Wendy Benitez Jaramillo
New York University, Stern School of Business
“Eldest sister with Indigenous Mexica roots, love for travel, and a heart for first-gen students.”
Fun fact about yourself: I have been a Mexica (Aztec dancer) since I was three years old!
Hometown: Santa Barbara, California
High School: San Marcos High School
Major: Business and Political Economy
Minor: Chinese and Environmental Humanities
Favorite Business Course: Social Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Development in Costa Rica taught by Professor Jill Simeone
Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles During College:
Extracurricular Activities: Stern Social Impact Fellows Program, Ban Ki-moon Foundation Emerging Policy Leaders Fellowship, Girls Who Invest (Online Intensive Program), BASTA Fellowship, Native American and Indigenous Students Club, NYC Cetiliztli Nauhcampa Anahuac Mexica Dance group.
Leadership Roles: Stern Street Team (Admissions Ambassador), Breakthrough Scholars Advisory Council (Co-Administrative Chair), Mexican Student Association (NYU Outreach Chair), NYU Mexican Folklorico (Treasurer and Dancer), Latina Scholars (Treasurer and Affinity Member)
Community Work: Peace and Dignity Journeys (Central Coast Community Organizer and Social Media Lead), Mission Scholars (Mentor & Cohort Representative), Cottage Health Alumni Network (Panelist & Volunteer), The Turner Foundation (Panelist), La Cumbre Junior High School (Panelist for the Advanced Via Individual Determination 7th and 8th Grade Program), Kalpulli Huitzilin Ihuan Xochitl Aztec Dance Group (Dancer)
Honors & Awards: NYU Stern 12th Annual Scholarship Reception Student Speaker (Spring 2025), Hispanic Scholarship Fund (2021–2024 Scholar; 2025 STEM Summit; 2024 National Leadership Conference), Finalist for the Stern Social Impact Fellows Pitch Competition (Spring 2023), Stern Breakthrough Leadership Full Tuition and Board Scholarship
Where have you interned during your college career?
- HSBC US, Digital Summer Analyst | New York, NY
- Cottage Health, Finance Summer Analyst | Santa Barbara, CA
- NYU Stern Communications, Communications Summer Intern | New York, NY (Remote)
- Investment and Pensions Europe International Publishers Limited, Research and Editorial Fall Intern | London, United Kingdom
Where will you be working after graduation? I am excited to be working at HSBC US as an International Wealth and Premier Banking Graduate Analyst!
Who is your favorite business professor? While I have had many great professors at Stern, Professor Jill Simeone stands out as someone who has had a lasting impact on my education and personal growth. I took a Stern Around the World course with Professor Simeone, and from the very first lecture, it was clear that she genuinely cared about her students and that she was intentional about designing a course that would prepare us to work with real clients. Through this experience, I developed cross-cultural communication skills while also recognizing the importance of networked business ecosystems in driving economic growth. Beyond the classroom, Professor Simeone demonstrated kindness and a willingness to support us in our professional and personal journeys, which truly touched my heart and left a meaningful impression on me.
What is the biggest lesson you gained from studying business? The biggest lesson I have gained from studying business has been understanding the positive social impact that it can and does create. Through the Stern Social Impact Core, I have learned about the value businesses generate for all stakeholders, how customs and laws reflect societal norms, what it means to be a responsible professional, and the different approaches businesses can take to operate sustainably. Through case studies, the insights of experienced professionals, and experiential learning opportunities, I have gained firsthand experience in seeing how businesses drive meaningful change.
For instance, in my Sustainable Business in Costa Rica course, my team and I worked with a small dairy-producer business to develop a market-entry strategy to increase revenue and establish a long-term target audience. As a result, our client received valuable feedback and was even offered funding support by PROCOMER, Costa Rica’s trade and export promotion agency. This experience truly reinforced that business is not only about profit, but also about empowering communities and creating lasting positive impact.
What advice would you give to a student looking to major in a business-related field? Take full advantage of every learning opportunity—whether through school clubs, study abroad programs, or external organizations. Business offers countless career paths, and the best way to discover what resonates with you is through exploration.
For me, participating in an NYU Stern club helped me develop professional skills while enhancing my understanding of valuation and business strategy. While studying abroad in London, I pursued an internship, where I got to research and publish articles regarding European pension funds, giving me exposure to international markets. Additionally, through an external organization, Girls Who Invest, I learned about asset classes, portfolio management, and investment strategies.
Through my engagement in a wide range of learning experiences, I was able to identify what truly interested me, which ultimately led me to pursue a career in wealth management.
Looking back over your experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently in business school and why? As I reflect on the past four years, the one thing I would do differently is apply for the Stern Program for Undergraduate Research (SPUR). Although I am excited to be conducting my own research for my Business and Political Economy Senior thesis, I wish I had taken advantage of the opportunity to collaborate with renowned faculty on a focused area of study. I was particularly interested in working with Professor Patterson on Sustainable Tourism in the Caribbean, but I ultimately did not apply due to heavy course loads and my study abroad commitments.
