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Student Featured: Sofia Vuong ’26
Major: Economics and Arts Studio
What are you doing to develop your career this summer?
My Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam (BIDV) Finance internship provided valuable experience in financial regulations and compliance, solidifying my interest in the financial services industry while helping me identify my preferred areas within it.
Beyond finance, I took a leap by launching my own ceramics shop. While challenging, it’s been incredibly rewarding, fostering new skills in logistics, relationship management, and project management – all valuable assets for the consulting field I’m passionate about.
I’ve also actively networked with alumni and industry professionals, gaining valuable insights and building connections. Networking with female alumni from different industries from marketing to talent acquisition in order to plan engagements and events for Women in Business the next academic year is another exciting commitment that I have throughout this summer. Moreover, applying for 2025 internships and taking online courses in essential consulting tools like Power BI and Tableau are also things that were on my to do list.
Apart from that, I picked up boxing in my free time and traveled around Vietnam with my friends and family!
How did you find this opportunity?
For the Finance Internship, I looked for internships and applied throughout the spring of my sophomore year.
Regarding my ceramics shop, I spent time researching and planning manufacturers, packaging, graphic design, market situation, etc. on my own since May 2024. It took me roughly a month and a half to get the business going at first.
For additional online courses, I browse LinkedIn Learning for courses that I think would be beneficial to take. I also spent a lot of my time on LinkedIn researching people to network with via the search tool.
What is the biggest takeaway from your summer so far?
I think my major takeaway would be don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. Putting yourself in front of attention and networking can feel awkward sometimes and that’s fine. I think it’s always going feel awkward and maybe challenging when you first try out something but keep trusting the process and putting in efforts will definitely be worth it.
How do you see your summer experiences benefitting your career long-term?
With my internship as well as my ongoing ceramics project, I get increasingly more comfortable in learning new things and solve problems on the spot. These experiences helped me get out of my comfort zone and be a student of the world. Through networking, listening to people’s perspectives and experiences, I realize that it is important to keep an open mind, continue to learn things and adapt along your career journey.
