Amanda Alicka (’23) has minors in Marketing and French. She studied abroad in France and currently works at Morgan Stanley as a Wealth Management Associate.
Amanda on ‘Why International Business’
I think ultimately anyone who gets into international business is interested in learning about different cultures and how that applies more broadly across multi-disciplinary work. It gave me the freedom to explore different business sectors while being internationally oriented. I was curious about doing work that would involve cross-border transactions and international clients. Something that would move beyond the binary of working solely for American companies and clients.
Skills/takeaways from the IB curriculum that helped her post-grad career
The Global Student Certificate definitely expanded my learning scope beyond economics and business. Something to note is that when you’re speaking with clients and employers, people are most interested in hearing about things that resonate with them or spark a shared memory. This helps build rapport by allowing the conversation to extend beyond just work. This helped me succeed in forming strong relationships with international peers.
Amanda’s Takeaways from Study Abroad
I learned French in high school and college, but it wasn’t until I had the opportunity to use the language practically that I realized how much I truly knew, and how different it is to communicate face-to-face with people who don’t speak English (especially in an emergency!). I have a story where my car broke down in rural France—it was a nightmare, and I can’t imagine how I would have handled it without knowing basic French to get through the situation. Knowing a language is incredibly helpful for bonding, even here in NYC.
Another major takeaway was the confidence I gained through studying abroad. You put in so much effort from planning, paperwork, budgeting, to physically being in a place where you don’t know anyone. It gave me a lot of self-confidence. If I could do that, I felt like I could take on other challenges that once seemed scary.
Cultural differences between France and NYC
One of the biggest differences I noticed was how the French emphasize humanitarianism and environmentalism. In many of the courses I took, we learned about ESG and how it can be implemented across various business sectors, whether you’re an entrepreneur or a banker.
Amanda’s Role at Morgan Stanley
A large part of what I do involves serving as the bridge between advisors and clients. Some tasks include preparing for client-facing work, ensuring communication is smooth, and market research. I also place trades on behalf of clients’ retail accounts, both solicited and unsolicited. We execute financial plans and handle portfolio management to achieve growth for our clients. Additionally, I monitor accounts for any red flags and make sure all information and paperwork are processed in a timely manner.
Amanda on leveraging the IB Degree
I was able to market my International Business degree during my interview at Morgan Stanley by blending core business principles with cultural nuance. This helped me stand out as a well-rounded candidate. I naturally pivoted the conversation beyond the job description, drawing on my global perspective to connect over broader market insights and shared interests. This approach allowed me to demonstrate both technical understanding and interpersonal agility. This resonated with the interviewer and aligned with the firm’s global mindset.
Skills needed for someone to succeed in Finance
Within my team, soft skills were what attracted them to my résumé the most. First, being able to speak confidently and concisely with affluent clients is key. These clients are busy and don’t want to be on the phone for more than a few minutes, so you need to communicate clearly and firmly. Second, attention to detail is critical. There are many small but impactful errors that can happen during paperwork exchanges, so it’s important to be thorough. Third, the ability to spot trends in client portfolios is essential. If something is performing well and you understand the client’s risk profile, you’ll be better equipped to recommend changes that align with their goals.
Advice:
For someone interested in joining Morgan Stanley: Communication is extremely important in wealth management. The best way to break in is to have conversations with current employees and advisors. That’s one of the most important steps you can take.
For students at Baruch: One thing I did that ended up being really beneficial was connecting with my professors. I was nominated for the Charles Scholarship by Professor Myung Soo Lee and didn’t even know I was up for it until I was awarded! Building genuine relationships with faculty came naturally to me and turned out to be very fruitful.
Something Amanda is working on!
I passed all my series exams! I invested a lot of mental and physical effort into preparing for them and passed just a few weeks ago.