CLASS OF 2027 FELLOW BIOS (N-Z)

Like many other Chinese-Americans, my parents immigrated from a rural town in China to pursue a better life for themselves and their children in America. As a kid, I was fortunate enough to grow up in a supportive and stable household, which is all I can really ask for. My parents introduced me to various hobbies and interests such as soccer, which played an important role in my life and became a large part of my identity up until college. In middle school, my dad also introduced me to the stock market, helping me place my first trade, which was Walt Disney Co. Around this time, I also began developing my own interests in business, which originally stemmed from my attachment to the TV show Shark Tank. My dad is a software engineer and my mom is a stay-at-home mom, so aside from their stock portfolio, they were just as foreign to these topics as I was. As a result, I had to look for my own opportunities and learn from my experiences. During this process, I took away invaluable lessons such as the importance of soft skills. For example, when I first started my food rescue non-profit in high school, I was rejected by more than 50 restaurants/grocery stores. After refining my pitch and persisting past the rejections, I was able to secure my first partnership. With my food rescue initiative, a 4.5 GPA, and a 1520 SAT score, I was able to secure a spot at the University of Southern California. 

When I entered college, I wanted to find a direction and figure out what I wanted to do in the future. Through conversations with upperclassmen and recent graduates, I found out about investment banking, which seemed like a great avenue to combine my interest in business with the opportunity to help facilitate change. Since the start of college, I’ve been able to maintain a 3.85 GPA, while also involving myself in clubs such as the Trojan Investing Society and the Global Investment Society. During my first year, I also had the opportunity to gain work experience in M&A as an intern at Vermilion Rock Advisors and Sellside Group LLC. When I heard about Project Wall Street, I thought it would be a great opportunity to help me pursue a career in Investment Banking given my background and alignment with their mission. I look forward to what is ahead of me and the opportunities to learn from and work with those around me.

Ivy Pham is a first-generation student of color who was born and raised in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. In 2019, her family immigrated to the United States with the hope of providing Ivy and her sisters with a solid education and better opportunities. With her father working abroad in Vietnam and her elder sister attending college far from home, Ivy became the sole English speaker in her family as they reestablished their lives in a new country. This transformative experience at such a young age instilled in her the values of hard work, perseverance, and the importance of seizing opportunities. Growing up in Vietnam, Ivy witnessed firsthand the crucial role the financial services industry plays in driving economic growth and improving the quality of life in communities. This experience sparked her passion for finance, motivating her to pursue a career where she can help create financial solutions that empower both individuals and businesses. 

Ivy is an active student, inside and outside the classroom. She graduated Summa Cum Laude with a 4.3 weighted GPA and scored a 1500 on the SAT. Driven by her passion for business, Ivy founded her high school's first-ever business club and official DECA chapter, leading a team of 10 to represent the school in a statewide business competition for the first time. Her peers recognized her leadership, electing her as President of the National Honor Society, and she also earned a reputation as a record-breaking goalie for the Women’s Varsity Lacrosse team. Ivy’s entrepreneurial spirit was further honed through her participation in LaunchX, a highly competitive entrepreneurship program, where she founded Equart—a platform for inspiring artists. Additionally, she competed in the Diamond Challenge Business Competition, where she created Re-Soap, a nonprofit aimed at recycling and distributing hygienic products from Ho Chi Minh City’s hospitality industry to communities in need, with a strong focus on community involvement. As a result of her accomplishments, Ivy was accepted to Cornell University’s Nolan School of Hotel Administration, where she is pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Hotel Administration with a minor in Real Estate and a concentration in Finance, Real Estate, and Accounting.

At Cornell, Ivy has continued to demonstrate exceptional academic and extracurricular involvement. Her interest in the financial services industry is evident through her participation in some of Cornell’s most prominent business clubs. As a freshman, Ivy served on the Executive Board of Phi Chi Theta Professional Business Fraternity, where she completed a comprehensive 10-week New Member Education process that exposed her to industries such as Investment Banking, Consulting, and Real Estate through various case studies. She also serves as a Real Estate Analyst for both the Cornell Real Estate Club and Diversity and Inclusion in Real Estate, the only two real estate-focused clubs on campus. Project Wall Street’s commitment to breaking down barriers and making merit the key to success resonates deeply with Ivy, as it mirrors her own journey of perseverance and determination. Coming from a background where opportunities were limited, Ivy understands the importance of access to the right resources and guidance. Through this program, she is eager to deepen her financial expertise, connect with like-minded peers, and build lasting relationships with mentors who share her passion for creating a more inclusive and diverse Wall Street.

