Elon Business Fellows visit New York City for immersive career experience

The Business Fellows program in the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business equips students with opportunities to connect classroom learning to real-world business environments. This September, the Fellows visited New York City for a three-day trip, visiting major players like Morgan Stanley, RSM, CIBC Capital Markets, KPMG and Deutsche Bank.

William Pinkley ’27, a finance and mathematics major from Spartanburg, South Carolina, and Abigail Mulvaney ’27, an accounting and economic consulting major from Richmond, Virginia were two of the Fellows who attended and had the opportunity to immerse themselves in an environment they hope to work in after graduation.

“Every time I’ve been here before, it was for a purpose—moving my sister into the city, family visits—but I never got to slow down and really take in what the financial district is like,” said Pinkley. “This trip was different. It felt like I was finally getting to see what my future could look like.”

One of his most memorable moments was meeting with Gabrielle Cifelli ’20, an Elon alumna at Morgan Stanley. Cifelli, who shared her experiences navigating the finance industry since graduating from Elon, led the group through a resume workshop, providing individualized feedback.

“It was both nerve-wracking and incredibly valuable to have someone who’s been in my shoes look at my resume and offer real, actionable advice,” said Pinkley.

For Mulvaney, the trip clarified what a career at a top accounting firm might look like.

“It’s easy to hear ‘Big Four’ and have an abstract idea of what that means,” said Mulvaney. “It’s totally different to walk into an office and see how people collaborate and communicate.”

During the group’s visit to Closed Loop, Brendan Keefe ’16 spoke about the importance of being adaptable and looking for roles that match your strengths.

“It made me realize that I don’t have to box myself into a specific type of accounting job,” said Mulvaney. “I can look for positions that leverage my skills in a variety of industries.”

Both students found themes in the advice from all the professionals and alumni: invest in relationships, embrace curiosity, and be open to the unexpected.