“Banking is very male-dominated,” says Guadalupe de la Cruz ’11, “and I don’t see why that has to be the case.”
Guadalupe, a senior majoring in economics, is part of a wave of Scripps women brought together by a motivation and love of high finance and number-crunching. And this drive to succeed is paying off – several already have jobs with major firms lined up prior to graduation.
India Mullady ’11, president of Scripps Associated Students and a member of the Robert Day School at Claremont McKenna College, will work as a consultant for Deloitte while Angelica Vargas ’11 will serve as an analyst for DaVita. As for Guadalupe, she’s planning on a career in investment banking with prestigious Morgan Stanley.
“If I had the chance to go back and go to a business school instead of Scripps, I wouldn’t,” adds Guadalupe. “I had a great education, and I am as well-prepared – if not better – for my future.”
India is quick to emphasize these opportunities are open to anyone at Scripps College who wants to follow in their footsteps. “I didn’t even know that I wanted to be an econ major,” she admits. “but it makes sense to me. It’s about pushing yourself to think in a new way.”
Any advice for fellow undergrads about a career in finance? Reach out to the Scripps community, take internships, and explore your options. “No matter what you’re interested in, peers are your biggest resources,” says Guadalupe. Alumnae and the office of Career Planning & Resources are also vital tools, as the hiring process in these fields start earlier than most industries.
India, Angelica, and Guadalupe are passionate about contributing to the growing number of women in finance.
“Scripps women are willing to put in the time,” says Guadalupe. “It’s refreshing for a lot of people in banking to work with someone without a sense of entitlement.”
“Scripps students bring critical thinking into everything,” Angelica says. “I got comments from interviewers saying ‘Wow, no one has ever brought that up.'”
India agrees. “Not all women work the same way, but they all contribute so much as individuals. Women all have a different approach and different things to say because we have a history of being separated from the workplace for so long.”
Simply put, “Women need to be incorporated into finance to bring a diversity of thought, of ways to tackle problems, and work ethic,” to the field, adds Guadalupe.
There’s nothing unfamiliar about Scripps women pushing the boundaries around them. “You can do anything here at Scripps,” says Guadalupe. “Even become one of the top bankers.”