Hi. I’m Renita Santhoshkumar and I’m a sophomore at New York University studying finance and data science. I spent most of my childhood in India, but moved to the United States to pursue better educational opportunities. Coming from a country with an entirely different educational system, I initially faced challenges catching up on various concepts. However, with determination, I not only caught up but also excelled in my studies, getting into the Magnet Program for middle school. In middle school, I was particularly drawn to biology, motivated by my grandfather's passing, which sparked my interest in the sciences. However, I soon realized that this field did not fit my qualities. In high school, I shifted my focus to computer science and mathematics, participating in various hackathons and securing first place. My junior year was especially significant as I took part in a research internship in computer science and computational geometry, which resulted in a published paper and conference acceptance. While I valued the professional skills I gained from this experience, it was my participation in DECA competitions that showed my true passion. Developing a startup business plan for the DECA state competition, working tirelessly on our product and revenue model, and ultimately winning first place and qualifying for internationals, solidified my decision to pursue a career in finance, an industry that relies on both quantitative and qualitative qualities. This led me to apply to NYU Stern, and I got accepted into their program with a merit scholarship. 

Entering college, I wanted to explore finance, while maintaining my interest in computer science. I joined Stern Business Analytics Club and got accepted into their Insight Team Program where I developed data analysis skills in Python and applied it to my own project, analyzing public bus routes in Baltimore City. I also joined the Investment Analysis Group at my university to start learning foundational concepts in finance. This led me to get my first internship during my spring semester of freshman year, where I worked on sourcing LBO opportunities and conducting due diligence in the industrials sector. I had the opportunity to apply the concepts I learned into a real world context. I started a venture capital internship in my spring semester as well that continued into the summer where I received a hands-on understanding of the investment landscape, specifically in the AI and healthcare sectors. During the summer, I had the opportunity to participate in the Goldman Sachs Virtual Insight Series along with the BNY Freshman Jumpstart Program, where I gained a deeper understanding of finance roles at various firms.

After exploring the industry fully, I was drawn to Investment Banking’s combination of analytics with business/industries as a whole. I am also drawn to the fast paced environment right out of undergrad as it aligns with my value of continuous learning. Being part of a dynamic work stream that keeps me on my toes allows me to challenge myself and gives opportunity for personal growth.

This interest led me to Project Wall Street ("PWS"), where I could interact with like-minded peers and develop my technical knowledge. Additionally, given my background, PWS's mission really resonated with me. I’m excited to be a part of the program and build connections with industry professionals.

Coming from a middle-class background and with my parents traveling from the Philippines to the United States for opportunities for our family, I was taught the value of hard work and persistence. They worked hard to put my siblings and me in the best position possible; however, when I became interested in finance and learned more about the industry – I realized something. You can't succeed in finance by just working hard in school, there is so much more to it than that. I had a 4.16 weighted GPA, qualified for the national competition for DECA my senior year by getting 4th in Illinois in my team's bracket, was captain and sectional qualifier for my school's tennis team, and received the Presidential Scholarship from DePaul for my high academic standing. Upon receiving this scholarship, knowing that I wanted to stay close to home to save money, and learning more about their business program, I decided DePaul University would be my next step.
 

I wanted to start college by joining business-related clubs and keeping a high GPA. So, I rushed Delta Sigma Pi, a business fraternity. Currently, I'm the VP of Scholarships and Awards within my chapter: I find scholarships for my peers to potentially go to school for little to no money and award them for their hard work within the classroom. I also had the opportunity to speak in the Honors Convocation, an awards ceremony for the top 5% of students in each class in the business school. In addition, I gave out an award on behalf of my fraternity and was given an award for my 4.0 GPA. Outside of school, I'm in the National Society of Collegiate Scholars due to my GPA standing, where I have the chance to receive scholarships and guidance for my career path.

Throughout my freshman year, I found my interest in IB. I wanted to find a career path in which I could use my client-facing and teamwork skills and my developing business knowledge. I also wanted a career where I could learn a lot about a business, have a hands-on impact on a project, and work in a mentally stimulating environment to keep me working. All these factors led to me being interested in IB. However, my high academic standing could only take me so far, so I wanted to find assistance and professionals that I could learn from to understand IB and the finance industry better. I was fortunate enough to come across Jordan and Project Wall Street on social media and wanted the opportunity to learn from him and his team to achieve my goal. Something that motivated me to apply for the Fellowship was their message: it truly resonated with my background. Project Wall Street wants to help high-achieving undergraduates succeed in Investment Banking and put them in the best position possible. They don't focus on their background and how they grew up, which gives me even more confidence to pursue this difficult career. I'm also a big fan of the content Jordan was putting out. I'm learning concepts that are very foreign to me from him and he explains them incredibly well. I'm excited about the road ahead with the Project Wall Street team and with my peers within the Fellowship!

