This summer, a group of Wilbur O. and Ann Powers College of Business finance and marketing students met with business leaders from over 30 companies as part of the Gateways to World Markets and Financial Horizons programs and experienced many unique opportunities to connect, learn and grow.
Mary Anne Raymond, Thomas F. Chapman Distinguished Professor of Leadership and professor of marketing, explains how this trip is a true learning experience for students. “The experiential component of the New York classes provides an immersive learning experience for our students. The opportunity to meet with and learn from executives across so many companies adds reality to what’s being taught in the classroom and is truly a transformative program for our students.”
On the trip, Clemson finance and marketing students met with over 30 different companies that aligned with their areas of study and talked to hundreds of business leaders in New York City.
Bela Zykaj, associate professor of finance, says, “This trip was tremendously successful in large part due to the welcoming Clemson alumni who hosted us. They were genuinely eager to support our students and shared valuable insights with them. A key takeaway from our hosts was the importance of embracing our Clemson identity and taking pride in being part of Clemson’s Powers College of Business. Their insights and support left a lasting impression on our students and emphasized the strength of the Clemson family, even hundreds of miles from campus.”
Day one:
Marketing and finance: Ernst & Young (EY) LLP
The first day began with students spending the morning learning about EY’s workplace culture, resources and career opportunities. A panel of Clemson alumni now working at EY shared insights on transitioning from college to the corporate world. They shared the skills and knowledge most important to finding success in corporate roles, including the value of good communication skills, being proactive and the importance of networking.
Finance: Lazard and Bank of America
Finance students then went to Lazard, a global financial advisory and asset management firm. While there, students engaged with some of the company’s leaders who shared insights into the various investment solutions the company offers, particularly focusing on its merger and acquisitions advisory business.
At Bank of America, finance students met with several Clemson alumni who shared their experiences working at the company. They also heard from executives in investment banking and leveraged finance, who provided insights into the latest developments in their fields. Through these conversations, students gained a better understanding of career paths in these areas and had valuable opportunities to network.
Marketing: Investor Exchange (IEX), the New York Giants and Elder Scrolls Online
At IEX, marketing students learned about the stock market, the company and the role professional selling plays in being successful. Panelists shared advice that encouraged students to know the most important priorities, understand data and to always be willing to learn.
Students then met with Bill Smith, vice president of corporate sponsorship sales for the New York Giants, where they learned about the importance of partnering with brands that reflect their values. Smith encouraged students to learn how to sell, network before applying to jobs and to ask questions.
Drew McWhorter, principal product manager for Elder Scrolls Online, shared his path from Clemson Football’s equipment team to a career in advertising and product management. He emphasized the value of hands-on experience, staying aware of industry trends and knowing when it’s the right time to make a career move.
At the end of the day, students had small group discussions with Vice Presidents from Gallery Media, GOLF and Blackrock. These meetings provided the opportunity to get one-on-one advice from industry leaders.
“Going to New York for this experience was incredible. I learned something valuable at every company we visited, and it really helped me grow as a developing professional. I’m so grateful to everyone who took the time to meet with us and to the professors who made the trip possible. I’d encourage any student to consider taking part in an opportunity like this.”
Caroline Williams, sophomore finance major
Day two:
Finance: New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), Drive Wealth, Goldman Sachs, TPG
Tuesday morning, finance students started the day on the NYSE trading floor for the market opening bell. The group stopped at the DriveWealth brokerage trading desk, a fintech company that revolutionized fractional share trading (i.e., allowing investors to trade a portion of a share rather than whole shares) and was able to see trading in real-time and explore what a trading terminal looks like. They concluded the visit with a tour of the building and a summary of the history of the NYSE. They then walked to DriveWealth’s office in the financial district, where they learned more about the company and its innovative strategies.
At Goldman Sachs, students heard from a panel of Clemson alumni who serve in various roles across the company. The panelists shared advice on what steps students should start taking while in college to prepare for careers at a company like Goldman Sachs. They emphasized the importance of building a strong professional network and the ability to connect with others through great communication. Students also took a tour of the sales and trading floor, where they saw the company in action.
The last visit of the day for finance students was to TPG, a private equity asset managing firm. In this visit students learned about commercial real estate portfolios, specially manufactured housing. On the tour, students learned about the company’s mission and values as well as insight into what it’s like to work at TPG.
Marketing: Boll & Branch and Orangetheory Fitness
During a visit to the Boll & Branch headquarters, students heard directly from founders Scott and Missy Tannen about creating a brand identity focused on ethical sourcing and premium quality. The leadership team emphasized the importance of transparency and innovative marketing strategies that set Boll & Branch apart in the home textiles industry. Students learned about every aspect of marketing for a luxury linen company operating online and in brick-and-mortar stores.
At an Orangetheory studio in Hell’s Kitchen, students met with Alan Magee, senior vice president of marketing. Magee shared insights into the company’s competitive advantages, their franchising and rapid growth, hyper-local marketing strategies and his own career journey. He shared practical tips for interviewing, including the value of networking, thoughtful preparation and storytelling in the job search.
