For Carolina Fernandez, a Business Administration in Finance major and Macaulay Honors College student, the path to a career in finance was paved by her parents’ hustle and her own unwavering curiosity. As she prepares to graduate this May as one of the school’s salutatorians, Carolina is set to become the first member of her family to earn a college degree in the United States — a milestone that feels like the culmination of a lifelong dream.
An Early Curiosity
Carolina’s interest in the corporate world began not in a classroom, but in the offices of global firms like Bloomberg and Chase Bank. Her mother worked there as a cleaning lady, and Carolina often accompanied her on weekends.
“I’d wander around, sneaking a lollipop or two, fascinated by the people around me,” Carolina recalls. “I didn’t understand what they did at the time, but it sparked my curiosity about the world of finance.”
Watching her mother work behind the scenes, and seeing her father — formerly an agriculturist in the Dominican Republic — build a small business in New York after immigrating, fueled Carolina’s drive. She knew she wanted to understand the mechanisms of the industry that once felt so out of reach. “When I first decided to pursue finance at CCNY, my goal was to break into a corporate world that felt out of reach. I wanted to build financial literacy and understand the work that once seemed so distant from my perspective.”
Bridging the Gap
At the Colin Powell School, Carolina found the resources to turn that curiosity into a career. She became a founding executive board member of Association of Latino Professionals for America (ALPFA) and an active participant in the school’s Research Fellow cohort. She credits the school’s rapid expansion of resources — specifically the BBA program and the installation of Bloomberg Terminals — with giving her a competitive edge.
“It’s clear the Colin Powell School understands what tools students actually need and has done a great job bridging that gap,” she says. “Having access to Bloomberg Terminals and becoming a Bloomberg Ambassador was a game changer. Being able to learn and experiment with them in school made that transition so much smoother.”
Beyond the technology, it was the mentorship of faculty and staff — including Sarah Dyer, Hugh Fox, Associate Dean Kevin Foster, and Richard Horowitz — that truly shaped her trajectory. These relationships opened doors to pivotal internships, including a position at Centerbridge through the “Future in Finance” program.
Shifting Power
After graduation, Carolina will begin a full-time role at Jefferies, a leading global investment banking firm, as a member of their Operations team. Her long-term goal, however, is to ensure the door she opened stays wide for others.
“I am also eager to help create pathways for future Colin Powell students to enter finance, whether by establishing a fellowship partnership at Jefferies or expanding their co-op program to include students from the Colin Powell School,” she says.
Advice for Her Peers
For students who might feel intimidated by the corporate world or discouraged by early setbacks, Carolina offers advice rooted in resilience and tenacity:
“Don’t be afraid to show how HUNGRY you are for the opportunity! Your engagement and commitment are the most valuable assets you have. Always put in the effort to show those who gave you the opportunity how enthusiastic you are to partake in it.”
She also reminds her fellow students that the path to success is rarely a straight line:
“Every rejection is a redirection. You’re going to hear more ‘no’s’ than ‘yes’s,’ but it’s the power you gain from those ‘no’s’ that will redirect you to where you’re truly supposed to be.”