Growing up, I was a very competitive athlete, playing multiple sports including soccer, basketball, tennis, and Taekwondo. Ultimately, I narrowed my two best sports being a varsity soccer player for 3 years, and captain for 1 year, and obtaining my 4th degree black belt in Taekwondo after 13 years. I also had a very strong passion for volunteer work, starting a program called Music for Seniors, starting investing clubs in high school, and coaching in both soccer and Taekwondo. Pursuing my interests throughout the years helped me develop a work ethic and desire to learn that most kids did not have. Fast forward to college, I entered Cornell as an undecided major, exploring different interests in courses, classes, and clubs my first semester. During my second semester however, I learned more about finance and the countless opportunities within this field especially Investment Banking as a career path. So, I participated in on-campus events, took more courses within the realm of finance, recruited into highly selective clubs, and finally applied to the business school with a concentration in finance. I applied to the Nolan School of Hotel Administration because I want to fully grasp and learn how a business or company operates in order to be able to value that business or company. I get to learn the nitty gritty details and ins and outs which excites me. I've also managed to find the time to be a starter on the club team (ranked 5th in the nation) and be in a fraternity. Since then, I interned at MBS Asset Management, LLC as a corporate finance intern, and I’ve really enjoyed the work.

I am from Atlanta, Georgia, ahd grew up in an Ethiopian household where my father's transportation business ignited my passion for business from an early age. Throughout high school, I embraced various business ventures and academic challenges. I graduated with a 4.7 GPA as well as Salutatorian for my graduating class. I am also a proud alumni of the C5 Georgia Youth Foundation, a prestigious 5-year leadership development program designed to empower under-resourced youth through experiential learning and life skills development.

Currently, I am a student at Northwestern University, where I am honored to be on a full-ride scholarship. I am actively involved on campus as the treasurer of the Black Student Union and a member of the Ethiopian Eritrean Student Association. In addition to my campus activities, I intern at Glass Window Entertainment, a music label in Atlanta, where I serve as a financial manager and assistant. Looking ahead, I will be joining Roark Capital as a Fellow, where I will receive specialized training from banking and private equity professionals.

My decision to pursue Project Wall Street was driven by its mission to enhance financial accessibility for minority and underserved communities—a cause that resonates deeply with my own experiences navigating financial challenges in college.

My name is Maximaillian Wu (Maxim, or Max, for short), born and raised in Portland, Oregon. I grew up in an immigrant household as the first American-born person in my family. My dad, a high school dropout, started working in a shoe factory at 15 when my grandpa died from heart disease. He eventually came to the U.S. to pursue a better life and economic stability. Soon after, my mom came to the states after my other grandpa died from cancer. He had financially supported her family, so she was forced to seek better economic opportunities. I was immersed in their world growing up – their experiences overcoming educational, economic, and cultural barriers to create a comfortable lifestyle for my sister and I. It even inspired me to pursue my American dream... basketball. College basketball. I had a pretty successful high school career: two state championships as team captain, first team all-state and all-league, even team state records (7 straight state title appearances, 98 consecutive home wins, back-to-back #1 scoring defense in Oregon). While my athletic abilities did garner interest and offers from some Division 3 Programs (namely, MIT, Tufts, and some others), my academic achievements (4.61 GPA, 1540 SAT, Salutatorian), shined a little brighter: I was an early and distinguished admit into the University of Southern California as a Dean’s Merit Scholar (<1% acceptance rate) – with highly-regarded distinctions as an honors students and member of their Global Leadership Program (Top 80 Freshmen). After weighting my options (and some unfavorable roster situations), I decided it was best for my future to forgo my basketball dreams and attend USC to pursue a B.S. in Business Administration through the Marshall School of Business.

Through my first year at USC Marshall as a Business Major with a Minor in A.I. Applications, I maintained a 3.96 GPA, volunteered as a college application mentor with underprivileged high school seniors, and earned another merit-based Barnett Family Scholarship. I also joined many different clubs, including the Trojan Investing Society (“TIS”) and USC Avenues Consulting Group; the latter of which I am an e-board member. Freshman summer, I even had the opportunity to intern in Revenue Operations at a mid-cap SAAS company. I knew I always wanted to do something in business: the financial markets and broader macro-economic field always intrigued me. I lacked direction at first, until I was introduced to Investment Banking through TIS. I soon realized that IB was my next step in life. The perfect blend of business transactions, the competitive environment I missed from basketball, an expedited learning experience, and one of – if not the most – intellectually talent dense environments available to someone right out undergrad. I attribute much of my success in basketball to having strong mentors like my coach and older players to show me the ropes. Given my unorthodox upbringing and lack of exposure to the industry, I knew that I should replicate this for Investment Banking. I sought out mentorship programs across the web, quickly to realize that most of these programs cost money and are run by people who never even worked in the industry. That is, until I found Project Wall Street. At first, I was shocked when I found out that PWS was completely free. I was amazed to discover that Jordan was only a few years removed from IB, and one year removed from Private Equity, not to mention the sheer number of mentors on the PWS team who possess so many years of experience at elite IB and PE firms. PWS is a truly unique non-profit in a world of for-profit programs, and I fully believe in its mission of helping disadvantaged / diverse students achieve their dreams within finance.