Emily Ren
Indiana University, Kelley School of Business
“Interdisciplinary learner committed to fostering a positive impact on both my community and the planet.”
Fun fact about yourself: After realizing that I was spending way too much money on buying kombucha, I learned to brew my own!
Hometown: Montgomery, New Jersey
High School: Montgomery High School
Major: Finance and Sustainable Business
Minor: N/A
Favorite Business Course: “Sustainable Enterprise,” with Professor Steven Kreft
Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles During College:
Awards and Honors:
- Kelley Honors Program
- Hutton Honors College
- Provost’s Founders Scholar
- Dean’s Scholarship
- Megan Marie Yoder Sustainable Business Scholarship
Involvements:
- Kelley Honors Program, Mentor
- Finance Diversity Program, Mentor
- Investment Banking Workshop, Member
- IU Farm Club, Member
- Asian Christian Fellowship, Member
- BLUBoy Café and Cakery, Barista
- TEDxIndianaUniversity, Curator (contributed to two talks in 2022 and 2023)
- Trockman Microfinance Initiative, Co-President and Director of Education
- The Women’s Network, Director of Kelley Women’s Day
Where have you interned during your college career?
– Barclays, Investment Banking Summer Analyst in the Sustainable Impact Banking Group (New York City New York)
– European Environmental Bureau, Intern (Vienna, Austria)
– HSBC, Markets and Securities Services Rising Junior Intern on High-Yield Credit (New York City, New York)
– iHub at D.I.C.E., Community Outreach Marketing Intern (Princeton, New Jersey)
Where will you be working after graduation? Barclays, Investment Banking Analyst (New York City, New York)
Who is your favorite business professor? Throughout my time at IU, I have been so fortunate to have numerous professors who have not only enhanced my critical thinking skills but also encouraged me to actively engage with the coursework. Among them, Professor Stephanie Moore really resonated with me. I had the privilege of taking Legal Environment of Business and Honors Business Ethics and Equity in Diverse Organizations with her.
Professor Moore’s dedication to cultivating ethics among business students is truly inspiring. In her ethics class, she incorporated current events for discussion, supplemented our learning with relevant videos, and assigned projects that challenged us to navigate ethical dilemmas. She fostered a non-judgmental space where we could openly discuss pertinent topics like sustainability, equity, identity, and fairness, and bring in our own experiences. As a business student, I found the class immensely valuable.
Additionally, I really admire Professor Moore’s care for her students and how present she is in and out of the classroom. She is an incredible educator and role model, and I am very grateful to have been able to learn so much from her.
What is the biggest lesson you gained from studying business? The biggest lesson I have gained from studying business is the importance of asking for help. Growing up, I was not one to reach out to others for advice or help and often tried to look for solutions on my own.
When I started college during the pandemic, spending my entire freshman year stranded at home, I quickly realized the detrimental impact of my reluctance to seek help combined with my isolation from peers. I recall being lost on which clubs to join, which majors to investigate, and even which classes to take. It was not until I actively joined many of Kelley’s intentional mentorship programs and clubs that I began to recognize how beneficial it was to tap into the perspectives of my peers. Asking for help became more natural for me, enabling me to seek out mentors who cared about my development. This shift not only helped me address lingering questions about the present, but also instilled confidence in my future, as I know I have a supportive network and access to resources to be resilient.
What advice would you give to a student looking to major in a business-related field? The most crucial piece of advice I would offer to a student considering a major in a business-related field is to begin with studying something you are actually passionate about. As an underclassman, there might be pressure to align your choices with your peers or opt for a career path deemed more conventionally “successful.” However, at the end of the day, the decisions you make today will shape your future.
Start with a subject you are interested in and, as you are exploring, be honest with yourself about whether a topic genuinely excites you. Proactively connect with upperclassmen and alumni in the field and gauge your interest through following news related to the major. If you ever find that what you are studying is not fulfilling, know that you have the autonomy to switch to something new. It took me several tries to realize that my passion lies in finance and sustainability, but having the space to experiment is what college is all about!
What has surprised you most about majoring in business? The most surprising aspect of majoring in business has been the extensive exposure to the world and a diverse range of disciplines. Our curriculum integrates all the essential business skills and majors. In freshman and sophomore year, we covered topics such as accounting, communications, and statistics, but also took courses on international business, government and society, and law. In junior year, we took a class called I-Core that encompassed marketing, finance, strategy, operations, and leadership. Throughout most of these courses, we engaged in analyzing case studies and followed current events. The emphasis on interdisciplinary learning has provided me with a fuller perspective of the role business can play in our world.
Looking back over your experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently in business school and why? One thing I would do differently is to get involved in more organizations and explore classes beyond the conventional business school curriculum earlier on. As a freshman, I focused heavily on prerequisite classes and joined organizations that my peers were a part of. While those experiences were invaluable, I realized that there were so many interests that I still wanted to nurture. I began participating in organizations and taking classes in microfinance, food systems, sustainability law and policy, ballet, art, and even the coffee trade. I began to delve into new interests and learned more about myself. Through these involvements, I have been able to find avenues for interdisciplinary learning across IU, broadening my perspectives and making the most of my time as an undergraduate.
