top of page
Justine, Manager (Strategy & Finance) at DoorDash: Advize Career Interview
A Wharton School graduate's journey from investment banking at Mizuho and Macquarie to a Strategic Finance Manager role at DoorDash offers a compelling narrative.
This individual's career path highlights the value of a business school education, showcasing a transition from high-pressure banking (80-100 hour weeks) to a fulfilling tech role emphasizing data analysis (SQL), operational modeling, and collaboration.
The experience demonstrates the importance of networking, proactive self-direction, and strong communication skills to navigate a large company, successfully leveraging technical abilities honed through rigorous training in financial modeling.
A fascinating aspect of the role involves managing the complexities of DoorDash's three-sided marketplace, while addressing challenges of scale and building impactful relationships across diverse teams.
The interview also offers valuable insight into navigating a male-dominated industry as an Asian female, illustrating the importance of confident communication and leveraging support networks.
This unique perspective and career trajectory provides invaluable lessons for students considering careers in finance or tech.
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Justine Lee
Manager (Strategy & Finance)
DoorDash
University of Pennsylvania, Wharton, 2016
N/A
Economics
Technology
Finance
Honors Student, Scholarship Recipient
Watch all of this Advizer's videos below
Career Path of a Strategic Finance Manager at DoorDash
Justine's career path began with a mid-sophomore year transfer from the University of Pennsylvania's College of Arts and Sciences to the Wharton School, driven by a desire for "a post-grad path of students who graduated from the business school" and immediate career entry. This led to investment banking roles at Mizuho and Macquarie, followed by a business development position in private education before Justine's current role as a Strategic Finance Manager at DoorDash, focusing on "affordability and pricing."
Main Responsibilities of a Manager of Strategy and Finance at DoorDash
Justine's main responsibilities as DoorDash's Manager (Strategy & Finance) center on "affordability and pricing initiatives," including budgeting for customer discounts—for example, calculating the cost of a "$1 discount to users"—and collaborating with analytics, product, and operations teams. This role builds on prior experience managing "dasher requisition costs," encompassing advertising and referral program budgets, showcasing a career progression within the company.
A Day In The Life Of A Strategy And Finance Manager At DoorDash
Justine's week as a Strategic Finance Manager at DoorDash involves using SQL to analyze data, updating models to track performance against budget ("how much did we spend on pricing experiments last week?"), and collaborating with cross-functional teams to make data-driven decisions ("pull back on this experiment so that we can stay on budget"). This includes operationalizing action items, conducting business reviews, and undertaking ad hoc analyses to identify potential savings or improvements.
Most Important Skills for a Strategic Finance Manager at DoorDash
A Manager (Strategy & Finance) at DoorDash prioritizes three key skills: proficiency in "operational modeling," using tools like Google Sheets to "illustrate various scenarios," and the ability to identify trends within large datasets to formulate a clear thesis. Equally crucial is effective teamwork and communication with "multiple stakeholders," including product managers and engineers, to navigate evolving business needs.
Favorite Parts Of Being A Manager Strategy And Finance At DoorDash
Justine, a Manager (Strategy & Finance) at DoorDash, values the improved work-life balance and the opportunity to utilize analytical skills in their current role, contrasting it with the "80 to a hundred hours a week" demands of previous banking positions. The access to DoorDash's data, exposure to various business aspects, and continuous learning opportunities—"right when I joined I learned a programming language, SQL"—are key aspects that make the role particularly fulfilling.
Biggest Challenges Faced By A Strategy And Finance Manager At DoorDash
Justine's biggest challenge at DoorDash, a "huge" company compared to her previous roles in smaller firms, is navigating its immense size to find the right resources and collaborators. This involves proactively building a network of contacts across different teams—"a really good analytics contact," for example—to avoid duplicated work and stay informed on relevant initiatives.
Favorite Parts Of Working In The Tech Industry As A Strategy And Finance Manager
Justine, a Manager (Strategy & Finance) at DoorDash, appreciates the improved work-life balance in the tech industry compared to banking, noting that "in general it's a lot less high stress and high long work hours." The unique aspect of working at DoorDash, however, involves managing the complexities of "a three-sided marketplace," servicing consumers, dashers, and merchants, which Justine finds particularly interesting.
What Type Of Person Thrives In The Tech Industry, According To A Finance Manager At DoorDash
Justine, a Manager (Strategy & Finance) at DoorDash, emphasizes that success in their finance role, and likely within the broader tech industry, hinges on "high ownership and a high degree of responsibility," proactive self-direction to avoid becoming "a cog in the machine," and a data-driven approach to problem-solving. This highlights the need for initiative and analytical skills to stand out in a large company.
What a Strategy and Finance Manager at DoorDash Wishes They Had Known Before Entering the Tech Industry
Justine, a Manager (Strategy & Finance) at DoorDash, transitioned from investment banking, where their team "was driving the revenue," to a tech company, and found a significant shift in influence and responsibility. The role offers "a much better work-life balance," but less direct impact on the company's vision compared to the engineers and product managers who "are the one[s] executing."
Entry-Level Positions For Aspiring Strategic Finance Managers At DoorDash
Justine's career path, starting in banking with an investment bank summer analyst internship secured through "a resume drop-off box," illustrates diverse entry routes into finance, contrasting with friends who pursued "summer internships with Girls Who Code," leading to tech roles. The respondent highlights the availability of internships at investment banks, including diversity programs, and on-campus recruiting as viable options for undergraduate students interested in finance, acknowledging that their own path isn't a typical example of entering a tech company's strategic finance department directly from university.
Significant Career Lesson From a Manager of Strategy and Finance at DoorDash
Justine, a Manager (Strategy & Finance) at DoorDash, learned the significant lesson that "who you know is actually a bigger determinant in your career than you think," emphasizing the importance of networking despite initial reservations. This realization, gained through experience and observation of diverse career paths, highlights the value of proactive networking to understand industries and achieve career goals.
How College Helped a Strategy and Finance Manager at DoorDash Succeed
Justine's investment banking internship provided "rigorous training in building technical skills," laying a strong foundation for her career by developing skills in financial modeling and business valuation. Early exploration, including informational interviews with upperclassmen and mock interviews, proved invaluable in navigating the competitive finance landscape, highlighting the importance of proactive networking and self-education even before securing internships.
How Identity Has Influenced A Strategy And Finance Manager's Career At DoorDash
In a male-dominated finance industry, Justine, an Asian female, initially struggled to "articulate thoughts" and express opinions confidently, fearing appearing too feminine or masculine. Over time, however, Justine learned to prioritize effective communication, focusing on substance over social anxieties, and found support through minority and women's initiatives within their companies.
Advizer Personal Links
bottom of page