Lucy Wise, '13

Lucy Wise, '13

January 21, 2013
Internship leads to career with investment bank for finance student

As a spring semester begins, many seniors anticipate the sometimes dreaded “what are your plans after graduation?” question. Lucy Wise has now known for a few months where she will go once she receives her degree in May—to New York City for a position with Moelis & Company, a global investment bank.

Wise first heard of Moelis & Company after participating in Spiders on Wall Street her sophomore year. This experience allows students to travel to New York to explore the world of finance and investment banking while connecting with University of Richmond alumni who are professionals in the field.  “While attending a networking reception I began talking to a Robins School of Business alumnus and really made a connection. He invited me to dinner to discuss the industry and possible career paths with him and some of his peers, and I have kept in contact with him ever since,” Wise said.

Once she returned to Richmond, Wise kept in mind all she discussed and learned while in New York and used her new networking skills and connections to get in touch with Moelis & Company. After sending in her resume, she was offered an interview, and then an internship, with Moelis & Company the following summer. “During my internship, “I had the unique opportunity to travel with a few deal teams to site visits and client dinners and outings and it was through these experiences that I really got to see the bigger picture of various engagements and understand the true implications of the work I was doing,” Wise said.

Since the firm is smaller, Wise’s internship provided her unparalleled opportunities to interact with senior leadership. “I was one of 12 interns, and nine were offered a permanent position,” she said. “The people really made the experience for me, because I was trusted to handle large responsibilities.”

While she still has her senior spring semester to complete, Wise is taking advantage of her campus involvement before graduation. “I have really enjoyed participating in the Student Managed Investment Fund, because it is student-run and has given me a lot of experience that will help me in my career at Moelis,” she said. Wise has also participated in Q-Camp, a weekend-long experience designed to teach professional and career skills to students, as a sophomore and is serving as a peer ambassador for the second year.

Wise is looking forward to her move to New York this summer, but will miss her time at Richmond. “I will no longer have the security of being able to make mistakes and have peers and professors there to help me. I have never had a better opportunity to have a hands-on education while exploring where I want to go career-wise,” she said.

Her favorite memory from this past year was her participation on a student roundtable with the speakers from “The Word from Wall Street”, a Robins Executive Speaker Series event where Wall Street executives spoke about their experiences in the industry and the future of finance. “I think it’s great that these executives who are far removed from Richmond are willing to give back to the campus. It is very inspirational and speaks to the spirit of Richmond,” Wise said.

“I always want to help other finance students out however I can,” she said. “I wouldn’t have a career with Moelis & Company without the help of an alumnus, and I want to continue that legacy.”