Finding Her Own Path to Success

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Finding Her Own Path to Success

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Anastasia Vatrenko seemed destined for a career in medicine. Growing up, it was the path she was drawn to, and despite charting a path for medical school, she developed a passion for understanding how macroeconomics and politics shape our world. Eventually, she realized her true calling wasn't diagnosing patients. It was diagnosing financial health.

When Anastasia discovered Stevens Institute of Technology, she found the perfect place to pursue her interests and gain an edge in the job market. This led her to major in Business and Technology with a focus on Quantitative Finance and Information Systems.

"When I started thinking about securing a job and the recruitment cycle, I thought it was important to have a quantitative and qualitative background," she explained. "A lot of the time, students are either one or the other. I can have both, giving me a strong mixture of different skills to help me stand out."

Location Matters

For Anastasia, Stevens' proximity to the financial capital of the world, New York City, was key.

"What really interested me personally about Stevens was its proximity to the city," explains Anastasia. "The location allows the city to be your oyster, where you can meet new connections and strengthen existing ones. That was a big selling point for me, and I knew it would be important to my career journey."

Her instincts were right.

Anastasia started researching companies she envisioned joining for internships and job opportunities. She reached out to connect with individuals working at these firms to learn more about their own journeys.

Her networking paid off. After receiving an offer to meet in person, a quick train ride into New York City made the meeting possible. "I was offered an opportunity on a Wednesday in the middle of the day to meet up for a coffee. I was able to hop on a PATH train and be in midtown in no time. If I hadn't been in the Hoboken area, I wouldn't have been able to do this. Honestly, this moment made me know that Stevens was the right place for me to be."

That coffee chat led to several more meetings with different individuals in the firm, including two Stevens alums. "It was so exciting being with fellow Ducks on the trading room floor of a major financial institution," she said. "We bonded while talking about our unique Stevens experiences. I was able to leverage those connections to get an interview at the firm."

Her drive helped her secure an internship for the Summer of 2025. After receiving her offer, one of the alumni reached out to offer their congratulations. "They sent me an email congratulating me and ended their message with 'Go Ducks!' It was so special to see that personal touch."

Learning Beyond the Classroom

If a 10-minute train ride into the heart of the financial capital of the world wasn't enough of a reason to love Stevens, she found further validation in her decision to pursue a business degree through the Pinnacle Scholars Program. A prestigious research program for undergraduate students to conduct original, advanced research under the guidance of Stevens faculty, Anastasia had the opportunity to combine her interest in business with her passion for mental health.

"I'm a very big advocate for mental health," she shared. "Through Pinnacle Scholars, I did a research project on how being in a high position within a company affects the CEO's mental state. Working on a project like that was incredibly enriching, and I was excited to get the opportunity to go beyond what I was learning in my classes."

Experiential learning opportunities like this are what makes Stevens special, says Anastasia. "Stevens offers me an opportunity to embrace other things beyond my major and to apply what I'm learning."

Finding a Place in SSMIF

A pioneer in financial education at all degree levels, it's no surprise that the School of Business was one of the first in the country to create a student-led management fund. The Stevens Student Management Investment Fund (SSMIF) isn't just an investment club where students pick stocks and see how they change through a simulation program. It involves actual funds that impact Stevens.

Participants undergo a rigorous recruiting process, which Anastasia points out is designed to replicate what students can expect when applying to big banks and firms. If selected, they work as analysts, risk advisors, quants, and leaders for two semesters to manage a portion of the university's endowment.

It's a major commitment, and Anastasia was initially intimidated to pursue a spot during her first year. "I actually interviewed my first year. I would say the average student who applies to SSMIF is in their third year, but I was excited about the prospect of joining. As a first-year student, I think it's easy to get lost in knowing what your next step is. How are you supposed to get financial experience on your resume?"

There was also the added pressure of applying as a woman in a male-dominated industry. "I think it's very intimidating to apply to something like an investment fund when you don't feel super represented," she shared. "But it was actually another woman in the program that I knew who encouraged me and told me about what a great opportunity SSMIF would be to get real-life experience on my resume, especially at such a young age."

Upon being selected, Anastasia served on one of the sector teams where she worked with other women in finance, which was encouraging. "It was great to see other women who are a part of the fund and work on a woman-led team. SSMIF has really worked hard to diversify its participants."

Becoming Head of Fund

After two semesters of building up her technical and financial skills, Anastasia was ready to challenge herself in a new way and applied to become the SSMIF's Head of Fund. After another rigorous process, she received the good news that she had been selected for the role. "I was incredibly excited."

She doesn't take being a young leader lightly.

"What I think is particularly unique about the fund and what has been exciting overall is the real-life, hands-on experience we all get," Anastasia recounted. "I'm now seeing the management aspect of how to lead people. It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that I can have as a student and one that I'm incredibly grateful for."

As she looks ahead to what she wants to accomplish, Anastasia plans to continue focusing on diversifying the fund. "One of my goals is to have different perspectives and unique ideas in the fund. Especially being a woman in business. I understand how intimidating it can be. However, I found it's so important to push your boundaries and try new things, especially in your undergraduate years. This is a time to hone new skills and learn new things."

She's also focused on strengthening connections with SSMIF alums so that her peers can share the same benefits she did. "During my internship interview process, the alumni were extremely supportive and helped guide me, and I want to help more members make those connections."

Anastasia offered this advice for those interested in joining SSMIF but are unsure how to prepare, "One of the biggest things you can work on is knowing what's happening in the macroeconomy. Read the Wall Street Journal and understand what is happening day-to-day in your classes and the conversations with your professors. And then when it comes to technical prep, there are so many different clubs at school, like the Finance Investment Banking Advisory Club (FIBA) or online resources to help you hone your skills."

Learn more about SSMIFThe Hanlon Financial Systems CenterBack to School of Business News