Pursuing a Passion for Finance – Remay Pemba

“I decided to study business because of the opportunity to learn from many different fields and my strong passion for innovation. I am interested in finance, entrepreneurship, and management. Studying business at Meredith College has given me the flexibility to schedule exciting courses within this field. Meredith has also allowed and encouraged me to take rigorous courses to deepen my knowledge of business during my time studying abroad in Singapore, which I have extended from the spring into the fall semester.

During my first internship at SAS, I was able to enhance my studies in business analytics and diversity. I often used Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, OneDrive, an HRIS Database and an ATS. Doing so greatly improved and helped me to learn new soft skills. I also had the privilege to work with the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion team to research and learn about different ethnic groups. This was an amazing opportunity because I was able to meet many people from various backgrounds and learn from their work. 

I also had a summer internship with Credit Suisse. I was one of 13 risk interns on the Scenario Design Team. This experience allowed me to develop corporate skills and learn about the different risk stripes for the bank. And Meredith gave me the support and confidence to use the skills I’ve learned from my classes and peers like data analytics, interpersonal communication, and collaborative teamwork. 

My favorite part of the second internship was the diversity at Credit Suisse. The community has employees from many backgrounds who are eager to learn about one another. Another aspect I enjoyed is the events – going with my colleagues to fireside chats with the NFL Holt Brothers, a Bulls Game, a Drag Show in support of Pride Month, and many ice cream socials. 

When I first started at Meredith I was so excited to be part of the many clubs and teams that I ended up signing up for too many. Gradually I started to realize that I had too much going on with working part-time and having to dedicate a good amount of time to my classes. Although I didn’t necessarily want to quit anything, I had to step back and come to terms with reality. I chose carefully what I wanted to be a part of and in doing so I was able to dedicate a lot more time and effort to the things I really enjoy. Later in the year, I was asked to hold leadership positions in two of my clubs. I am proud of myself for working hard and for learning how to manage my time productively.

My plan for the future is to be an investment banker. I have a strong interest in finance and have been trading stocks for around two years and am involved with CDs, mutual funds, and Roth/traditional IRAs. During my free time, I enjoy reading the latest news on Yahoo Finance and following leading authors. Although I do not yet know what the future holds, I will work hard toward my career goal and am thankful for my education and for the people who have helped me along the way.

I have learned many different things about myself in college, but the most important one has been discovering what I am interested in. Before coming to Meredith College, I had no idea what I wanted to do. The guidance given by my mentors encouraged me to try different classes, which helped me to find my passions. Although I felt late in declaring my major, I am thankful that I took my time and was given the support to explore and learn about my passion for studying business and Mandarin.”