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

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

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

When Cornell senior Ben Gleman was rejected from eight finance clubs, he built his own. In this episode, Ben shares how he founded Banking at Cornell, developed its two-tier membership model, and partnered with Adventis to prepare students for top roles on Wall Street.

Episode 33 | November 17, 2025

Ben Dowell sits down with Dalton Kahl from the University of South Carolina to discuss the Freshman Finance Academy, a selective program helping first-year students build the technical, networking, and leadership skills needed to thrive in competitive finance recruiting.

Episode 32 | November 10, 2025

When Iowa State football player Ty Claiborne lost a stock pitch competition, he turned that moment into the spark that launched the Ivy Investment Banking Initiative.

Episode 31 | November 3, 2025

From golf course conversations to a private equity associate role, Demetre’s story offers a step-by-step playbook for landing top finance internships. Hear how he leveraged networking, case competitions, and the Adventis Financial Modeling Certification® Program to turn early curiosity into career success.

Episode 30 | October 27, 2025

Breaking into finance isn’t always a straight path. In this episode, Ben sits down with Brian, a Miami of Ohio graduate, to reflect on what he wishes he had known before starting his career in private credit. From the power of networking to the importance of hard work and flexibility, Brian shares candid insights and lessons that every aspiring finance professional should hear.

Episode 28 | September 29, 2025

Landing a finance role takes more than technical skills; it requires persistence, networking savvy, and the discipline to excel in every detail. In this Coffee Chat episode, Ben and Indiana University student Kaushal discuss what it really takes to stand out in competitive recruiting.

Episode 27 | September 15, 2025