College Experiences That Helped a Capital Risk Executive at a Major Bank Succeed
To set oneself up for career success in college, Ryan, a Capital Risk Management Executive, advises keeping an open mind to explore different interests, as demonstrated by switching from pre-med to economics, and focusing on building "foundational skills" like presenting, teamwork, and data analysis, because "you probably don't know where you'll be five years from that point." These core competencies are transferable across various roles and industries, providing flexibility and adaptability throughout a career.
Career Exploration, Foundational Skills, Data Analysis, Presentation Skills, Teamwork
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Ryan Almquist
Capital Risk Management Executive
Major North American Bank
Wake Forest University
N/A
Business Management & Admin
Finance (Banking, Fintech, Investing)
Strategic Management and Executive
Video Highlights
1. Keep an open mind about your career path, as interests can change during college.
2. Focus on building foundational skills early in your career that are transferable across different roles and industries.
3. Prioritize skills like presenting, teamwork, and data analysis, as they are universally valuable.
Transcript
What did you do in college to set you up for success in your career?
I'd say keep an open mind on what type of career you want to go into. When I started college as a freshman, I thought I wanted to go into a medical career, so I loaded up on science classes.
But I took an introductory econ class my sophomore year and loved it. I liked it so much better than my science classes. I thought, "What am I doing? I need to be doing something different."
So, definitely take college as an opportunity to figure out what you're interested in. Don't feel like you have to commit to what you're doing for the rest of your life when you step foot on campus.
Even when you start your career after college, you probably don't know where you'll be five years from that point. Focus, especially early in your career, on building foundational skills that you can take with you to a number of places.
I think a lot of very technical skills can be learned. But there are foundational skills like being able to present in front of more senior people, working together as part of a team, or being able to analyze data. Things like that are basic, but you can take them in a number of different directions depending on where your interests go.
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