Abby Coleman ’17 Invests in Her Kenyon Connections
By Amelia Yeager '20
As a senior Economics major, Abby Coleman ’17 had only a vague concept of the career she’d eventually take on. “I had no idea what I wanted to do. I was definitely interested in investment,. I didn’t really know then that the job I’m in now existed, I just knew I wanted to go into investments or finance.” That’s when Cambridge Associates stepped in.
Cambridge, a global investment firm based in Boston, was on campus recruiting during Abby’s senior year, and she remembered them when she was in search of a new job a year after graduation. “I wanted to move to a more investment-focused, client-focused role. I had a lot of friends who worked for Cambridge who went to Kenyon and joined right after school, and they spoke pretty positively of it.” Kenyon’s robust alumni network includes several alums in the world of investment banking, and their influence led Abby to eventually secure a position as an Investment Analyst in 2019.
Currently, Abby supports investment directors who manage portfolios from large endowments like hospitals and universities to private investors looking to build portfolios. The skills she uses daily are similar to those she learned in Kenyon classrooms: “I research certain asset managers and money managers, and also put together analytics for the investment directors to present to the clients.” Beyond research and presentations, Abby’s Kenyon experience also helped her prepare for the social aspects of a position within a large company. “Getting to know people from different backgrounds and meeting new people is definitely as true at Kenyon as it is in the real world,” she said.
Abby’s academic mentors, specifically Professor Kathy Krynski, helped pave the way for her success after graduation. “Professor Krynski introduced me to a couple of her former students who were in investment in the Boston area,” Abby shared. “She also served as a number of recommendations and referrals for me, which was really helpful.”
Students interested in a career in investment should keep Cambridge Associates in mind. Abby cites Cambridge’s strong network as a major professional advantage. Because of its presence in the world of investment, Cambridge also provides opportunities to connect with the world’s premiere clients. “We have a lot of asset managers coming into the office, and a lot of people in that world want to impress Cambridge,” Abby explained. “Every meeting is technically an open meeting here—you get to meet so many new people and learn about all these different things that are going on in the investment world.” Cambridge also boasts a strong internal network, which Abby has benefitted from in her time at the firm. “There’s a really strong culture amongst the analysts. We get together and ask each other questions, but also go out and socialize, which is really nice.”
How can a Kenyon student make themself the best applicant possible? “Show that you’re interested in learning within the position,” advised Abby. “Even though we aren’t necessarily finance or business majors, we do have a background that is applicable.” Because of the nature of a Kenyon education, a liberal arts background like Abby’s—who studied architecture in addition to portfolio investment and statistics—applies handily to the fast-paced world of global investment. “The fact that you have to communicate verbally and in writing, even in a math or econ class, has been really helpful; just because there is still a lot of writing that you have to do in the working world,” she said.
Abby’s best career advice? “Be open to all new opportunities that come your way.” To get a headstart on this, set up an appointment with the CDO on Symplicity. Cambridge Associates encourages Kenyon students to apply for their Investment Analyst Program (class of 2020) and the Summer Analyst Program (class of 2021) before the September 27th deadline. These positions are listed in Symplicity.