Mariana Guerrero CC’27 knows how competitive finance can be — she’s had experience at large wealth management and investment banking firms in New York City. But she is also committed to making those large companies more accessible through her work as co-president of BlackGen Capital, an independent, student-led initiative where Black, Hispanic and Native American students can learn the ins and outs of the finance world.
“For many Columbia students, [networking and making finance connections] are more instinctual, or maybe their parents are guiding them to which firms to apply to for jobs and internships, and then helping them apply,” Guerrero says. “Our members don’t typically have this experience, so we help them develop those skills and make them aware of insight programs — which help introduce students to a firm — for groups that aren’t typically represented.”
Guerrero, an economics and history double major, notes that BlackGen is part of a national network of campus chapters, and that it contributes to running BlackGen Capital’s investment fund by developing pitches for stocks to potentially invest in, which are then presented to the leadership team at semester-end meetings. In addition to developing skills like networking and learning about the recruiting cycle, members get hands-on experience through managing a real, student-owned fund.
“Firms often want to hire people who are problem solvers, can work independently and are willing to advocate for themselves,” Guerrero says. “So that’s what we really want to ingrain in our members.”
Guerrero shared more about her path to finance and tenure as co-president of BlackGen.
How did you get involved in the group?
I was actually studying chemistry. I used my first semester to explore my different interests because I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. I joined my sorority, Kappa Alpha Theta, and gained exposure to a lot of options. I made friends with a lot of econ majors and became super interested in the subject; I enrolled in econ classes and thought it would be a good fit. I wanted to then join a finance group. I joined BlackGen and learned about all the different paths in finance, including wealth management, which is what I decided to pursue.
How does BlackGen introduce students to finance?
We have all members take a 10-week education series, and then once you pass that you’re part of the general body as an analyst. I became an analyst after Spring semester my first year. As a sophomore I was VP of education and in charge of organizing the education series. Every week, we focus on a different topic like accounting, or types of valuations or modeling, but we also focus on teaching members how to network and what the application timeline looks like for summer programs and jobs.
What initiatives have you taken on as co-president?
I wanted to organize a headshot event so members could have a good photo for their LinkedIn, so I’m in the midst of getting that together. I also created a mentorship program where we pair a new member with an upperclassman who has already gone through BlackGen’s recruitment process. They share their interests in finance, and then the new member has to set up a follow-up coffee chat with their mentor and reflect on the takeaways from the conversation. I thought it would be good practice and a good way to prepare for real scenarios in a low-stakes environment.
What is the BlackGen community like?
Our alumni come back to host panels and talk about their experiences so we can learn from them. It’s a very uplifting community, and there’s no gatekeeping of information. I think finance can sometimes feel that way because it’s a very competitive field, but in BlackGen we make it super collaborative. Everyone is working on a stock pitch with a group, so it’s an environment that is focused on teamwork.
What’s been your favorite class at Columbia?
“Mass-Mediated Politics in Latin America,” with Alfonso Salgado GSAS’16. I’m taking it now and it’s so interesting. I really like how it merges so many parts of economics with history, especially Latin American history, which is one of my interests. It’s a seminar class, and I really enjoy speaking up and learning from my peers by discussing class, race and other issues.
How have you taken advantage of being in NYC for college?
Columbia was my dream school — I knew that I wanted to make the most of it when I got in. I attend a lot of insight programs and go on a lot of site visits at banks to see where I might like to work when I’m older. I also really value the friendships I’ve built here, so I prioritize those and spend time with my friends trying new restaurants and workout classes. The Core Curriculum has also exposed me to many new experiences; I always attend the museum events and other field trips. I went to the Frick with my Art Hum class and really enjoyed it. I didn’t consider myself an art fan, but after I took that class I was able to appreciate it.
BlackGen Capital is not affiliated with Columbia’s recognized student clubs and organizations.