Alison Zambrano

About you

What work experience/internships did you have before beginning with Imperial College Business School?

Prior to joining Imperial, I did an internship at Hotel Cathedral International as a Finance Controller Intern in Quito, Ecuador. I also worked at Tenon FM as a Strategic Analyst to the CFO in Delhi, India where I was offered a full-time graduate role.

Why did you decide to study MSc Finance at Imperial College Business School?

Having studied Economics and Finance in my undergraduate degree and gaining insight through various internships, my affinity for financial markets grew. I chose to study the MSc in Finance at Imperial as my first choice because of the quantitative nature of the modules offered, professors with world-leading industry backgrounds and the alumni network. I truly believe Imperial will open many doors and help me to move on in my career.

Programme

What aspects of the programme do you most enjoy the most?

The MSc Finance programme at Imperial is structured in such a flexible manner that each and every student can truly gain the most out of their interests in the wide-reaching field of finance. It's the challenging aspect and cultural diversity of the programme that I enjoy the most. Moreover, I enjoy the wide variety of choice within my optional modules, allowing me the freedom to cover areas in which I would want to specialise and apply toward my future professional career. From this, I was able to personalise the programme at Imperial in a manner that suits my own personal and professional needs.

Which has been your favourite module so far and why?

My favourite module so far has been Corporate Finance. The material covered as well as the coursework aspect helped me understand the decision-making process for companies by recognising key factors such as what affects the cost of capital of companies and understanding the different capital structure decisions.

What has been the most rewarding part of the programme?

The most rewarding part of my time at Imperial has been the people I have met and the relationships I have built. Every individual has their own unique story to tell and it is very motivating to be surrounded by them. Furthermore, it offers plenty of networking opportunities as many lectures are accompanied by guest lecturers and speakers from the financial industry.

Career

What are your future career goals and how have they been realised since being at Imperial?

I want to build a career in Investment Banking and Private Equity, and I am already in the application process for multiple investment banks. The MSc Finance programme has provided me with a thorough understanding over a wide breadth of financial topics and, has allowed me to grow my foundational skills in the building of financial models.

Have you received any job offers since commencing your programme?

Imperial has been incredibly helpful in putting me in touch with prospective employers with their diverse company links in the ever-expanding field of finance.  I have been approached by several business startups and investment banks with enticing propositions and I have secured a 6-month Project Management Internship with Amazon. Furthermore, skill workshops provided by the Careers team boosted the quality of my curriculum and prepared me for success when doing interviews with the most rigorous of employers.

Tips

Looking back to when you were applying for the programme, did you attend any online webinars or on-campus information sessions?

As an attendee to the Woman in Finance webinar, I saw how valued each and every student at Imperial College Business School was. Gaining the opportunity to converse with students from the programme, gaining an awareness of what it would take to secure a place on this highly competitive programme and tips on how to manoeuvre myself through the application process. I would wholeheartedly suggest that prospective students attend webinars such as this one, they provide a thorough and insightful account of what being an Imperial student is like. 

What advice would you give someone who is thinking about applying for the programme?

Ready yourself to be fully immersed in the world of finance. MSc Finance is intense for a reason, it is made to appeal the most to those that have a firmly placed interest in progressing to highly technical and sought-after roles in the financial industry. That being said, do not fear reaching out to the Business School and taking full advantages of the resources that they offer. They are there to help, and a one-to-one Careers session will always be there to provide any assistance that an Imperial student needs.