If there’s one thing the Career Strategies and Engagement Center at Brandeis International Business School teaches students, it’s the value of networking.
With this in mind, I recently joined more than 30 fellow students for an Industry Trek to Merrill Lynch in Boston.
We were greeted warmly by two Brandeis alumni, Ari Weber ’09 and Ben Rotstein ’09. Both Ari and Ben work at The Weber Group, a wealth management team at Merrill Lynch. Ari is the group’s senior vice president and Ben is a financial advisor. They were joined by colleagues Brett Minogue and Chad Gerber.
The panel discussion that followed over the next two hours was filled with valuable advice and insights that I know will have a lasting impact on my career.
Ari and Ben began by discussing their career paths, how they ended up working at Merrill Lynch and what they’ve learned along the way. They then walked us through a detailed overview of their team’s hiring cycle and shared tips on how Brandeis students can differentiate themselves during the application and interview process.
During the panel, Ari highlighted the importance of focus, hard work, networking and the ability to foster relationships. This resonated with Peter Thabet, MBA’24 and many of the Trek participants who appreciated the opportunity to learn from successful alumni and connect with Merrill Lynch executives.
“Ari’s experience reminded me of the importance of maintaining strong professional connections to achieve success over the long term,” said Peter.
Another key takeaway from our visit: there is no one-size-fits-all approach to entering the finance industry. Ben, who transitioned to Merrill Lynch from a different industry, shared how his diverse skillset positioned him for success in the field.
“It’s reassuring to know that we don’t need to have studied finance to land a job in the industry and be successful in it,” added Andrew Mukurazita, MSBA/MBA’24.
The Industry Trek to Merrill Lynch helped me better understand the finance industry and the value of seeking mentorship and guidance from alumni. Both Ari and Ben said they were more than willing to help Brandeis students by sharing their knowledge and experiences.
I was truly inspired by our hosts’ unique stories. One piece of advice that will always resonate with me is Chad’s insight about embracing discomfort and growing through challenges.
“You need to learn to be comfortable with being uncomfortable,” he said. “That’s the only way you can grow.”
I believe these words are valuable for anyone striving for success in a competitive industry like finance.