Regardless, I am grateful for other research-based experiences I pursued, including a Social Impact Consulting course with Professor Mara van Loggerenberg and Professor Zahra Khan, where I worked with Gregg Nakano, the Security Advisor to the Marshall Islands, to develop an advocacy and investment strategy centered on edu-tourism for the Republic of the Marshall Islands.
What is one way that your business school has integrated AI into your programming? What is one insight you gained from using AI? In my Business and Political Economy Senior Seminar course, we learned to use AI tools when analyzing large political economy datasets. Although we primarily used R, AI tools enabled us to clean and organize data more efficiently, allowing us to come to meaningful conclusions sooner.
One of my biggest takeaways from using AI tools is that they are a powerful complement when analyzing complex data. Having developed this capability, I feel more confident in completing my BPE Senior thesis, which examines the causal effect of growing-season drought on next-year out-migration from maize-producing Mexican municipalities. While I am still working on my thesis, AI tools have already helped me work with multiple datasets more effectively, deepening my understanding of such a complex issue.
Which academic, extracurricular or personal achievement are you most proud of? Getting an invitation to represent the Central Coast of California at the closing ceremony for the Peace and Dignity Journeys in Silvania, Colombia.
In Spring 2024, I became involved with Peace and Dignity Journeys (PDJ), a transcontinental Indigenous peoples’ 6,000-mile run from Fairbanks, Alaska, to Silvania, Colombia. What began as volunteer work grew into a regional organizer role, where I attended bi-weekly meetings to plan welcome ceremonies, coordinate lodging, and lead a $5,000 fundraiser to support PDJ efforts. However, beyond logistics and social media management, I am grateful to have also participated as a runner and dancer.
Running up the hills to reach the final destination at the headquarters of the National Indigenous Organization of Colombia (ONIC), I felt an overwhelming sense of inner peace. Being a part of the weaving of sacred words within the tulpa strengthened continental unity. Bringing Indigenous peoples together from across Turtle Island. From Alaska to Argentina, we came together to share our songs and dances. As I listened to the wisdom of the elders, danced, and sang, I was reminded of a powerful truth: when we sing and dance, we give our energy to the source of creation. We heal the Earth, and in turn, the Earth heals us.
My involvement with PDJ is one of my proudest moments because it gave me the opportunity to turn classroom learning—public speaking, data analytics, management, and accounting—into meaningful action for a movement I am so deeply passionate about.
Which classmate do you most admire? Eric Ramirez Naranjo—my close friend, NYU LGBTQ+ Students University Senator, and Berkley Achievement Scholar—is the classmate I admire the most. As a friend, Eric is incredibly kind, always offering a shoulder to lean on and creating a warm “at-home” feeling for everyone around him. As a leader, Eric is confident and intentional in everything he does, from communicating with students to engaging with state legislators and global ambassadors.
As a student, Eric’s work ethic is remarkable, and he deeply values academic diversity. As a double major, he believes business equips him with tools for critical analysis, while philosophy helps him connect with the people behind that analysis. Overall, Eric inspires me to be the best version of myself both personally and professionally, while encouraging me to express my identity and culture in everything I do.
Who would you most want to thank for your success? When I think of resilience, I think of humility, courageousness, strength, and wisdom—I think of my dad. In every lifetime, my dad will be someone I look up to for his ability to lighten up a room, his tough love, his hardworking spirit, and (above all) his resilience.
Though my dad came to the U.S. with nothing, he has given my siblings and me everything and more. To this day, he works tirelessly as a construction worker to make sure that our family has food on the table and a roof over our heads. To me, my father is the definition of resilience. His resilience is the reason I get to sit in NYU Stern classrooms and why I have accomplished everything I have so far.
The person I am today is thanks to my father’s efforts, and while he may not have always been able to offer me resources to support my academic journey, he has always given me love, courage, and strength—and these three simple things opened the path to everything I could have ever asked for. Thank you for everything, Pa!
What are the top two items on your professional bucket list?
1. Establish a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to empowering Indigenous youth through business education aligned with traditional knowledge and values.
2. Become a keynote speaker on the intersection of business, environmental stewardship, and societal impact
What made Wendy such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2026?
“Wendy is a standout member of the Class of 2026. I had the privilege of working and traveling with her during my Stern Around the World course, Sustainable Business in Costa Rica, which included a challenging consulting project.
In this project, Wendy and her team were tasked with advising a reserved client who managed a sustainable dairy and cheese-making business. Wendy impressed me with her ability to build trust and define solutions, asking insightful questions and listening with genuine empathy to understand the client’s obstacles.
What sets Wendy apart is her authentic leadership style. While Stern, like other elite academic institutions, can be competitive, Wendy consistently chooses collaboration. She brings sparkling intelligence to her work and invites others to join her, resulting in elevated outcomes for everyone involved. Wendy is a true leader for this era—skilled in both the technical complexities and the very human demands of our modern professional landscape.”
Jill Simeone
Clinical Associate Professor, NYU Stern
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