March 11, 2024

Student Perspectives: A Financial Crime Specialist’s Take on Networking

MS Finance ‘23 alum, Igor Klepikov, shared with the GCMC how he joined Linklaters as a Financial Crime Specialist and his thoughts on the importance of networking.


My journey with Linklaters began back in Warsaw, Poland, where I joined the firm as a Financial Crime Specialist. 

 

Coming from Ukraine, I completed my first Master’s Degree in Business at Vistula University in Warsaw and gained seven years of work experience in the financial industry at global multinational corporations such as CBRE (commercial real estate services and investment firm) and TMF Group (financial and legal administration). 

 

Having gained valuable financial experience, along with my growing interest in Anti Money Laundering and Legal Compliance, I secured a position at Linklaters - a leading global law firm, headquartered in London, part of “The Magic Circle” ("The Magic Circle" is a term describing the five most prestigious London-headquartered multinational law firms. The term was coined by legal reporters in the 1990s[1] and is generally considered to include the following five law firms: Allen & Overy; Clifford Chance; Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer; Linklaters; and Slaughter and May). 

 

Therefore, when I moved to the U.S. in 2021, I already had business relationships with Linklaters that allowed me to join their New York team, where I work now as a part of Legal & Risk. My day-to-day includes conflict clearances for complex matters as the global practice ranges from Capital Markets, Mergers and Acquisitions, Private Equity to Banking, Investment Management, and of course, Litigations. 

 

One of the scopes of work that I am particularly passionate about is Financial Crime, in which one of the key challenges is to “marry” the UK and EU AML regulations (UK AML Regulations, FCA Guide, LSAG, MLDs, FATAF) with the US AML legislation (US Patriot Act, Bank Secrecy Act, FINRA and FinCEN) when it comes to onboarding and conducting business with the multitude of corporate clients in different jurisdictions. 

 

The key advice to successful networking in such organizations is substance. Just like with learning languages, learning only words will not take you far without drilling down some boring grammar. Same here - you have to know the topic, not only corporate lingo. But it is also a process. Hence, a positive attitude, genuine curiosity, and willingness to make a first step will be good starting points. 

 

Also, it might be corny to hear this from a person who is on the slightly extreme edge of being extraverted, DO engage in small talks. If you’re just starting to put yourself out there, do tell the people you network with about your college, about your degree, about your favorite class. Whether you’re at Baruch, Brooklyn, Hunter, or any of the 25 colleges of CUNY, you have a massive reason to be proud. 

 

Besides, employers are taking notes about what you’re saying about your school because one day you will be walking down their halls. It will matter what you say about them. 

 

For everyone who is experiencing difficulty in finding an internship, I’d advise you to keep on making connections and don’t stop. Super important - make a LinkedIn profile! 

 

I’m always open for contact and happy to help where I can, therefore, don’t be shy and drop me a line here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/igor-klepikov-588275a7 

 

Kind regards, 

Igor Klepikov 

February 26, 2024

Student Perspectives: Adapting to a Dynamic Industry

MS Statistics ‘24 student, Wenxin Zhan, shared with the GCMC how a remote internship helped to expand skills, knowledge, and network in the tech industry.

1. One of the most important things I’ve learned at my internship:

The most critical lesson from my internship in a rapidly evolving technology industry is the significance of continuous growth and learning. Technology is dynamic, with constant advancements and shifts. Staying updated with the latest technologies, methodologies, and industry trends is essential. This not only involves enhancing technical skills but also adapting to new ways of problem-solving and innovating. Embracing this ever-evolving learning curve is vital for personal and professional development in the technology sector.

2. Networking Strategy in a Remote Internship:

Networking in a remote internship requires innovative approaches, especially in a small company where everyone works remotely. My strategy involves active participation on Slack, contributing to tasks, and engaging in meaningful conversations with colleagues. As an example, I arranged private meetings with colleagues following our manager’s meetings. These sessions were dedicated to discussing action plans and task allocation, fostering a collaborative work environment despite the physical distance.

3. My Biggest Contribution:

My key contribution to the team has been enhancing the accuracy and depth of our data analyses. I focused on ensuring data accuracy and integrity and exploring various facets of the data, leading to more comprehensive and reliable insights. This involved awareness of data privacy issues, meticulous examination on implementation and verification on data output, critical questioning, and fostering a collaborative environment for innovative ideas. These efforts have significantly improved the quality and effectiveness of our analyses, making them more robust, accountable and insightful.

