How 3 Carlson Students Got Jobs in Investment Banking
Monday, March 30, 2026
By Charly Haley
Getting a job after graduation can feel daunting to any college student. In a highly competitive field like investment banking? The challenge may feel even greater.
Three women from Minnesota Carlson, all preparing to graduate in May 2026, shared how they lined up their post-grad jobs in high finance. Meet Ishita Gupta, a Finance and Management Information Systems double-major who will be working for Bank of America in New York; Molly Knopick, a Finance major who will be working for Houlihan Lokey in Minneapolis, and Ananya Sagi, a Finance major who will be working at Piper Sandler in New York. All three offered insights on how to use Minnesota Carlson as a launchpad to an investment banking career:
1. Take advantage of Carlson’s alumni network.
Ananya Sagi: “For me, it was Carlson alumni who really helped me learn about the field of investment banking. … Carlson has some great alumni at amazing firms in New York, San Francisco, Chicago and Minneapolis. They’re all over the place, and they’ve just been very, very willing to talk whenever I’ve reached out. I’ve never been ghosted by a Carlson alum, and they provide real, helpful guidance.”
Molly Knopick: “The alumni network is a great resource. I reached out to an alum who works at a boutique investment bank, and I asked, ‘How do I get my foot in the door?’ And he said networking, calling and following up is the best way.”
2. Connect with peers through extra-curricular opportunities.
Ishita Gupta: “In my first year, I joined a variety of clubs at Carlson, including Scholars of Finance, the Investment Banking Club, and the Carlson Investment Banking Network. Through these groups, I gained exposure to the finance industry and built a strong foundation in investment banking. During the spring of my first year, I also participated in the On Location to New York that Carlson hosts, which set in stone my interest in pursuing a career in investment banking in New York. The alumni I met through the program were incredibly helpful, and I’m still in touch with many of them today.”
Sagi: “The Carlson Investment Banking Network pairs you with upperclassmen mentors, so it gives you more of that direct guidance. I also joined Atland Ventures, and that’s been super helpful in connecting me with a great network. Atland Ventures was the first student-run for-profit venture capital fund in the entire country. That’s a super unique experience that I’m so grateful to be part of, and I wouldn’t have gotten that at any other school.”
3. Get an internship, which can lead to a full-time offer.
Gupta: “For my junior year summer internship, I went through the full recruiting and interview process, which is where all the networking and preparation really paid off. I had a great experience this past summer and learned so much at Bank of America and from being in a completely new environment in New York City. I’m excited to continue growing when I return full-time.”
Knopick: “In the internship, you’re shooting for a return offer for a full-time job, and that’s how it worked out for me at Houlihan Lokey. … Just nine weeks into the internship, I felt like a completely different person after looking back on how I had grown so much and everything I had learned. I am definitely motivated by growth.”
Sagi: “The team at Piper was so great after interning in their Minneapolis office this previous summer. I got a return offer and will be moving to their New York office post-grad. I think being in New York will be really nice because it’s the hub of finance.”
4. Stay confident and self-motivated.
Knopick: “Although women are underrepresented in the finance world, this should be seen as an opportunity, not a limitation. If you are the only woman in the room, your perspective is even more valuable and will only benefit the team. My advice is to own that perspective and let it be one of the things that sets you apart.”
Gupta: “A lot of my networking and learning about the industry was self-driven. And honestly, the more people I talked to, the more I realized the traits they had were ones I either saw in myself or wanted to build. That’s what made investment banking really exciting to me, especially with how much you’re constantly learning.”
5. Encourage others along the way.
Gupta: “The mentorship I received from my peers in the Carlson Investment Banking Network made a huge difference for me, which is why I chose to serve on the board after receiving my offer. Many of my peers in these clubs have also become close friends, and the students in the network genuinely understand the process and are truly committed to helping others succeed. My mentors were always available to support me, and I try to do the same now for my own mentees and anyone else interested in the field.”