Lorelei He

Did you work before school? If so, why the MSFE and Columbia Business School?

I worked at Deutsche Bank CLO Structuring desk for one year before joining Columbia Business School. I chose the MSFE program because of its unique construct – having both aspects of a PhD and MBA program, which allows me to gain technical and soft skills. The program also offers plenty of part-time internship opportunities due to its location in New York City and the school network. With a part-time internship, I can stay in touch within the industry while earning my education. The program also has a smaller student body, so I can develop closer connections with my classmates. There are also opportunities to take classes with other MBA and PhD students, which allows us to expand our networks.

What are your career goals?

Before joining Columbia Business School, I wanted to pivot to buy-side. Currently I have achieved my goal by working as a Structured Credit Associate at CIFC, where my responsibilities mainly focus on CLO new issuance and secondary trading. Going forward, I would like to further develop my career in the industry and gain more exposure.

How has the experience and expertise of your professors impacted your learning and career?

The faculty have given me lots of advice regarding recruiting and future career planning, which had a major impact in helping me achieve my career goals. Professor Michael Johannes, in particular, has been extremely supportive during my search for part-time internships.