4. Future Learning Aspirations:

Post-internship, I am eager to delve deeper into Large Language Models (LLM) and expand my expertise in model building. My interest lies in exploring tools like TensorFlow, PyCarret, PyTorch, Statsmodel, and XGBoost. These advanced tools offer powerful capabilities in machine learning and data analysis, and mastering them will significantly enhance my skills as a data scientist.

5. Advice for Students Struggling to Find Internships:

For students facing difficulties in securing internships, my advice is to enhance skills and knowledge relevant to their desired industry continuously. In the tech sector, for instance, expertise in Natural Language Processing (NLP), Large Language Models (LLM), Machine Learning (ML), and cloud computing is highly sought after. Being proficient in these areas can significantly boost a candidate's appeal.

It's also crucial to analyze job descriptions in the target field, identifying the skills and qualifications most in demand. This information should guide your learning path, ensuring that you're developing competencies that align with market needs. Beyond technical skills, soft skills like effective communication and problem-solving are also important.

Networking is another key strategy. Building connections on platforms like LinkedIn or through industry events can open doors to opportunities. It's more than seeking job openings; it's about learning from others, gaining industry insights, and building supportive relationships.

Lastly, improving oral communication and thoroughly understanding your projects enhance your performance in interviews and the workplace. Being able to clearly and effectively communicate your work and results to those who may not have a professional background in your field is vital.

February 21, 2024

Student Perspectives: Exploring the Hospitality Industry as an Intern for Park South Hotel

MBA ‘24 student, Jaeung Yoon, shared with the GCMC his experience as a front desk agent at Park South Hotel.

With over 1,200 departures and 1,200 flight arrivals just to JFK daily, hospitality is one of the busiest industries in New York. And I was able to feel it working as a front desk agent at the Park South Hotel JdV by Hyatt. Average Daily Rates are higher than in any other city with no slow seasons.  

 

One of the most important things I have learned working in this fast-paced environment, with new guests coming in every day, is how to engage and develop relationships with the guests. Although they stayed for a short time at the hotel, making small talk while they checked in and remembering those conversations helped me to develop relationships with the guests. I am sure that this skill I have learned naturally over the internship will be helpful and applicable to any other work environment that requires interactions. For example, before the internship, I used to be afraid to go up to recruiters at conferences, worried about what I should talk about or how I should start a conversation. But with this internship experience, I now know how to start a conversation and make small talk 

 

I have also learned about the programs Hyatt Hotels uses. The program Opera is the main PMS hospitality used by Hyatt. It is surprising how much a program can do: generate reports and store customer profiles, and it can be customed to each property. As a front desk agent, it is essential to know and learn the functions of Opera. 

 

As a front desk agent, one of the main tasks is to provide exceptional customer service to international clientele. The Park South Hotel has 131 rooms with an average of about 50 check-in and check-outs. There are bellmen, house people, and engineers to assist with guests, but as the front desk agent, I oversee the whole lobby area. The first person a guest comes to for inquiries is the front desk, along with all the phone calls inbound to the hotel. Therefore, it is crucial to know and understand how the hotel operates and which department oversees what, so that I can distribute each task requested by the guest to each department. Also, as the front desk agent, I follow up on guest inquiries. So, working as a front desk agent, I can learn about the whole operation of the hotel, problem-solving skills, and communication skills.


For those who want to start a career in the hospitality industry, a tip is to get your feet in the industry first and learn about the operations and programs used at a hotel. If you want to develop your career in the field, most hotels require a minimum understanding of the industry and knowledge about hospitality programs, especially if you want to work your way up to luxury hotels. Opera is the most widely used PMS program in the industry, so it’s best if the property you choose to work for uses Opera. If you do not have any experience, it may be frustrating at first, but keep applying to entry-level positions. Once you get your feet in and experience in the industry, there will be more chances for you to meet other industry professionals as there are different networking events. Your resume will also be more appealing and competitive to the recruiters who see that you know how hospitality operations work. Hotel properties or groups have a lot of internal hiring and in-house employees do get priority.