Michigan Ross BBAs Share Their Experiences with the Och Initiative and New York City Treks
The Och Initiative for Women in Finance at the Ross School of Business encourages undergraduate students to explore careers in finance through outreach, education, and engagement.
Though open to all students, the Och Initiative aims to increase the representation of women in finance, which has historically been a male-dominated industry.
Co-curricular opportunities available through the Och Initiative complement Michigan Ross finance courses and provide valuable resources to support BBA students throughout their academic and career development journeys. Treks, a signature component of the Initiative, allow students to visit prominent financial epicenters across the United States to learn about company cultures, gain insights and career advice, and network with women — including Ross alumni — working in the financial field.
To provide an inside look into what it’s like to participate in the Och Initiative and the New York City Trek, we asked three Michigan Ross BBAs to share their experience.
Noelle Powers
Program/Year: BBA ’26
Hometown: Jackson, NJ
Post-Graduation Career Interest: Investment banking/real estate investing
Why did you join the Och Initiative? Why do you believe it is important?
Currently, there is a lack of resources and support for women who are interested in pursuing a career in finance. The Och Initiative provides the support and resources that are needed to help women in all stages of their career development journey. Learning about the Och Initiative from my peers, I decided to join as I wanted to be involved in an organization that invests in and supports the development of women, especially women in finance.
How does being in the Och Initiative fit in with your journey at Ross and your career goals?
I always knew I had an interest in finance, but didn’t know what particular functions or areas I could see myself in. Being involved in the Och Initiative has allowed me to explore and get a better understanding of the many different aspects of finance. Doing so, I have become more aware of where I see myself after graduation.
What aspects of the Och Initiative do you enjoy the most? What has been your favorite event or program?
The support and network of women, both peers and upperclassmen, who have similar interests and experiences as me is by far my favorite aspect. Everyone involved in the Och Initiative is so supportive of one another and wants to see each other succeed.
My favorite program so far is definitely the New York City Trek. Over the course of two days, we were able to visit seven different companies. This Trek is what allowed me to get a sense of what different companies and functions within finance are like and where I could see myself.
What did you learn by participating in the Och Initiative that will most stick with you?
One of the most important things I’ve learned is the importance of understanding my value as a woman in the corporate space. Many of the women I have been able to connect with through the Initiative have shared their experiences as women in finance. Part of this has been their understanding of what they bring to the table and how they are able to create value, not only for themselves or their company but for other women in the industry too. This is encouraging to me as a young woman coming up in the industry to see that there are women carving a path for myself and others to follow.
How was your experience with the New York Trek?
Going into the Trek, I didn’t know what to expect. However, from the very beginning, I felt welcomed not only by my fellow attendees, but by every company we were able to visit. I truly had such a wonderful experience; all of the companies went out of their way to make our visits educational and enjoyable. The CDO and undergraduate programming staff, who were with us on the Trek, were extremely supportive and encouraging. Overall, the NYC Trek was an incredible experience and an opportunity for me to learn more about my interests in the finance industry.
Is there anything else you’d like to share about your experience with the Och Initiative?
Everyone involved in the Och Initiative truly wants to see you succeed. The Initiative puts on a variety of events and programs, not just the Treks, from luncheons to educational financial training sessions. The Och Initiative has a wide network of support, and I encourage anyone remotely interested in pursuing a career in finance to get involved.
Yejin Kang
Program/Year: BBA ’26
Hometown: Daejeon, South Korea
Post-Graduation Career Interest: Investment banking
Why did you join the Och Initiative? Why do you believe it is important?
The Och Initiative was a great opportunity for female students to explore the finance industry, given the underrepresentation of women in the industry. Coming to Ross as an international student, I was always looking for resources offered by the school. When I heard about the Och NYC Trek, I knew I wanted to apply to narrow my interests in finance by listening to professionals in different roles within finance and to grasp the kind of workplace culture I am looking for. I believe the Och Initiative is important for female students like me who have an interest in finance and want a more tangible picture of what pursuing a career in finance would look like.
How does being in the Och Initiative fit in with your journey at Ross and your career goals?