Day three
Marketing: Coca-Cola and the New York Mets at Citi Field
At Citi Field, marketing students met with Debbie Patire, director of integrated marketing, to learn how Coca-Cola activates its brand through partnerships with organizations and venues like the New York Mets and Citi-Field. After visiting Coke Corner and walking on the field, Patire shared her career journey, highlights about the history and strategy of Coca-Cola and provided insights into Coca-Cola’s campaign pillars. Tara Napoli, senior director of hospitality for the Mets, talked about working with local vendors in Queens to feature their food at different food stations throughout the stadium. Following Tara, Don Gregory, senior director of partner engagement, for the New York Mets discussed their collaboration with the “New York or Nowhere” campaign and different co-branded products.
Finance: Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC and Eastdil Secured LLC
At Morgan Stanley, finance students heard from several different speakers. A representative from human resources shared valuable advice on navigating the internship search process. Another speaker covered current market trends, while a third provided insight into the growing role of AI in finance and how the company is integrating it into its operations.
Following Morgan Stanley, students met with Clemson alum Elijah Gregory at Eastdil, who gave students an overview of the firm and shared his career journey. Gregory answered student questions and gave advice, including how to put your best foot forward and the importance of networking.
Students took this advice to heart, intentionally engaging with many of the professionals they met during the trip. One example was Caroline Williams, a sophomore finance major, who initiated a conversation with a wealth management professional. She kept in touch after the trip, and his guidance was instrumental in helping her secure an internship offer from one of the companies the finance group visited during the trip.
Marketing and Finance: Cisco
Students visited Cisco’s office and met with Senior Director Kevin Long and Becky Williams, services sales. The speakers emphasized Cisco’s role in protecting company networks and its foundational contributions to the internet. Williams talked about the importance of telling a story with data and embracing AI to make an impact. On a personal level, she spoke about the value of proactive networking and personal branding.
This trip was truly unforgettable. The opportunity to engage face-to-face with professionals in the corporate world who shared their insights and genuinely supported our growth was both inspiring and empowering. It’s not every day that students get such direct access to industry leaders who are invested in our success beyond the classroom. This class truly exceeded anything I could’ve imagined. I gained real confidence and learned more than I ever could in a traditional classroom. If I could do this trip ten times over, I absolutely would.
Carolyne Edwards, junior marketing major
Day four:
Finance: J.P. Morgan Private Bank and Russell Investments
At J.P. Morgan, students explored the investment and private banking side of the firm, where the group learned how wealth managers use real-time data and new software to serve clients. A highlight of the visit was that the students attended the JPMorgan Morning Global Call, where they had a 30-minute panel discussion live-streamed internally to the entire bank.
They also heard from Clemson alumni across different teams and participated in an open Q&A with a panel of recent Clemson graduates. “Four of the five panelist were in my Derivatives class, says Zykaj. “It was a special moment being able to witness their success in the professional world and engaging with our students. This is what makes our efforts in the classroom truly worthwhile.”
Next, students visited Russell Investments, hosted by Lindy Freeman, global head of Institutional investments and Clemson Alumni. During the visit they heard from experts Rob Balkema, senior director and head of multi-asset and Chris Banse, Senior Advisor who discussed current market conditions and client portfolio management strategies. They shared their personal experiences and encouraged students to stay informed about market trends and begin thinking about how to bring that knowledge in interviews and even in schoolwork.
Marketing: Google/Apollo Global Management/ SalesForce/GFT, Wunderkind and Burlington
Marketing students started the day with a visit to Google headquarters. There, they heard from panelists including Manoj Bohra, managing director; Chris Oaks, head of Google consulting service sales; Sourabh Singhal, customer experience lead; Sameer Gupta, chief data and analytics officer at Apollo Global Management; Scott Johnson, account director at Sales Force; and Brandon Speweik, head of industry sales and strategy at GFT. The conversation focused on career growth and pivots, and learning how to use AI properly. Panelists also emphasized the value of authenticity and relationship-building in sales, reminding students that “people buy from people they like.”
The students then went to Wunderkind’s office at the World Trade Center, where they heard from the sales team and human resources. The group learned about the company’s core verticals and how Wunderkind’s behavior-based marketing software worked and received resume advice. The team encouraged students to be prepared, hardworking, and intentional in how they present themselves.
At Burlington’s New York office, students explored how the company uses data and strategy to open approximately 100 new stores each year. They shared insights into local versus national marketing, different merchandising strategies across various types of stores, the customer journey and key roles in merchandise buying and chain planning. The visit wrapped up with details about Burlington’s internship opportunities and virtual Summer Series.
Following the company visits, a networking reception for students, faculty, business professionals and Clemson alumni in the Tri-State area provided an opportunity for students to meet one-on-one with over 100 corporate leaders.
Looking ahead
Since 2006, Gateways to World Markets has given students the opportunity to explore global business firsthand, and three years ago, the Financial Horizons program joined as well. These programs provide students the chance to engage with leading companies in one of the world’s most influential business cities.
Junior marketing major Zoe Witt said, “This signature experience reflects the Powers College of Business’s commitment to immersive, hands-on learning that prepares students to lead in an increasingly complex and connected world. The NYC marketing course continues to be a standout opportunity for students eager to explore careers in marketing, branding, and beyond.
Any interested students should contact Mary Anne Raymond, Thomas F. Chapman Distinguished Professor of Leadership and professor of marketing, or Bela Zykaj, associate professor of finance, for more information.
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