Krishen Khurana ’20 wrote “Goldman Sachs CEO” in his middle school yearbook in response to the question, “Where do you see yourself in 30 years?" Khurana hasn’t quite reached that pinnacle, but the former Finance major has his foot firmly in the door as a Goldman Sachs associate, and his four-year career at the multinational investment bank and financial services company now serves as inspiration for Bryant students who took part in the October 2025 Walk Down Wall Street.
“The program exposes students to the various career paths in the financial services sector, provides networking with alumni mentors in the industry, and offers invaluable advice and mentorship from alumni professionals,” says Patricia E. Miernicki, associate director of employer outreach & development at the Bryant University Amica Center for Career Education, which coordinated the event alongside Bryant’s Wall Street Council.
As he has done for several years, Khurana served on a panel alongside other Bryant alumni working in the financial industry as a group of 50-plus students and faculty spent an overnight in Manhattan learning how Wall Street works, discussing potential career paths, snapping selfies with the Charging Bull and Fearless Girl statues, and experiencing the trading-day energy of the New York Stock Exchange.
“The trip was incredibly encouraging and motivating, especially hearing success stories from Bryant alumni spanning many decades,” says Accounting major Aaron A. Prata ’27, who also visited the 9/11 Memorial and the World Trade Center during the two-day trip to New York.
In addition to Khurana, alums Brian Gowen ’13 of the Federal Reserve Bank of NY, Hannah Garvey ’22 of the real estate banking section at BNY Mellon; Jacqueline Gilmartin '22, global commercial banking associate at Bank of America; and Stephanie Lesko ’20, relationship manager at the BMV Group at Merrill Lynch, carved out time to offer advice and encouragement to students seeking to tread a career path similar to their own.
Lesko, for example, reflected on how she created an internship for herself at a local wealth management company as a Bryant undergrad, while Gowen, money markets analytical responsibility manager at the New York Fed, said his approach during interviews was always to focus on “what makes you different in a skill that so many others will have.”
Panelists “emphasized finding what gives you leverage, building connections, and always being willing to learn,” says Finance major Maria Sanders ’27, who hopes to pursue a career in investment banking. “I had a conversation with Hannah Garvey where she shared her story about moving to New York after graduating from Bryant, which was very affecting coming from a successful woman in finance.”
“The opportunity to talk with alumni at all levels of management experience, provided students with a complete picture of the mindset, skills, and insights they need as they approach their career search,” says Todd Alessandri, Ph.D., dean of Bryant’s College of Business, who also took part in Walk Down Wall Street. “It was a testament of the commitment of our alumni to help the next generation of Bulldogs.”
The panel discussion took part during a tour of global asset management company Lord Abbett’s Jersey City offices and was highlighted by a presentation from Mike Hebert ’98, managing director and the company’s head of global fund finance.
Hebert, who has two college-age children of his own, says he enjoyed the opportunity to share the kind of wisdom he received from upperclass students at Bryant on how to get a great first job. “Bryant students outwork everybody,” he says. “That was the culture when I was there and it's still today. The students all asked the right questions and interesting questions.”
For example, one student asked whether it was a smart move to negotiate over their first job offer; Hebert’s answer was a resounding “no.”
“Take what they give you and like it,” he advised students, while adding that students also should consider the value of the training and support they will get from an employer, even if it’s the lesser of two monetary offers.
“Really think about whether someone is willing to invest in your career,” he says.
“What stood out most at Lord Abbett was their emphasis on grit, research, and long-term thinking,” says Sam Banoud ’25, a Finance student. “Hearing directly from professionals about their career paths, the advisor consultant role, and how autonomy and collaboration drive their success gave me a clearer picture of where I could see myself in the industry.”
Prata was excited to grab some one-on-one time with Hebert after his presentation. “I had a conversation with him about starting my career in public accounting, and he expressed a similar backstory,” he says. “He began his career at the same firm where I will be interning next summer, which made me feel confident.”
As late afternoon approached, the Bryant students continued their “walk” to the doors of the New York Stock Exchange at 11 Wall Street. There, thanks to the efforts of Skyline Corporate Communications Group and its president, Scott Powell ’94, a group of Bryant seniors — along with Alessandri, Bryant President Ross Gittell, Ph.D., and Assistant Professor of Finance Leila Zbib, Ph.D. — had the rare privilege of visiting the trading floor and witnessing the ceremonial closing bell to mark the end of the business day.
“Standing on the trading floor, learning about the building’s history, and witnessing the closing bell in person was surreal,” says Banoud. “It made the energy and legacy of Wall Street feel real and alive.”
“Standing on the trading floor, learning about the building’s history, and witnessing the closing bell in person was surreal. It made the energy and legacy of Wall Street feel real and alive.”
The evening brought another opportunity to reconnect with alumni, but in a more informal setting. Following a presentation to Bryant’s Wall Street Council by Gittell that highlighted the many new developments taking place at the university, students heard from Andrew Jardine ’06, managing director of software investment banking at UBS.
“His words, attitude, and demeanor shed a positive light on a reputably cutthroat industry,” says Prata. “That made a significant impact on me.”
The networking event that followed “pushed me to get comfortable introducing myself to people in the field, asking smart questions, and building relationships over time,” says Banoud. “I left the trip with more confidence, a stronger sense of direction, and a better understanding of what it really takes to succeed in finance beyond the classroom.”
"I left the trip with more confidence, a stronger sense of direction, and a better understanding of what it really takes to succeed in finance beyond the classroom.”
Gittell says that “by stepping off campus and into the heart of the financial industry, students gain unparalleled access to alumni mentors, real-world insights, and the kind of professional network that classroom time alone simply cannot provide.
“Experiences like this not only distinguish a Bryant education but make professional success feel within reach,” he says.
Sanders says Walk Down Wall Street reinforced the most valuable part of her Bryant education: the experiential learning interwoven with the curriculum.
“It was so eye-opening to be in the heart of the financial capital of the world and to be inspired by so many amazing Bryant alumni,” she says.