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Connecting with industry leaders can sometimes feel out of reach, especially at the start of your career journey. The Coffee Chat Series was designed by Open Avenues to make those conversations more accessible—offering students and emerging professionals a chance to hear real-world insights and practical guidance directly from experts shaping today’s industries.
Today, we feature Stella Ham, a seasoned professional in the finance field. With a background in consulting and corporate risk, Stella understands how financial firms are navigating the challenges of efficiency, compliance and oversight in an era of rapid technological change.
In this conversation, Stella shares her perspective on the skills and mindset she believes are most important for success in this demanding context and how early-career professionals can stand out in a competitive market.
A: Global finance is shifting fast, and early-career professionals need to be ready for both the opportunities and risks that come with it. We are seeing AI and automation reshape how decisions are made, which raises new efficiency gains but also ethical and oversight challenges. Cybersecurity threats are growing as markets become more interconnected, and client and ESG considerations are moving from optional to essential in investment strategy.
For professionals from underrepresented backgrounds, this landscape can be an opportunity to stand out by bringing fresh perspectives to complex problems (diverse perspectives are increasingly valued in tackling complex, high-stake problems). The key is to stay adaptive, build a solid understanding of both the technical and regulatory shifts, and grow a network that spans geographies and industries. Students can start small by joining beginner-friendly environments like Kaggle datasets for AI, online cybersecurity labs such as TryHackMe, or university ESG case challenges, all of which offer low-stakes simulations where they can test ideas, build skills, and gain practical exposure before entering the workplace. Other accessible options include business simulations, case competitions, or critiquing real company ESG reports to connect classroom learning with industry practice. Equally important is seeking out roles or projects at the forefront of these trends, where innovation and diversity of thought are especially valued.
A: In a startup, roles are fluid, and the work can shift from product design to compliance research to customer feedback in a single week. This can mean startups value adaptability and a willingness to learn more than a perfectly polished skill set.
Students can prepare by building technical literacy, like understanding basic financial systems or digital tools, and business sense, including how a product moves from idea to market. If you don’t have prior finance experience, you can build credibility by learning the fundamentals and applying them in visible ways—completing fintech-focused certifications, joining hackathons or case competitions, or developing small projects that combine financial concepts with technology, such as a simple budgeting app or payment data analysis. Credibility can also come from contributions like writing case studies on industry trends or showcasing small side projects through GitHub, LinkedIn, or a personal portfolio. Pairing these with active involvement in New York’s fintech scene, such as attending local meetups or panels, can make you visible to the community before you even apply for a role.
I encourage students to view challenges as opportunities to learn, remain agile when faced with shifting priorities, and approach complex situations with structured, strategic thinking. Equally important is developing resilience under pressure and maintaining ethical judgment when decisions carry significant consequences. By fostering curiosity, openness to feedback, and the confidence to navigate ambiguity, students are better prepared to thrive in dynamic, high-consequence settings. They can begin building resilience while still in school by seeking stretch opportunities where feedback is real, but the stakes are low, such as leading projects or participating in case competitions. From my own career, the mindset shift that made the biggest difference was letting go of perfection and embracing iteration, which not only helped me grow confidence but also made me more effective in fast-paced, high-stakes environments where adaptability is crucial.
A: AI can be a great accelerator, but it shouldn’t replace our own judgment or problem-solving skills. Employers are looking for people who can combine AI efficiency with human insight, someone who knows when to trust the tool and when to question it. The ability to verify results, check assumptions, and recognize when human judgment is essential not only prevents costly errors but also strengthens credibility in high-stakes environments.
For students, that means experimenting with AI for tasks like data analysis or summarizing research, but also practicing how to validate results, explain the reasoning behind them, and adapt them to different audiences. The differentiator isn’t that you can use AI, but it’s that you can use it well, responsibly, and creatively.
A: Start with foundational knowledge. Understand what phishing looks like, how financial data is protected, and why regulations like GDPR or NYDFS cybersecurity rules matter. Finance professionals handle sensitive data daily, and understanding basic security hygiene is a differentiator. Learn about topics like multi-factor authentication, data encryption, and incident response. Then, look for ways to show that mindset in your work, whether it’s securing your own project files or asking smart questions about how data will be stored. Employers notice when you bring a security lens to your role, even if it’s not in your job title. Showing that you’re proactive about protecting sensitive information signals maturity and reliability, which are qualities employers value in any role!
A: From my perspective, globalization is opening new doors in finance and technology, but it also raises the bar for adaptability. It is no longer just about collaborating with teams across the U.S. but across time zones, navigating different regulatory systems, and bridging cultural differences. In finance and tech, this creates opportunities in areas like cross-border payments, digital currencies, and compliance roles where global awareness is essential. I think students who can demonstrate cultural sensitivity, adapt their communication style to diverse audiences, and stay curious about how markets interconnect will stand out as strong candidates for international-facing roles.
Final Thoughts:
Stella’s insights highlight that in today’s dynamic and high-stakes environments, cultivating adaptability, critical thinking, and a growth-oriented mindset is essential. Students benefit from viewing challenges as opportunities to learn, remaining agile in the face of shifting priorities, and applying structured, strategic thinking to complex situations. Building resilience under pressure, maintaining ethical judgment, and embracing feedback further strengthen their ability to thrive.
As Stella mentioned, one of the most effective ways to begin developing these skills is by seeking stretch opportunities, such as leading projects or participating in case competitions, where the learning is real, but the stakes remain manageable. Ultimately, moving away from perfectionism and toward an iterative approach not only fosters confidence but also equips future professionals to succeed in fast-paced, uncertain settings where adaptability makes the difference.
Danila Blanco Travnicek is the Director of Program Strategy & Evaluation at The Build Fellowship where she leads the education programming and its initiatives. She is a social entrepreneur who has been working tirelessly for over 10 years in the nonprofit sector to ensure more people have access to quality education. Danila holds a B.A in Business Management and a master's degree in Teaching and Nonprofit Management. She is a Professor at the University of Buenos Aires, an international speaker and facilitator and has managed and led programs with social impact in Latin America, U.S., Europe and Asia. She also received scholarships to study abroad in Finland, China and the United States.
Mazvita Maboreke is a Human Resources Analyst at Open Avenues Foundation. In her role, she leads initiatives that foster team development, professional growth, and a positive organizational culture. She focuses on designing and implementing programs around training, onboarding, team-building, and employee recognition—helping to cultivate a workplace that is both supportive and high-performing.
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