KEENEH "KIWI" COMIZIO '19 MSF
Current job: Associate at Oaktree
Location: New York, NY
As an undergraduate majoring in Political Science and Government at Yale University, Kiwi Comizio had a marketing internship with Citigroup. The following year, she secured a summer analyst position with Credit Suisse. Both of those experiences led her to pursue a Master’s in Finance. Today, she is an associate with Oaktree Capital Management.
Why did you choose VSB over other business schools?
I had always heard very good things about VSB and the post-graduate success of its alumni. Both of my brothers completed their undergraduate degrees at VSB and I had other family friends who had done the MSF program and thought it was very beneficial.
What were your favorite courses or learning experiences?
I always enjoyed the courses that had group projects because I thought it was good practice and prep for the professional world, especially in classes where the material and assignments were more directly related and applicable to what we’d all do in our jobs after graduating. I also felt like it was a good way to get to know the other members of my program.
Were there any hands-on experiences that you had in the program that directly prepared you for your career?
I work in private credit so I would say that the Fixed Income, Financial Modeling, and M&A Buyout / Private Equity courses were definitely the most applicable and prepared me the most. In my current role, I work with material or on assignments every day that can be tied back to what I learned in those courses.
What kind of support did the school provide to help you succeed?
The mentorship program is a great resource. Even if the individual you’re matched with doesn’t work directly in the same role or space you’d be looking at, I found it helpful to get another relevant and experienced perspective to turn to during the job search. It’s a process that requires a lot of effort and time so it’s always good to have additional support, especially from someone who was in your shoes graduating from the same program. I think it helps students to start building their networks and also learn what other areas of finance are out there so they can explore what might be a good fit.
How has the alumni network benefited you since graduating?
I’ve been fortunate enough to have a strong alumni network both from college and graduate school, and I’ve found both to be valuable. I’ve changed roles / firms a couple of times now since graduating, and I have worked with VSB alums at each one, all of whom have been some of the best colleagues to work with. They are smart individuals who are willing to support you and help you learn, and who contributed to very positive cultures.