When I first came to Ross, I wasn’t sure which career field I wanted to pursue. After talking to career coaches and upperclassmen about my interests and strengths, I realized finance was something I would be interested in. I also heard about the Och Initiative through upperclassmen, who strongly encouraged me to go on the trek to get various perspectives from different finance roles. After going on the Trek, I learned that I wish to recruit for investment banking roles because of its steep learning curve and client-facing role.
What aspects of the Och Initiative do you enjoy the most? What has been your favorite event or program?
I enjoyed visiting the physical locations of the firms in NYC the most. I always knew I learn best by experiencing something myself, so visiting the actual buildings and interacting with employees in their offices was very helpful to me. My favorite part of the Trek would have to be when we rode the ferry after visiting one of the firms in New York to go to an office in New Jersey. It was just a fun bonding experience with friends and program advisors.
What did you learn by participating in the Och Initiative that will most stick with you?
Something I learned through Och that will stick with me is the many DEI initiatives banks are taking to increase the number of female employees. I knew finance is a male-dominated field and that there were some initiatives to increase women's representation, but talking to current employees at the firm made the effort clearer. Many firms were dedicated to hiring young females to grow and develop into higher positions in the firm, and the finance industry, in general, was setting initiatives such as networking forums and other events for women specifically.
How was your experience with the New York Trek?
The New York Trek was an amazing experience overall. I was able to form friendships and lasting memories with other sophomore girls on the Trek, learn professional etiquette, and connect with industry professionals ranging from analysts to VPs. I am grateful to have been in New York visiting several firms as it helped me realize that I wish to work in New York post graduation.
Claire Spindler
Program/Year: BBA ’26
Hometown: Oxford, MI
Post-Graduation Career Interest: Accounting
Why did you join the Och Initiative? Why do you believe it is important?
I have always been interested in business; however, as a first-generation college student and woman, my opportunities to explore the financial industry have been somewhat limited. When I heard about the Och Trek to New York City, I immediately knew I had to apply. I joined the Och Initiative to experience the financial industry first-hand and make meaningful connections with both industry professionals and my peers. I strongly believe that the Och Initiative is extremely important in reducing barriers to entering the financial industry and empowering our community by providing women with a breadth of valuable experience to apply in their professional pursuits.
How does being in the Och Initiative fit in with your journey at Ross and your career goals?
Coming into Ross, I knew I was interested in business but lacked the experience to understand what area or specialty I particularly enjoyed. Through the Och Initiative and Och Trek to New York City, I gained invaluable real-world experience to help me understand the vast professional career opportunities available to me. By talking to industry professionals, I learned about aspects of different roles I felt I would or would not enjoy. For example, I noticed through conversation that I was more interested in a client-facing role. The Och Trek was an instrumental exploratory experience that allowed me to better understand my place in the business world in a low-stakes, supportive environment.
What aspects of the Och Initiative do you enjoy the most? What has been your favorite event or program?
On the Och Trek to New York City, I really enjoyed the overall feeling of camaraderie and support exuded by the industry professionals I networked with and my peers in Ross. The Och Initiative and its supportive culture has provided me with a “safe space” where I feel uplifted and comfortable in sharing both my wins and difficulties. The relationships and friendships I created with both professionals and peers during this trek have proved to be strong and long-lasting after returning to campus as well!
What did you learn by participating in the Och Initiative that will most stick with you?
By participating in the Och Initiative, I have been empowered by the notion that I can achieve anything I put my mind to. Having the opportunity to hear from such accomplished women in the financial industry, who were in my shoes at one point in their professional careers, was an incredibly moving testament to my ability to achieve great success within the business world.
How was your experience with the New York Trek?
My experience on the New York Trek was amazing, and I am so grateful to have had the opportunity. Hearing from and connecting with a variety of professionals in different functions and companies has been critical to my recruitment experience thus far. Not to mention, experiencing the hustle and bustle of New York City for the first time was surreal!
Is there anything else you’d like to share about your experience with the Och Initiative?
If you are eligible for any of the treks that the Och Initiative offers, APPLY! It was such an amazing experience that I will cherish for many years to come. The relationships and friendships I built through the New York Trek have been invaluable to both my professional and personal successes.
