David Arias 鈥25
Growing up in a Colombian immigrant household, my parents instilled in me a deep appreciation for the transformative power of education. This mindset was pivotal when I left home to attend boarding school at Choate Rosemary Hall, where I first encountered economics and developed a passion for understanding how it intersects with decision-making and human behavior. Joining the finance and investment club at Choate sparked my interest in exploring market trends and their broader impacts on society, laying the foundation for my academic pursuits at Pomona.
I chose to major in economics because it provides a powerful lens for understanding both individual decision-making and macroeconomic forces. Macroeconomic Theory with Professor Kuehlwein was especially transformative鈥攈is clarity and enthusiasm for the subject matter helped me grasp the drivers of economic growth, inflation, and monetary policy, prompting a deeper curiosity about the financial systems shaping both the American and global economies. In Corporate Finance with Professor Zemel, we learned about financial decision-making processes within firms, optimizing capital structures, and valuation methodologies, which honed my analytical skills and ability to assess a company's financial health. Economics of Latin America with Professor Cordova introduced me to the region's unique economic challenges and opportunities throughout history while enabling me to apply empirical methods and economic principles in varied geopolitical contexts. Every Pomona professor has brought economics to life in ways that challenged and inspired me, fostering a love for problem-solving that has prepared me well for the fast-paced world of investment banking.
My passion for investment banking stems from the field鈥檚 steep learning curve and the opportunity to acquire valuable technical skills at an accelerated rate. Through my experience in economics, I have developed the ability to analyze multifaceted problems, and I see investment banking as a way to deepen this skill set, particularly in M&A and strategic advisory. The opportunity to work on dynamic financial transactions with a tangible impact on the global economy, while becoming an expert in various industries, aligns with my drive to continually learn.
I recently interned in investment banking, focusing on the Power, Utilities, and Renewable Energy sectors. This hands-on experience allowed me to connect my economic framework to real-world financial models and transactions. Working on valuation models and pitchbooks for prospective deals expanded my understanding of how macroeconomic factors, such as interest rates and policy changes, influence the energy and power sector. After graduation, I will be joining the investment banking industry full-time, where I look forward to contributing to revolutionary advancements in the renewable energy space.
Munique Tan 鈥25
To some, economics looks like graphs, models with Greek letters, and maybe the occasional stonks meme. As an economics major, I can confirm 鈥 it鈥檚 a little of that. But for me, studying economics at Pomona meant something way beyond supply and demand charts; it opened my eyes to how economics shows up in everything, everywhere (all at once).
My economics journey was full of unexpected connections and fresh perspectives. I loved diving into Economics, Gender, and the Family with Professor Cordova, where we discussed how archaic family structures surprisingly still affect workplace design in the modern day, or Professor Wilson鈥檚 Industrial Organization class, which explored the quirks of business and industry. Who would have thought Economics and Film with Professor Lozano would introduce me to theory and explain lasting outcomes driven by religion, war, and technology? Each class, from Corporate Finance with Professor Zemel to Econometrics with Professor DePace to Macroeconomic Theory with Professor Steinberger, revealed a new side of economics that was anything but boring.
The gift of the liberal arts is also being able to be academically supported as you link one interest to another and realize that we live in an inextricable web. For example, there鈥檚 my International Relations research. Economics isn鈥檛 just about money; it鈥檚 about people, societies, and global stories. My internship on women, peace, and security with the Pacific Forum Institute; coursework on economic empowerment in Southeast Asia; and SURP research on smart cities as economic engines with Professor Le gave me this international perspective鈥攐ne that鈥檚 all about building connections, caring for communities, and understanding the 鈥渨hy鈥 behind the numbers.
So yes, economics sharpened my quantitative skills, but it also let me see the personal side of data and theory. It pieced into my research, venture capital work experience, endless day-to-day conversations with friends, and my future career. As I head into management consulting, I鈥檓 excited to carry this perspective forward. Economics to me is a story about people鈥攁nd that鈥檚 why I love it.