Breaking into Finance: A Real-World Guide for Students and Future Leaders (technical and behavioral tips: lessons learned from a 15-year journey in Wall Street & City of London) - Part 1/5: Preface
Table of Contents
Introduction & Preface – personal note, guide overview and dedication
✅ Breaking Into Finance — A Note to My Younger Self
May marked graduation season across the US and UK. Aug 5th is my industry anniversary - the first official day I stepped into the world of finance as a young graduate at BLK in NYC 12 years ago. After speaking on a recent ‘Breaking Into Finance’ panel at KUFA, and hearing from students navigating today’s career landscape—shaped by AI, geopolitics, and economic uncertainty—I was inspired to share a reflection.
My own journey into finance was anything but linear. From South Korea to Canada to Wall Street to the City of London—it’s been a winding path, guided more by grace and a hope to make a difference than strategy.
I once believed my highest calling was to become a human rights lawyer at the UN.
Then one day, Larry Fink—an old friend of my professor—walked into my NYU classroom. I heard him speak about capitalism as a force for good, and it changed everything. That was the beginning.
At the time, I was living in a dorm near Union Square, watching the 2008 Global Financial Crisis unfold just blocks away. I had no Wall Street connections. No blueprint. I was liberal arts at heart, pre-law, and unsure if finance was even for someone like me. I started late. I needed a work visa in the US. I felt lost.
Fast-forward: I’ve worked across investment banking, private equity, portfolio management, and sustainable investing—between Wall Street and the City of London. Served clients around the world from Middle East to Asia, Europe, Latin America and Europe. I’ve sat on both sides of the interview table and helped steward trillions in global capital.
But here’s the truth: I didn’t do it alone.
This is for the thousand people who had coffee with me, believed in me, and opened doors when I didn’t even know what doors to knock on.
📘 That’s why I put together Breaking Into Finance: A Real-World Guide for Students—for anyone navigating the black box of finance recruiting, especially those without a traditional path. It’s practical. Honest. No-fluff. Rooted in lived experience—and a bit of soul.
If you know a student, niece/nephew, mentee, or friend curious about finance—please pass it along.
And if you’re already in finance:
💬 If you could go back to your 21-year-old self—what’s one piece of advice you’d give yourself?
Drop it below—your comment might be the exact insight someone needs right now.
#InvestmentBanking #AssetManagement #Mentorship #CareerAdvice #FinanceWithHeart #SummerIntern
📘 Introducing: Breaking Into Finance — A Real-World Career Companion
This guide is a heartfelt, practical toolkit I wish I had when I started. Not a technical guide, but real stories. It’s rooted in lived experience and written for those who feel the calling but don’t yet know the way.
What’s Inside This Guide
This guide is for you if you're:
- Curious about finance but unsure where to begin
- Preparing for interviews or entering recruiting season
- Wondering if it’s possible to build a meaningful career without losing your values
- Looking for a voice that understands both the pressure and the purpose
Inside, you’ll find distilled insights, career path breakdowns, candid reflections, and lessons learned from nearly 15 years (including internships) in and around the global finance world.
Use this however serves you best—read it cover to cover or jump to the section you need. Either way, I hope it helps.
- Who this is for: University students or anyone exploring careers in investment banking (IB), asset management (AM), private equity (PE), or sustainable/impact investing.
- What you’ll learn: Key insights from an industry insider (M&A IB summer intern and Private Equity intern on Wall Street & 12 years of asset management experience from portfolio manager, researcher, and sustainable investor) on why finance can be a meaningful and multidimensional career path, how to prepare for interviews, what roles exist, and how to thrive early on.
- Why it matters: Finance shapes the world. Understanding it gives you power—not just to earn, but to lead, and make an impact at scale.
Quick Takeaways:
- Finance is about people and systems—relationship-building matters as much as technical skills.
- The world is your curriculum. Markets reflect geopolitics, psychology, and power.
- Start where you are. Curiosity, courage, and clarity will take you further than perfection.
Here are 5 things I would tell my younger self:
- You don’t have to sound like everyone else to belong.
- Start with WHY: your purpose—even if it’s quiet and unformed.
- Every “no” is a redirection, not a rejection.
- Build real relationships, not just a resume.
- The people you meet today may shape your entire life—treat them with care.
I owe everything to the thousand people who had coffee with me—mentors, sponsors, peers, and strangers who gave me a shot. They shared their time and believed in me, even when I didn’t believe in myself. This guide is a transmission of their generosity and wisdom—meant to cut through the noise and offer something real, rooted in lived experience.
There were moments of grit, sweat, tears, and sometimes, blood. But also purpose, growth, and deep fulfillment in the end.
If this note finds you at the right moment, I hope it brings clarity, courage, or simply the reminder that you’re not alone.
One of my mentors told me: Hardest thing in life is to ask the right question. As long as you ask the right question, you will be alright.
And if you’re feeling overwhelmed or stuck right now, know this:
Every hero carries their scars. And your hero’s journey will one day become someone else’s lighthouse.
I look forward to hearing your story one day.
Good luck - don’t forget to have fun!,
With heart,
EJ Elena Shin
Dedication
To Kate—thank you for giving me the courage to publish this after months of sitting on it. I hope your daughter, your son, and many others find it helpful.
Table of Contents
Introduction & Preface – personal note, guide overview and dedication
- Why Did You Choose a Career in Finance?
- What Are the Best Parts of Starting Your Career in Finance?
- What Are the Main Career Paths in Finance? – IB, AM, PE/VC, impact investing, etc.
- What Part of the Job Do You Enjoy the Most?
- What Makes Someone Stand Out in Finance as an Analyst?
- How Are Work Cultures Different Across Major Financial Hubs? – comparative table of NYC, London, Asia, Europe, Middle East
- What Advice Would You Give Your Younger Self at 21? Bonus 1 – On Gender and Being a Woman in Finance – reflections and lessons Bonus 2 – On Being from a Minority Cultural Background & the Bamboo Ceiling
- How Should I Prepare for Interviews? – technical, behavioural and company research prep; checklist
- How Do I Build Confidence? – asking questions, mentors, owning wins
- Everything Is a Mindset: How Do I Bounce Back from Setbacks? – handling rejection, mindset shifts Further Resources – curated links (Mergers & Inquisitions, YouTube channels, podcasts, books)
- Bonus Materials (Deep‑Dive Career Guides) – extra sections covering M&A investment banking, portfolio management, trading, buy‑side research, private equity, ESG investing, and quantitative vs. fundamental investing
