Nikita Bijlani on Breaking Barriers and Embracing Growth Through the FWA Baruch College Mentoring Program

November 14, 2023

The Financial Women's Association-Baruch College Mentoring Program has been forging powerful connections between driven students and seasoned financial professionals for decades. One of the program's featured mentees, Nikita Bijlani, a standout, exemplifies the program's true success.


Under the mentorship of Aidi Zheng, a Director of Global Markets Corporate Banking and Hedge Fund Credit Risk at BMO Capital Markets, a President's Circle Sponsor of FWA, Nikita Bijlani's career trajectory has undergone a remarkable transformation.


Nikita's journey, shaped by Aidi's guidance, has been truly impactful. In her own words, she reflects on the program's influence: "My experience with the FWA Baruch College Mentoring Program has been very impactful on both me and my career. My mentor, Aidi, has been one of my biggest supporters... I learned to stand up for myself in ways I did not know how to before... The mentoring program pushed me to believe that I could do better and work harder at my goals to achieve them."


Motivated by the pursuit of excellence, Nikita's inspiration to join the program stemmed from her participation in the Rising Starr Sophomore Program at Baruch, a program that highlighted financial literacy and values in line with the FWA. Her mother's achievements in finance further motivated Nikita, so she sought guidance with the hopes of fostering her own potential and self-advocacy skills.


Aidi's mentorship provided Nikita with the motivation to strive for excellence, emphasizing continuous learning and networking for personal and professional growth. A crucial lesson from Aidi was overcoming the fear of asking questions, empowering Nikita to express her opinions confidently.


"A significant takeaway from Aidi was the skill to break the glass ceiling," notes Nikita. When faced with a challenging project outside her comfort zone, Aidi's unwavering support fueled Nikita's determination to excel, demonstrating that the sky is no longer the limit; it's just the beginning.


Entering her junior year with a predefined finance path, Nikita's horizons expanded under Aidi's guidance, prompting her to consider diverse career opportunities within the finance industry. As she envisions becoming a mentor herself, Nikita acknowledges the incredible impact of the FWA community, stressing the importance of giving back to the next generation.


Nikita Bijlani's story stands as a testament to the FWA Baruch College Mentoring Program's ability to ignite ambition, dismantle barriers, and propel emerging professionals toward success. As she prepares for her internship at BMO Capital Markets next Summer, Nikita embodies the FWA's mission to empower women in finance and inspire future leaders to break boundaries and reach new heights.


Inspired by Nikita’s story? Ready to mentor a talented college student launching her business career? Contact Baruch College program lead Betsy Werley ([email protected]) or Seton Hall University program leads Donna Harris ([email protected]) or Lu Licciardello ([email protected]).

FWA Graduate School Partnership: Finance Training Program

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In Fall 2024, the Financial Women’s Association (FWA) Graduate School Partnerships Committee, with support from BMO Capital Markets Equity Through Education Program, sponsored a finance training program for over 175 Baruch College Zicklin School of Business graduate students. As part of the curriculum, students attended a financial markets overview lecture by KLD Training and completed courses in applied Excel and corporate valuation with Training the Street. The Graduate School Partnerships Committee is proud to help fulfill the FWA’s mission to contribute to our communities and prepare the next generation of professionals through this multi-year initiative. As the financial services industry continues to go through technological and regulatory changes, the Committee hopes these young professionals will gain an edge as they enter the financial services industry with the additional technical skills and financial knowledge acquired from the training program. In the excerpts below, a few participants share how the course helped their corporate valuation knowledge and express their gratitude to the FWA and BMO Capital Markets. Click here to view the complete Participants Testimonial booklet . For more information about the FWA Graduate School Partnership, please contact committee chair Christine Li-Auyeung .

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