Lionsbridge is a free 3-day in-person workshop designed to introduce Columbia first- and second-year students to the world of finance and to prepare them for internships and career opportunities.
The workshop will occur in person, on campus from January 15 to January 17, 2025. The application window is NOW OPEN and closes Friday, November 22, 2024 at 11:59 pm.
During this workshop, students will be taught by Columbia alumni and industry professionals about accounting, finance, and valuation concepts through lectures, group exercises, and individual financial modeling exercises. Students will also have networking opportunities with esteemed guest speakers from the Columbia finance community.
Students who participate in Lionsbridge will also:
Be matched with a recent Columbia alumna/us as a mentor
Attend in-person site visits to NYC-based finance firms hosted by Columbia alumni
Receive invitations to submit their resumes to a Lionsbridge Resume Book to be shared with guest speakers and Columbia alumni
Engage in virtual follow-on monthly lectures to keep their skills and finance vocabulary sharp
Participate in career guidance check-ins
Lionsbridge is a unique opportunity to explore the world of finance and sharpen your skills. This program is especially suited for students who are passionate about learning about and potentially pursuing a career in finance but have not had extensive specialized experience or training in the industry.
Apply via LionSHARE, powered by Handshake.
Questions? Stop by Quick Questions or e-mail Kavita Sharma at ks2173@columbia.edu.
Eligibility
You must be a currently enrolled full-time undergraduate student at Columbia College, the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science, or the School of General Studies.
Students on a leave of absence or who have withdrawn from Columbia University are not eligible.
You must be a currently registered student in good academic and disciplinary standing.
International students are eligible to participate. This is considered a career exploration opportunity and therefore does not count as off-campus employment.
International students do not need to secure OPT or CPT to participate.
*By submitting an application, you authorize the Center for Career Education to conduct academic and disciplinary checks to confirm program eligibility. Certain University policy violations may disqualify you from consideration.
Application Process & Timeline
Application Process
The Lionsbridge application will go live on LionSHARE, powered by Handshake, on Monday, November 11, 2024. Applications are due by Friday, November 22, 2024 at 11:59 pm.
To apply, you must submit a copy of your resume and transcript, and an answer to the following prompt in one to two paragraphs:
In one to two paragraphs, answer: Why are you interested in participating in the Lionsbridge program, and what do you hope to gain from the experience?
Timeline
October 31, 2024 at 1:00 pm — Virtual Information Session
November 11, 2024 — Application Opens
November 22, 2024 at 11:59 pm — Application Closes
December 6, 2024 — Notifications of Acceptance and Alternate Status
December 11, 2024 — Deadline to Accept Offer
January 15-17, 2025 — Lionsbridge Program
FAQs
How many students will participate in Lionbridge?
About 50 students.
Are there any prerequisites for this program?
Lionsbridge is intentionally designed to introduce students to finance, accounting, and valuation concepts. While we’re looking for applicants with an interest in these areas, we do not expect applicants to have had previous experience with them. We encourage applicants who have not had much internship or extracurricular experience in these areas to apply.
If I am a junior or senior, can I still apply?
Lionsbridge is designed for first- and second-year students. Priority will be given to those students in the application process.
What type of transcript do I need to submit?
Your unofficial transcript from the Columbia registrar’s office is preferred. We will accept a copy of your course schedule from SSOL. Feel free to attach the document as either a PDF or a screenshot.
About the Lead Instructor
Chris McGowan (CC’92, BA, Pure Mathematics) has been a private equity and venture capital investor for 30 years. He is also an Adjunct Professor of Entrepreneurship at University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business, where he has taught finance classes and seminars focused on private equity and venture capital for 13 years. Chris trained as an Analyst at Morgan Stanley and as an Associate at AEA Investors before attending Harvard Business School. After getting his MBA, he spent 12 years at Madison Dearborn Partners before starting CJM Ventures, a growth equity and private equity investment firm focused on investments in Chicago and London. He has served on over 30 boards, including Autism Home Support Services, Consumer Ventures, Hyde Park Angels, Hyde Park Venture Partners, Kenna Security, OPTO International, Psycle London, Simple Mills, and Spikeball. Chris is also an active angel investor whose recent investments include Alnair Therapeutics, AuditSight, Awakened Foods, BallotReady, Farmers Fridge, Klover, Made In Cookware, Nanograph, nOCD, Pacha Soap, Packback, ParkWhiz, PartySlate, Provi, ShipBob, Stroma Vision, Techstars, and ThinkCerca. Chris married his high school and college sweetheart, Sandy Wang (CC’92), and serves on the SHSAA Board of Trustees for Stuyvesant High School, where he attended with Sandy in New York City.