As one of the youngest members of the organization Get on the Street, first-year College student Blair Dodson receives a lot of advice about internships in the finance industry -- including how difficult they are to find.
"This is a hard industry to get into, especially with the markets right now, and I need to start as early as possible," she said.
With help from GOTS, the search is a little less daunting. According to its Web site, the organization provides talented minority students at the University, who are historically underrepresented in the business community, the chance to fulfill and enhance their career ambitions and opportunities in the financial services industry.
The organization was founded last fall by fourth-year College students Nicholas Jordan and Whitney Wilcher, Commerce students Stephanie Durden and Morenike Mougni, and Engineering student Debola Badejo after they completed summer internships on Wall Street.
The founders interned at a number of companies: Badejo at Credite Suisse, Durden at Lehman Brothers, Jordan at CitiGroup, Mougni at Merrill Lynch and Wilcher at Barclays Capital. All five were offered full-time jobs at financial companies upon graduation.
The beginning
"While each of us had internships in investment banking last summer, we all came to the position in different ways," Durden said. "None of us were aware of all of the programs out there and wished that we had more information when we were going through the application and interview process."
When it came to forming GOTS, the group of students knew what it wanted to achieve.
"We came together around the idea of helping some of the younger students explore and take advantage of opportunities on Wall Street," Jordan said. "We combined all our resources as far as connections, scholarship opportunities [and] internship opportunities in one central location, which is our Web site."
Badejo shared the GOTS concept with the other founding members before they started their internships, Mougni said. When school resumed in the fall, Badejo contacted them again to start the organization.
Though their initial plan was a forum to exchange information, the members realized there were greater possibilities.
"We thought we could do more than just provide them with information," Jordan said. "We could provide them with an experience -- an experience we didn't have but would have all liked to have."
What does it offer?
GOTS is a resource for all students interested in finance careers, but it is especially helpful for students outside the Commerce School.
"Without the mentors in Get on the Street, I would not have even considered investment banking as an option with a B.S. in Systems & Information Engineering," second-year Engineering student Brittany Williams said. Many of the students in the program, including three of the mentors, are not Commerce students.
This is not an organization that accepts just anyone. An applicant must demonstrate genuine interest in the finance industry, as well as an excellent GPA and potential for growth. The group chosen from the applicant pool is granted a number of benefits, including interview training, cover letter and resume work, and networking opportunities.
"We put your resume in our resume book which automatically gives access things like Morgan Stanley dinners, trips to New York, private networking sessions with individuals and whatever we can pull together," Jordan said.
Fifteen GOTS members recently traveled to New York City, touring Goldman Sachs and CitiGroup for a day in order to network and learn about various career paths.
"It was a great opportunity to interact with analysts and learn about their jobs from a first-hand perspective," Williams said.
The day ended with a cocktail reception at a local tavern, where students were able to network with business executives on a more casual and personal level, Williams added.
"There was a lot of good conversationwith influential people," Jordan said. "There was a lot of candid dialogue about what it meant to be a minority on Wall Street and the experiences they have had."
From offering trips to cover letter advice, the organization has seen its efforts pay off in a number of success stories, seeing five of 12 student interviews develop into internship offers.
For the recruiters, too
Just as GOTS is beneficial to students, organization members say recruiters receive benefits from the organization as well.
"We want to be the first point of contact for any company coming to U.Va. for diversity or any major talent," Badejo said.
GOTS provides companies with a resume book and allows recruiters to choose the setting in which they interact and network with members.
"You'll have the opportunity to engage a group of very talented students in whatever way you want," Jordan said.
As an analyst at Bank of America, 2007 Commerce graduate James Larkins knows what it takes to succeed in this competitive industry.
"A lot of people just don't know how to network and how to get your work out there," Larkins said. "This organization provides the missing link."
Jordan pointed that GOTS also fills a missing link for recruiters who fear they are not reaching all potential applicants.
"Essentially, recruiters are trying to make U.Va. a core school, not only for all applicants, but also for their minority recruiting," Jordan said. "So in having a centralized program like this, they don't have to search or worry about are if they are missing anyone ... You can have as much or as little involvement as you'd like, but we are here and everything is done professionally."
Giving back
For the organization's mentors, the goal is to give back.
"As a black female that was not in the Commerce School, I know that I had to work harder," Wilcher said. "I had to find out a lot of things on my own and didn't have much help. Now that I made it and I know what it takes, I want to pass that knowledge onto other students like myself who may not have access to the resources."
Mougni said she wishes to put the experience she gained through the search process and internship to use by helping underclassmen.
"When I was interviewing, GOTS did not exist," Mougni said. "But I surely found people who offered me their precious help and constant guidance throughout the process. I felt truly privileged to be able to take advantage of their knowledge and their experiences: I hope to offer the same to GOTS members."
Such a dedication to give back extends beyond the mentors' time at the University; they expect they will continue to be a part of the organization after graduating this spring.
"I have already signed up to be on the U.Va. recruiting team for the company I am working for next year and intend to be a visible resource for future GOTS members," Wilcher said.
Mougni said she hopes that after she graduates, GOTS will continue to flourish with more of its members entering business on Wall Street.
"More of our members will end up working on the Street, and more bankers will support us in our efforts to enhance banks' diversity recruiting efforts," she said. "I hope that we will develop a solid and broad network that will help all of us achieve high level of accomplishments in our respective careers."
Looking toward the future
With the five mentors soon graduating, the current members will move into mentor positions as they receive internships and become more experienced. The current mentors see big things coming from GOTS as the organization grows.
"I would like to see a very well-structured program with a very high success rate," Jordan said. "I'd like to see Get on the Street become a household name."
Badejo had similar thoughts about the future of GOTS.
"It'll continue to be a student-run and student-organized organization but will be institutionalized with numerous alumni contact and with Career Services," Badejo said.
All of the members foresee new chapters of GOTS appearing at a number of other universities around the country. According to Wilcher, these chapters will be under a Board of Directors consisting of the founders and other business partners, as well as a student Board of Directors comprised of members from all chapters.
The mentors hope that GOTS will become a recognized name to all financial companies. Both Wilcher and Badejo cited possibilities of an investment banking conference at the University in the future that would consist of a weekend of workshops and interviews for full-time and internship positions with financial companies.
Mougni noted she hopes to see the growth of GOTS culture in the future.
"One aspect of our organization that I cherish is our culture," Mougni said. "We have a strong notion of humility and mutual support. As an alumna, I hope that I will recognize this culture, connect with members quickly and be in the position to hire them."
A key part of this culture is hard work and dedication. Although first-year students may still be choosing their majors and deciding where to live next year, Badejo encouraged them to tilt an eye toward the future.
"You have to realize that if this is where you want to be as a junior, with an internship, you have to work hard now," he said. "You can't come as a freshman in your first semester, chill and then work hard your second semester. You have to work hard now"
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