Which academic, extracurricular or personal achievement are you most proud of? I am most proud of how I have been able to combine my two interests – finance and sustainability – into a professional career. My interests in sustainability began during middle school when I was introduced to ecology by an inspiring teacher, who reminds me of Ms. Frizzles from the Magic School Bus. Her lessons about vital environmental systems and humanity’s impact on the planet deeply influenced the way I thought about my surroundings.
After coming to Kelley, I knew that I wanted to pursue something related to sustainability, regardless of my eventual academic focus. After exploring various majors and minors, I decided to study Finance and Sustainable Business. This combination seemed so intuitive, aligning with my belief that impact can be created when capital is moved consciously. These majors have introduced me to many wonderful opportunities, leading me to the Investment Banking Workshop, Finance Diversity Program, Trockman Microfinance Initiative, TEDxIndianaUniversity, and Farm Club. During my fall semester of senior year, I had the enriching experience of studying sustainability and finance in Vienna, Austria, a city known for its environmental consciousness and forward thinking. These experiences have greatly allowed me to connect with like-minded peers and professors while expanding my knowledge.
In sophomore year, as I explored investment banking opportunities, I found myself quickly lost as I struggled to find positions that intersected banking with sustainability. Fortunately, a friend informed me of an alum who started the Sustainable and Impact Banking Group at Barclays, one of the first of its kind on Wall Street. I connected with her and networked with the IU community at Barclays. Through conversations, I discovered a place where I could truly combine finance with sustainability. Last summer, I interned with the group and learned about the important role finance plays in scaling companies with the mission to decarbonize the planet. From carbon capture, renewable energy, to agriculture technology and circular economy, I was amazed by the new climate technologies that were being developed and the people behind the ventures. Having now completed the internship, I am so happy to see many underclassmen reaching out to chat about sustainability within finance and witness the growing interest in this intersection.
Which classmate do you most admire? The classmate I most admire is Lakshya Rajavelu. In her academic and professional endeavors, she embodies tenacity and the pursuit of ambitious goals. She has achieved so much during her time at Kelley and has inadvertently served as a mentor to many. While her achievements are admirable, what stands out most about Lakshya is her ability to forge genuine connections with those she encounters. Anyone who knows Lakshya can attest to her dedication to authenticity, her openness in sharing vulnerabilities, and her ability to be fully present. She has taught me what it means to be a good friend and has offered me unwavering support over the past few years. I feel so grateful to have had her by my side and am excited to see all that she will achieve post-graduation.
Who would you most want to thank for your success? I see myself as an extension of all the people who have been a part of this journey. My friends have been a steadfast support system, celebrating with me during the ups and standing by me during the downs. My family has supported me wholeheartedly, acting as my sounding board. My two roommates have been such a grounding force, providing a comforting place to come home. My professors and advisors have equipped me with their knowledge and experiences. No matter how big or small our interactions are, these individuals have shared the best parts of themselves with me and have made me into who I am today.
In acknowledging the remarkable people in my life, the person I want to spotlight here encapsulates qualities like hard work, humility, generosity, love, intelligence, level-headedness, and care. This person happens to be my mom. Having immigrated to the US and built a home in an unfamiliar environment, I owe everything I have accomplished to her. Because of her sacrifices, I have had the privilege of pursuing various opportunities, from ice skating and piano, to art and photography. Her example motivates me to always give it my all, to be resourceful, and to maintain a balanced perspective. She has also taught me so much about living authentically. Even though I am states away from home, my mom remains a steady anchor, always just a phone call away.
What are the top two items on your professional bucket list?
- Continue working with companies in climate tech
- Work abroad for some time and immerse myself in new cultures
What made Emily such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2024?
“Through the years that I’ve spent working with undergraduate business students, I’ve seen many students grow into outstanding leaders. In my experience, there are two kinds of these student-leaders. There are the kind who pursue positions of leadership, serving as president or
VPs of multiple prestigious organizations. They make a splash. Then there are the quiet leaders, who mostly stay out of the limelight. They mentor and support others; they shape the cultures of organizations; they lead by example; they don’t seek recognition. Emily Ren is that second kind of leader.
By quietly pursuing her passions where they led her, Emily gained admission to the Business Honors Program and Kelley’s highly selective Investment Banking Workshop during her sophomore year. More recently, she has secured a position at Barclays, one of the most prestigious financial institutions in the world.
Along the way, she has selectively taken on leadership positions in organizations that she cares about and that reflect her dedication to service, impact, and equity. She has had formal mentor positions in multiple organizations, but she’s acted as an informal mentor to countless Kelley students—I hear from those students all the time—and her influence ripples out through every community of which she has been a part.
Emily embodies so many of the values that Kelley endeavors to impart to our students. That caring about people and the planet is not at odds with pursuing profit. That mentorship matters. That success doesn’t require a win-at-all-costs attitude. That in lifting others up, you also lift yourself up. That will be Emily’s legacy at the Kelley School. And that is what made her an invaluable part of the Class of 2024.”
Michael Grubb
Assistant Director, Business Honors Program
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