Full-Time MBA Student Profile Valentina Durand, ’17
Strategy at Qualcomm, San Diego, CA
Hometown: Lipetsk, Russia
Education: Baruch College, Bachelor of Science, Business Administration
Before Booth: Sales and Trading, Bank of America Merrill Lynch
2016 Internship: Goudy Park Capital, Chicago, IL
Valentina Durand: 00:04
My name is Valentina Durand. I’m from Russia. I spent four years working in sales and trading at Bank of America Merrill Lynch in New York. I really liked investing. I liked investigating companies, doing industry research, and I spent a lot of time doing it. So I would wake up in the morning, I would check the news before going to sleep, check the news on the companies I followed. And I just decided that maybe this is something that I need to do in the future.
Valentina Durand: 00:31
One of the reasons why I chose Booth is that I already studied finance in the past. I wanted to jump straight into advanced-level courses and build on my knowledge. I could learn how to understand information presented in financial statements. We could learn concepts through real-life examples, so at beginning cases, and then actually through analyzing a company, and I think this is the best way to learn.
Valentina Durand: 00:55
I am a member of Investment Management Group, Hedge Fund Group, Value Investing Group. And those groups are doing a great job helping to put together a framework of how to analyze company, how to put together a compelling stock pitch. We get to speak with investment professionals who share their advice, their investment philosophy, who provide us with career tips. It was amazing to meet these people and learn from these people. I honestly don’t think I would have such an opportunity if I was not a Booth student.
Describe the Booth Community
Here at Booth I have friends from all over the world—South America, Brazil, Argentina, and Europe. I’m a part of a lot of geographical groups. I’m really happy that there is such a rich community where people are open to share their experience and take you the way you are. I’m really happy that I can learn more about other cultures and make friends all over the world.
Advice to Anyone Considering an MBA
Don’t wait to reach out to students and alumni. I got in contact with student groups and received a lot of support. I felt like I was a step ahead because I did that preparation in advance.