Summer Intensive Class of 2022 Graduates at J.P. Morgan
Chidinma Chigozie-Nwosu, Girls Who Invest (GWI) Scholar, speaks at graduation.
"In the wise words of Beyoncé Knowles-Carter: ‘Who run the world? GIRLS.’” said Chidinma Chigozie-Nwosu, Girls Who Invest (GWI) Scholar, as she finished her remarks at the graduation ceremony for the GWI 2022 Summer Intensive Program (SIP) Class.
SIP is GWI’s flagship program, enabling college women to explore investment management careers through four weeks of free educational training with top university professors followed by a seven-week paid internship at one of more than 100 leading investment management firms in the U.S. This year, over 200 scholars studied for four weeks on University of Pennsylvania's campus at The Wharton School. To celebrate the scholars’ hard work and send them off to their internships, a graduation ceremony was hosted by J.P. Morgan at their offices in midtown Manhattan on June 30, 2022.
Graduation day started with GWI Scholars delivering capstone project presentations to a group of volunteers from GWI partner firms, who assessed the presentations and gave beneficial feedback to the scholars. The presentations allowed the scholars to apply the valuation and investment fundamentals they acquired throughout their summer program to real-world stock analysis. Seema R. Hingorani, Founder and Chair of Girls Who Invest, addressed the group afterward and gave the graduating class valuable advice on entering their internships.
Katherine Jollon Colsher, Girls Who Invest’s President and Chief Executive Officer, speaks during graduation.
“At Girls Who Invest, we value inclusivity and community, integrity and respect, responsibility and dedication,” said Katherine Jollon Colsher, Girls Who Invest’s President and Chief Executive Officer, during her pre-graduation remarks. Following Colsher, Lee Spelman Doty, Managing Director at J.P. Morgan, addressed the scholars.
“I think women make incredible investors,” said Spelman Doty. “Because I think they [have] great analytical skills.” The graduation ceremony featured scholar speakers from three different sections of the 2022 SIP cohort.
Lee Spelman Doty, Managing Director at J.P. Morgan, addressed the scholars.
“I realized that Girls Who Invest is more than just a program, it’s a community of girls where you can ask for career advice one minute and have belly-aching laugh sessions the next,” said Chigozie-Nwosu in her graduation remarks.
“I can genuinely say that Girls Who Invest did an amazing job of handpicking this group of girls this year, and I owe Seema and GWI a very big thank you for not only helping me grow as a person but pushing me one step closer to fulfilling the level of success that my parents envisioned for me when they came to the United States, but also for providing me with a lifelong support network that I know will go beyond UPenn’s campus.”
Group photo of the Summer Intensive Class of 2022 graduation.
Closing remarks were given by Kelsey Dool, Program and Marketing Manager at GWI, who worked closely with the SIP class throughout the program.
Following the graduation ceremony, there was a panel featuring Rashmi Gupta, Multi-Asset Portfolio Manager, Managing Director at J.P. Morgan, Danielle Hines, CFA, Associate Director of US Research at J.P. Morgan Asset Management, and Lindsey Jones, Executive Director, Investment Specialist at J.P. Morgan Asset Management.
The panel was moderated by GWI alumni Shruti Topudurti, Equity Research Associate at J.P. Morgan Asset Management and GWI ‘16, and Ellie O’Donoghue, Analyst at J.P. Morgan Asset Management and GWI ‘19.
Monica Issar, Head of JP Morgan Wealth Management’s Multi-Asset & Portfolio Solutions Group, and GWI Advisory Board Member introduces the panel.
The panel was introduced by Monica Issar, Head of JP Morgan Wealth Management’s Multi-Asset & Portfolio Solutions Group, and GWI Advisory Board Member.
“I want to welcome all of you on behalf of every single one of my colleagues in Asset & Wealth Management. We are so thrilled that you are here and that today we can mark that conversion from education to you all hitting the street,” said Issar. “I can think of no better way to get into that mindset than by hearing from the ladies on this panel who are entrusted by our clients to steward their assets through these turbulent times.”
The J.P. Morgan panel takes a picture with the GWI 2022 graduation scholars interning with J.P. Morgan.
The panel gave the graduating class advice on pursuing and achieving longevity in the investment management industry. Jones spoke about the importance of staying in touch with classmates and building a community, especially if you are working on an all male team. “Be there for each other because sometimes just having conversations with your peers can get you through those hard times, get you through those bad days…you will grow in your careers over time and you can come back to each other and be that support system for each other.”
“I can personally attest that this Girls Who Invest community is really special,” shared Topudurti. “My roommate for the past three years and one of my best friends, we met through Girls Who Invest. These are the girls who will help you get through the early years of your career.”
“What’s been helpful for me at J.P. Morgan is I have also seen a lot of senior women on my team,” said Hines. “A year ago, I had my first baby, and seeing women more senior than me who have two kids and are working mothers—[seeing] they could do it and make it work, gave me a little more comfort that I could do this too. There is an element of seeing the people above you, but it is also on us that we can become role models for all of you when you join [the industry.]”
“I think no matter how good you are in your career, nobody becomes very successful or very senior without other people lifting them up,“ said Gupta. “Throughout your career, you need people who are not just mentors but sponsors. I don’t think you’ll find anyone successful in this industry who hasn’t had someone notice them or help them, given them a chance that they may otherwise not have gotten.”
The day wrapped with a celebratory reception.
Graduating scholars enjoy the day.