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LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

To the Cornell Undergraduate Asia Business Society Alumni Community,

I am incredibly honored and excited to offer all CUABS alumni a preface to the second volume of our CUABS Alumni Newsletter. By way of introduction, my name is Paul Philip, and I am a junior studying Applied Economics and Management. It is my privilege to serve as the 2024-2025 CUABS President.

Last year, our executive board sought to address a key challenge of CUABS–alumni engagement. Although CUABS friendships last well past college, the connection between our alumni and current members is often lost. We created the newsletter last year in order to bridge this gap, and we were met with an outpouring of support. It was incredible to receive so many heartfelt messages from CUABS alumni who were excited to see what the current organization has been up to. Last year, we had so many alumni sign up to be alumni mentors that we had more alumni than CUABS new members to pair them with! I speak on behalf of all current members when I say that we truly could not be more grateful for how our alumni have connected with us in the past year.

This year, we hope to build on that growth. Our alumni newsletter is even longer than it was last year, and as we publish a new edition every September, we wanted to provide a way for you all to access them easily. Now, you can find all our past and future newsletters underneath our “Alumni” tab on the CUABS website.

As you’ll see in this newsletter, although CUABS has grown and changed as an organization since your time at Cornell, our focus on the pillars that make CUABS so special has remained constant. Leadership, Family, and Excellence continue to define how we, as individual members of the organization, interact with the greater Cornell community, working professionals, and most importantly, each other.

Thank you to everyone who has paved the path for CUABS to be what it is today. Our current members are consistently blown away by hearing about our alumni’s accomplishments, both personal and professional, and we hope that this newsletter plays a role in tightening the ties between us all.

If you would like to get in contact with me about assisting the undergraduate organization with recruiting, donations, or a speaker event, please feel free to reach out to me at (470) 429-8859 or pjp98@cornell.edu. I hope to hear from you soon.

Paul Philip 2024-2025 President

Senior

Ashley Poon

Consultant

Daniel Tuan Benefits Analyst

Lauren Kahm

Astrid Day Investment Analyst

Ellie Zhang IB Analyst

Colin Wu

Joyce Wu

“CUABS has provided lifelong relationships in mentors and friends who have helped me grow immensely. Through this community, I’ve had invaluable opportunities such as Tammie Siew hiring me for my freshman summer internship or the various upperclassmen and alumni who encouraged me to apply for internships, mock interviewed me, and spent time providing advice and sharing their experiences. I just started work full time, and I love seeing my CUABS friends in the city and even sometimes in the office :)”

Placement

Kyu Hwan Choi

Forward Deployed Engineer

Gecko Robotics | UAE

Praveen Gunendran Product Manager

JP Morgan Chase | NYC

Sean Patel Associate

EY Parthenon | NYC

Sachiko Palaganas IB Analyst

Morgan Stanley | NYC

William Blair | NYC

Sana Gaya Software Engineer Arm | Austin

“CUABS has helped me more than I could have ever imagined. From their structured pairing with professional mentors to the approachable upperclassmen ready to provide mock interviews, I have never been in such a more supportive and driven community at Cornell. Being surrounded by these people allowed me to realize that everyone - whether you are a transfer student, an international student, or not - you can advance your career with them.”

Raghav Ram IB Analyst

INTRODUCING

Sean Patel

Former President and Social Chair

“Sean is an all-around amazing person, leader, and friend. You can always count on him to be thoughtful and steady but also fun, making him someone you want to be around at all times.”

- Raghav Ram

The CUABS experience often leads to lasting friendships and lifelong memories. Can you share a memorable moment or event that you enjoyed with your closest friends in CUABS? It’s hard to pinpoint just one memory, but traveling with my CUABS friends around the world has been truly special. From exploring Ireland with Aadi, to enjoying San Francisco with Siddhi, and experiencing Austin with Raghav, these adventures have given me the confidence that I’ll stay close to my CUABS friends no matter how far apart we are physically. CUABS also offers enriching personal experiences and various growth opportunities. Can you describe how the club has influenced your personal growth and helped you develop soft skills?

As a freshman, being exposed to older members of CUABS introduced me to a diverse range of passions and interests from people around the world. Meeting individuals of different ages and backgrounds broadened my perspective and enriched my college experience. These interactions have significantly contributed to my personal development, making me a more well-rounded individual with enhanced soft skills.

The mentorship and support from senior members from the very beginning provided valuable guidance and inspiration, motivating me to step out of my comfort zone and take on leadership roles. I learned a great deal about their personal experiences, career aspirations, and the challenges they faced, which offered me insights and broadened my understanding of different paths to success. This experience not only fostered my personal growth but also equipped me with the confidence and abilities to thrive in diverse environments.

CUABS exposes members to a wide range of professional experiences and industries. How did the club shape your professional goals and career aspirations?

Coming into college, I wasn’t exactly sure what career path I wanted to pursue. However, observing the professional experiences of my older peers and hearing about their journeys provided me with valuable insights. By the time my junior year arrived, the guidance and honest feedback from CUABS alumni such as Sam and Richard who had known me since my freshman year were instrumental in refining my career goals. Their firsthand accounts of life after college and their understanding of my preferences and aspirations helped me identify a path that resonated with me. Given I am still at the beginning of my career, I am grateful to continue to have alumni friends to lean on for advice about how to navigate my career journey post-consulting.

