew a schematic that would help Lehigh alumni network across our industry while also helping Lehigh undergraduates.
Pietrzak: We wanted the group to help connect dots professionally since so many of us around this table have lots in common and spend time moving in similar circles. This program would get us connected and have us on campus more often, where we could meet and recruit students.
Geiling: We wanted to be part of the solution and find ways to be more involved with the College, knowing the positive, powerful, and impactful education and experience we had at Lehigh.
Bustin: A few months ago, a business accounting major wanted to break into finance and reached out to me over Lehigh Connects. We knew this program could help strengthen those digital bonds and make the finance community at Lehigh more robust. It felt like something we could do that would scale and grow since we were doing it informally already.
Challenges with careers in finance
Scott: It can be hard to connect and interact with people in our industry who are the next tier down. This program could help solve that and benefit so many who are early in their careers.
Bustin: When it comes to accounting, Lehigh has a stellar reputation, and firms are coming to us, looking for the best. But our finance students have to be ambitious and scrappy to fight for a first-year internship when competing against other institutions.
Scott: Rising juniors have offers, and sophomores are nabbing internships.
Bustin: Those practices build a barrier to entry in our industry, so students need to bring their A-game.
Pietrzak: Alumni like us can be a great resource in this manner.
Geiling: There were seven firms when I began my career. Today there are 70 firms of various sizes and specialities. Students need to be more educated and connected. They have to go out and find opportunities earlier and be prepared to know where they want to apply their talent.
Knollmeyer: Might I add, while competing against Ivy Leaguers. But Lehigh students are smart and have hustle. I got an email a year ago from a junior who wanted advice on a career path. My influence helped lead to an internship.
Connecting with mentees
Scott: There was no internet when I graduated.
Bustin: Remember when LinkedIn started up 20 years ago?
Geiling: I get so many pings that I only focus on cleaning them out while on a long flight. The Internet of Things has made it much harder to get people’s attention. Now I meet with my mentees for cocktails once a quarter.
Knollmeyer: My mentees and I connect over Zoom, calls, and dinners. I want them to take advantage of their access to me however they can.
Pietrzak: Consistent connectivity is key. I appreciate the time with them. It is great to hear what their experiences have been like in the industry and what Lehigh did to prepare them.
Geiling: I like being connected to a younger generation of future leaders. It is great to hear the questions they ask and how deeply they care about the industry and learn from different generational perspectives. They have clear career goals and work hard to strike a balance in their lives.
Knollmeyer: It is important to give back. Lehigh shaped our careers, shaped our lifelong friendships, and influenced our success.
Thoughts from the mentees
Vine: I meet twice a month with my mentor. He provides strategic guidance and helps me with big decisions.
Rachumallu: My mentor has such a great network and deep knowledge of the industry. I can email him and get his thoughts and perspectives, which I trust.
Juarez-Gutierrez: Openness is key. My mentor is a great resource for information and contacts. He has connected me with many other people and has offered both advice and confirmation of my own thoughts and plans.
On Mentees with students
Rachumallu: It has been a wonderful experience with my mentees. We have great conversations on possible internships and networking basics so they can quickly find common footing with people.
Juarez-Gutierrez: I offer tips, answer questions, and help students practice for interviews.
Vine: Students seek advice and guidance. So I help with cover letters and best approaches for positions they seek. I offer monthly Sunday chats. Four or five students will hop on and talk.
Rachumallu: They want to build their knowledge base and understand what people do across our industry.
Vine: There are many corners to cover and many people from our networks in all of those corners. Helping students connect across our network is very valuable.
For more information about FMP, email Chiquita Griffin, director of professional and intellectual engagement in alumni relations, at cdg204@lehigh.edu.
