Elon Business Fellows Connect with Top Firms During New York City Trip

Forty business fellows from the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business recently traveled to New York City for a three-day trip. During a three-day trip to New York City this October, members of the Business Fellows program engaged directly with the massive machinery of global finance and accounting, turning abstract economic theories into tangible professional goals.

According to a report from elon.edu, the excursion served as a bridge between academic study and the high-stakes reality of the corporate world. The Fellows visited a concentrated list of industry leaders, including JP Morgan, Bloomberg, Deloitte, KPMG, and PwC, among others. By touring offices and observing daily operations, the students moved beyond textbooks to see how large-scale firms actually function.

Direct access to industry titans and alumni networks

The group visited several prominent names, including Atlas, BDO, CIBC, Guggenheim, L’Oreal, Lyft, Marque Brands, Rose Associates, Wells Fargo, and more. This breadth allowed the Fellows to see the different ways a business degree can be applied across various company cultures.

For many participants, the most significant value came not just from the building tours, but from the human connections made along the way. The program included connecting with alumni who shared their experiences and career paths. These mentors provided a roadmap for how student involvement in campus organizations can translate into professional success.

Business Fellows in front of PwC sign in NYC — Photo: europesays.com

“The most memorable part was having the opportunity to speak to Elon alumni about the experiences that have shaped their careers as well as ask for advice,” said Gracie Collins ‘29, a finance and marketing major from Lake Forest, Ill.

Collins noted that alumni specifically highlighted how participation in certain business clubs at Elon helped them narrow down their career paths. This connection between campus engagement and professional direction was a recurring theme for the cohort.

Real-world insights shape future career paths

The trip provided a rare opportunity for students to test their academic interests against professional realities. For Anne Alt ‘29, an accounting and economic consulting major from Kansas City, Kan., the trip offered specific clarity on a difficult professional choice. Through a conversation with a former LSB board member, Alt was able to weigh the differences between tax and audit accounting.

Alden King ‘29, a finance and marketing major from Chapel Hill, NC., echoed this sentiment, noting that the trip acted as an introduction to the actual lifestyle of working in New York. King observed that the experience helped demonstrate how the specific lessons learned through the Fellows program manifest in a professional workforce environment.

A core curriculum of adaptability and networking

While the specific companies visited varied, the Fellows identified several consistent themes emphasized by the professionals they met. The industry leaders stressed that success in the modern economy is rarely a straight line. Instead, they pointed to three critical pillars for long-term growth:

Curiosity and Initiative: Being proactive in learning and asking questions.
Adaptability: The ability to shift directions as career paths evolve.
Relationship Building: The necessity of expanding and maintaining a professional network.

The advice from these professionals was practical: they encouraged students to follow up with everyone they met, noting that alumni and industry experts are often willing to help those who show genuine interest. This emphasis on "soft skills" shows that technical proficiency must be paired with the ability to manage complex social and professional networks.