In Episode 55 of the Coffee Chat podcast, Ben speaks with Iowa State junior Anthony about his unconventional path from an electrician’s apprenticeship to earning a 2027 investment banking internship at Lincoln International. Anthony shares how taking a gap year helped him find direction, why he focused his networking efforts on one firm, how Iowa State’s Investment Banking Initiative supported his recruiting preparation, and how the Financial Modeling Certification® Program helped him build practical financial modeling skills.

Episode 55 | October 5, 2026

In Episode 54 of the Coffee Chat podcast, Ben speaks with University of Illinois junior Tej about his path from exploring opportunities freshman year to earning a private equity internship at Water Street Healthcare Partners and an upcoming JPMorgan M&A analyst position. Tej shares practical advice on networking, financial modeling, recruiting timelines, and why students should “say yes” early before narrowing their focus and going all in.

Episode 54 | September 21, 2026

Investment banking recruiting moves faster than ever. In this episode of The Coffee Chat, Bentley University's Mary Ellen Ryan shares an honest look at recruiting timelines, networking, technical preparation, and what students can do early in college to position themselves for success in high finance.

Episode 53 | September 7, 2026

Ben speaks with Jimmy, a rising junior at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, about how he landed two highly competitive finance internships before junior year. Jimmy discusses his experience with Prime M&A, recruiting for investment banking in Chicago, preparing for technical interviews, becoming an Adventis trainer, and securing offers from Morningstar and J.P. Morgan. This episode is packed with practical advice for students interested in investment banking recruiting.

Episode 52 | July 6, 2026

Cornell Hotel School student and Banking at Cornell club president Darren shares how he leveraged networking, differentiated his background, and landed a Wells Fargo investment banking internship. Learn his best recruiting strategies, networking tips, and lessons for aspiring finance professionals.

Episode 51 | June 22, 2026

In Episode 50 of the Coffee Chat Podcast, University of Illinois student Yash shares how he chose wealth management over investment banking, the networking conversations that shaped his career path, and the recruiting strategies that helped him secure a Summer 2027 role with J.P. Morgan Private Bank.

Episode 50 | June 8, 2026

Amherst student Magnus shares how a pre-med background, healthcare passion, and authentic networking helped him transition into investment banking and land a 2027 Junior Summer Internship with TripleTree.

Episode 49 | May 25, 2026

How do you land a junior-year investment banking offer as a sophomore? Hadley shares the mindset, preparation strategy, and networking approach that helped her stand out, and why “just going for it” made all the difference.

Episode 48 | May 11, 2026

Eric shares how sending 25 personalized cold emails a day, traveling to meet bankers in person, and mastering interview prep helped him break into investment banking. And why persistence is the ultimate edge.

Episode 46 | April 13, 2026

In this episode, Ben talks with David Hawthorne, Director of the Financial Markets Institute at Michigan State University, about how FMI identifies top talent early and builds the technical, professional, and interpersonal skills needed to succeed in competitive Wall Street recruiting.

Episode 45 | March 30, 2026

Ike, a University of Michigan senior who earned a full-time offer at TD Cowen, shares how early preparation, including the Adventis Financial Modeling Certification® Program, helped him succeed in recruiting, and he breaks down what his internship was really like inside a leveraged finance and private credit group.

Episode 44 | March 16, 2026

In this episode of the Coffee Chat podcast, host Ben interviews Bentley student Sante about securing a highly competitive sophomore-year investment banking internship at Bank of America, plus how he earned a return offer. Sante shares actionable advice on preparation, technical skills, and taking ownership of your career development.

Episode 43 | March 2, 2026

A psychology major and college football player, Braedan shares how networking, repetition, and earning the Financial Modeling Certification® Program helped him land a junior-year investment banking internship from a liberal arts background.

Episode 42 | February 16, 2026

Recruiting from a non-target school isn’t about standing out on paper; it’s about building focus, earning advocacy, and showing banks you’re worth the investment. In Episode 41 of The Coffee Chat, we break down what actually works.

Episode 41 | February 2, 2026

In Episode 40 of the Coffee Chat podcast, Ben chats with Christian to unpack real stories from investment banking, lessons learned in private equity, and how the Adventis Financial Modeling Certification® Program helped Christian launch his career. Christian shares actionable insights for undergraduates navigating early recruiting and building the mindset needed to thrive on Wall Street.

Episode 40 | January 19, 2026

Learn how Jay broke into investment banking from a non-target school, transitioned into private equity, and now leads M&A in corporate development, all through early technical preparation, strategic networking, and a commitment to continuous learning.

Episode 39 | January 5, 2025

In this episode, host Ben sits down with Stephanie Hockman, who has reviewed more than 5,000 resumes across 35 years in finance, to share proven strategies for building a standout investment banking resume. From formatting fundamentals to showcasing experience when you “don’t have any,” this episode breaks down exactly what recruiters look for.

Episode 38 | December 22, 2025

In Episode 37 of The Coffee Chat Podcast, Ben and Stephanie break down how to craft a memorable and strategic response to “Tell me about yourself.” Drawing from 35 years of industry experience, Stephanie shares practical tactics (reflection exercises, structural frameworks, and key pitfalls) to help candidates differentiate themselves in competitive finance interviews.

Episode 37 | December 15, 2025

In Episode 36 of The Coffee Chat Podcast, host Ben and guest Stephanie Hockman, a former investment banker and executive coach, discuss the mindset, tactics, and pitfalls every student should know about networking. From building authentic relationships to asking the right questions, this episode is your guide to mastering one of the most important skills in finance recruiting.

Episode 36 | December 8, 2025

Former Amherst College Program Director Stephanie Hockman joins us for an in-depth conversation on how universities can elevate students’ technical preparation for finance recruiting. From program design to the power of hands-on learning, Stephanie shares insights on what truly helps students stand out, and why Adventis’s Financial Modeling Certification® Program has become a cornerstone of Amherst’s success.

Episode 35 | December 1, 2025