About Harrison
Country: United States
Undergraduate Degree: BS in Finance and Fintech
Previous University: Northeastern University
Q: Why did you choose Northeastern, and what was your major?
A: I chose Northeastern University as an undergraduate because I wanted more than just classroom learning. I wanted real-world experience. I started as a business major, and I gravitated toward finance and the growing fintech space as I got deeper into my coursework. This led me to add a fintech concentration and graduate in 2023 with a BS in finance and fintech.
Q: How did your co-op experiences shape your understanding of finance?
A: The co-op experience brought everything together for me. You can study finance in a classroom and read textbooks all day, but nothing compares to working in the real world. Running scenarios, working with financial models, and presenting your insights to a team is a different level. Each co-op gave me a deeper understanding of how finance works in practice. I learned how to navigate spreadsheets, communicate with clients, and apply concepts like the time value of money in real business settings. That hands-on exposure gave me the confidence and clarity I needed to pursue my career in investment-grade credit sales.
Can you walk us through each of your co-ops?
A: My first co-op at a cybersecurity startup in Somerville introduced me to corporate finance and operational accounting. It was a small, fast-moving team, and I got to see how a business operates from the inside, how financial decisions are made in real time, and how accounting supports growth. That experience laid the groundwork for everything that followed.
My second co-op at Jefferies in New York was a major turning point. Supporting the fixed-income sales and trading desks gave me a front-row seat to see how markets move and how client relationships are managed. It also made me realize I needed to deepen my technical and analytical skills to stand out.
That's when I decided to enroll in the PlusOne program. Thanks to the extended eligibility it provided, I had the opportunity to return to Jefferies as a summer analyst. This experience allowed me to sharpen my credit analysis skills and learn how to evaluate lending opportunities across sectors, which ultimately helped me land my full-time offer. While you can learn a lot in the classroom, co-op is where you truly understand how finance works in the real world.
Q: How did the PlusOne MS in Finance deepen your expertise?
A: The PlusOne MS in Finance courses pushed me beyond the fundamentals I learned as an undergrad. The advanced coursework, taught by professors with real industry experience, brought complex topics to life through detailed case studies and real-world transaction analysis. I gained practical insight into how deals are structured in private equity, investment banking, and credit markets.
Electives let me tailor my learning to my goals. Fixed Income Securities gave me a deep understanding of debt instruments while Data Analytics in Python built on my fintech background and helped me automate tasks in my analyst work. The combination of quantitative analysis, technical tools, and market knowledge prepared me to excel in finance.
Q: What's next for you professionally?
A: I accepted a full-time offer from Jeffries on their investment-grade credit sales team, which is the direct result of my successful co-op and summer analyst experience. I'm focused on building my career in U.S. investment-grade credit sales by deepening my expertise in fixed income credit markets and strengthening client relationships. I want to develop a strong reputation as a trusted partner, expand my client network, and continue to grow my technical skills.
I also plan to pursue certifications such as the CFA and aspire to take on leadership roles such as director or team head, mentoring junior colleagues as I've been mentored throughout my career.
Q: What advice would you share with future students?
A: Enjoy your time in Boston but also push yourself outside your comfort zone. Join a club, play a sport, get involved in a student organization, or attend networking events. Building a community early on will give you a support system, especially when navigating co-op applications and career decisions.
Seek mentorship from day one. Regularly meet with your student advisor and connect with peers who've been through the process. Some of the most valuable lessons I've learned have come from conversations with classmates and colleagues. At Northeastern, you're surrounded by people and resources ready to help. It's up to you to take the first step to engage.