How has CUABS shaped your time at Cornell? CUABS has profoundly shaped my time at Cornell. It feels like almost everyone on campus is just one or two connections away from a CUABS member. From social gatherings at people’s apartments to unforgettable moments at banquets, CUABS has not only connected me to the broader Cornell community but has also provided me with some of the most memorable experiences and friendships of my college years. Cornell is truly the sum of the people and experiences you encounter, and it turns out that many of the best people I met and the most enriching experiences I had were through CUABS.

As you embark on your journey at EY-P, how do you plan to stay connected with the friends you made in CUABS?

Being in NYC fortunately allows me to automatically be in proximity to dozens of CUABS alumni. I look forward to reconnecting with some CUABS members I haven’t seen in years, hanging out with those who I still keep in contact with, as well as continuing to hang out with my CUABS friends who graduated with me. I am also excited to go to work and start seeing CUABS members old and young in the office.

Reflecting on your overall experience in CUABS, what piece of wisdom from your fellow club members or mentors resonated or had the greatest impact on you?

As a freshman, I received valuable advice from CUABS members to invest in myself rather than focusing solely on short-term career outcomes. At the time, this advice seemed a bit too relaxed, but it turned out to be the best guidance I could have received. I’m grateful that I took their advice to heart, focusing on personal growth and discovering my true interests. This approach has already paid significant dividends early in my career, and I continue to benefit from the wisdom shared by my fellow CUABS members. From your experience, what piece of advice would you leave with future CUABS members?

Definitely have a work-hard, play-hard attitude. Yes, doing well in school and recruiting is important, but don’t forget the little things that help you destress. I would argue that losing a few hours of sleep to go to a social event and then finishing your homework after is worth it! College is the perfect time to form relationships and explore your interests, so put yourself out there and travel a ton (#ms worldwide)there is a lot less freedom once work starts.

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Peter Deng

Former President

“It was tremendously helpful learning from the experiences that Peter gained from his time in college all the way to 5 years into his professional career. Picking his brain and absorbing the wisdom he shared has helped me grow tremendously, and I’m truly grateful for his guidance.”

- CY Hwang

The CUABS experience often leads to lasting friendships and lifelong memories. Can you share a memorable moment, activity, or event that you enjoyed with your closest friends in CUABS?

Retreats stand out as the most special experiences CUABS has to offer. My first and last retreats are incredibly memorable. Beyond that, the everyday moments with close friends often become the most cherished memories. During my senior year, I frequently hung out with Emily, Sean, and Jason at their apartment in Collegetown Crossing. One day, we stumbled upon what was claimed to be the world’s hardest Sudoku puzzle. While we never managed to solve it, it’s these quirky, spontaneous moments that I look back on fondly. The CUABS experience often leads to lasting friendships and lifelong memories.

Are there any funny or heartwarming anecdotes from your time in CUABS that you would like to share?

What stands out most is the genuine care and honesty within CUABS. Members were always willing to provide constructive feedback, helping me develop personally in ways I hadn’t even been aware I needed. The level of care I received was unexpected - it felt like the kind of support you’d typically only get from family.

One particular memory involves Shaibyaa, my mentor. She was incredibly perceptive and wise beyond her years. Our mentorship began unexpectedly during a random bus ride to Target from North Campus. From that moment, she took me under her wing, offering guidance that has shaped me profoundly.

CUABS exposes members to a wide range of professional experiences and industries. How did the club shape your professional goals and career aspirations?

CUABS played a crucial role in shaping my professional aspirations in two main ways:

First, the club offers exposure to a diverse pool of individuals pursuing various career paths. While consulting and banking are prominent tracks, CUABS also introduced me to areas like growth-stage companies, founding startups, and entrepreneurship. This broad exposure was invaluable in helping me explore different business-adjacent fields.

Second, I greatly appreciated the wealth of experience within the club. Senior members like Hawken Lord were incredibly willing to mentor younger members, holding sessions on skills like financial modeling. This culture of knowledge-sharing significantly accelerated my professional development and ultimately advanced my pursuit of both banking and consulting.

What skills or knowledge do you think are most crucial for success in your industry today?

I’ve learned two key lessons that I believe are crucial for success:

1. Don’t take things too seriously, especially in your early career. While it’s natural to put pressure on yourself to succeed in your first projects or internships, it’s okay to make mistakes. The professional world is about teamwork and moving in the same direction, so finding the right balance is critical.

2. Maintain a healthy perspective in your professional life by recognizing that success is a collaborative effort. Show your strength by lifting others up, not by putting them down. The professional world is like working on a team - you’re all heading in the same direction. Strive to find the right balance between pursuing success and being kind to yourself and others. In my experience, I’ve found that being part of a group that everyone loves working with is far more rewarding and sustainable than always winning at others’ expense. This approach fosters a positive work environment, builds lasting relationships, and ultimately leads to greater collective success.

lin HigHligHtS

“If not for CUABS, I would’ve never met the amazing people in my lin- from Sachiko, the most incredible big who’s seen me at my highs and lows, to Lucas and Raggy who never fail to make me laugh, spending time with these people is so special.” - Gracie Lin