Meet Your Peer Advisors

Hometown: Houston, Texas

Degree: Wharton

Concentration: Finance

Second Concentration: Behavioral Economics

Favorite courses: OIDD 1010; FNCE 1010; NURS 1120; REAL 2090

Off-campus study: Brazil WIP

What are your career interests and where have you interned/worked over your summers? Career interest: real estate finance, media & technology, publishing

Internships:

Renewables Finance intern at JERA

Investment Intern at Soros Fund Management (Media Investments Team)

What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced at Wharton/Penn?Learning how to properly study for different class/exam styles

Why should a student see a peer advisor?A new student should ask me about the most ideal ways to pair business fundamental classes with elective courses

What is one thing that a new student should learn more about? Your academic advisor (suite 1400 in general)!!!

Fun fact(s) about you: I have a food blog (@electronicpastry) and a website where I write about food related topics!

Activities: Co-chair of STEP, Black Wharton, BeThePeace-BeTheHope

Hometown: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Degree: Wharton

Concentration: Finance

Second concentration: Entrepreneurship & Innovation

Favorite courses: LGST 2910: Negotiations; WH 2010: Business Communication for Impact

Off-campus study or courses: LA WIEP: Media and Entertainment and NYC WIEP: AI

What are your career interests and where have you interned/worked over your summers?

First Year: First Round Capital, AI/ML Investing Intern

What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced at Wharton/Penn? Navigating imposter syndrome while finding confidence in spaces where I initially felt out of place

What is one thing that a new student should learn more about?Wharton Behavioral Labs, participate in studies and get paid!

Why should a first-year student see a peer advisor, and what should they ask a peer advisor about?Ask questions about classes, campus resources, and anything else! Always good to get advice from someone who has been in your same shoes.

Fun fact(s) about you: I develop film photography & ran a business in high school

Activities: Penn Wharton Innovation Fund (PWIF), Ultimate Frisbee, Penn First Plus Mentor, Alpha Kappa Psi

Hometown: Novi, Michigan

Degree: Wharton

Concentration: Finance

Concentration Track: Quantitative Finance

Minor: Computer Science

Favorite course: CIS 5500 (Database & Information Systems), FNCE 1010 (Monetary Economics & the Global Policy), CIS 1600 (Mathematical Foundations of Computer Science)

Where have you interned/worked over your summers?Career interests: Software engineering in financial or technology industries

Summer 2024: SWE at Caterpillar (Chicago, IL)

What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced at Wharton/Penn?Learning to feel okay with following an unconventional career path compared to others at Wharton

What is one thing that a new student should learn more about?Check out Old City! It’s one of my favorite places to walk around in Philly.

Why should a first-year student see a peer advisor, and what should they ask a peer advisor about?I can offer a lot of specific help when it comes to combining the Wharton curriculum with other programs at Penn, particularly with SEAS (whether through a minor, submat, coord/uncoord dual degree)

Fun fact(s) about you: I can identify all of the countries on a world map. I’m also a big foodie (200+ rankings on Beli)

Activities: Penn Labs, PennApps, Penn Chamber

Email: leerache@wharton.upenn.edu

Hometown: Bridgewater, New Jersey

Degree: Life Sciences & Management

Concentration(s): Finance

Secondary Major: Molecular and Cell Biology

Minor: Chemistry

Favorite courses: FNCE 2500: Venture Capital and the Finance of Innovation; LGST 2910: Negotiations; BIOL 4007: Cancer Cell Biology

Off-campus study: Wharton Industrial Exploration Program: Los Angeles – Arts and Entertainment Sector

What are your career interests and where have you interned/worked over your summers? 

Summer 2023: Equity Research Intern at Jennison Associates, Health Policy Research Intern at London School of Economics

Summer 2024: Neuromuscular team summer intern at Prime Medicine

Summer 2025: Incoming Investment Banking Summer Analyst at Lazard

What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced at Wharton/Penn?Navigating the many incredible opportunities available and striking a balance between academics/extracurriculars/social life.

What is one thing that a new student should learn more about?All of the different opportunities to study abroad/travel through Penn!

Why should a first-year student see a peer advisor OR What should a new student to Wharton ask you/a peer advisor about? Absolutely anything! Whether it has to do with academics, extracurriculars, or anything else, we remember what it was like to be in your shoes and are here to help.

Fun fact(s) about you: I recently ran a half marathon with my dad!

Activities: Wharton Undergraduate Healthcare Club, Wharton Cohorts, Penn Raas, Sigma Delta Tau, LSM Student Advisory Board

Hometown: New York, New York

Degree: Wharton

Concentration: Accounting

Second Concentration: Business, Energy, Environment, and Sustainability

Minor: Legal Studies & History

Favorite courses: ASLD 1039: Disability Rights and Oppression: Experiences within Global Deaf Communities; LGST 1010: Law and Social Values; ACCT 1010: Accounting and Financial Reporting

Off-campus study: WIP: Sustainability in Stockholm (Sweden), NYC WIEP: Entrepreneurship and Innovation

What are your career interests and where have you interned/worked over your summers?Career Interests: Law, business strategy & consulting, impact investing, sustainability.

First-year Summer: Intern @ Kirkland & Ellis (New York City)

What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced at Wharton/Penn?Sticking to my guts and following the opportunities/career path that genuinely interested me, rather than being influenced by what everybody else is pursuing.

What is one thing that a new student should learn more about?Penn Abroad! I highly recommend checking out all the global opportunities offered to students (Wharton International Program, Penn Global Seminar, Global Research Internship Program, etc)

Why should a first-year student see a peer advisor OR What should a new student to Wharton ask you/a peer advisor about? First-year students should see a peer advisor if they are seeking advice or are interested in learning more about certain clubs, programs, and opportunities offered at Wharton. As a peer advisor, I am happy to provide guidance on Penn Abroad classes (WIP, PGS), internal transferring, Wharton clubs, and all things related to courses/semester planning!

Fun fact(s) about you: I love to DJ!

Activities: Wharton Cohorts, Wharton Korea, Penn Student Government (NEC), Wharton Undergraduates in Public Policy, Turner ESG Fellow

Hometown: Athens, GA

Degree: Wharton

Concentration: Finance

Second Concentration: Operations, Information & Decisions

Minor: Bioethics

Favorite courses: HCMG 2150: Management and Economics of Pharma and Biotech; OIDD 2900: Decision Processes

Off campus study or courses: Exchange semester at the London School of Economics

What are your career interests and where have you interned/worked over your summers?

First-Year Summer: Venture Capital at CoCoon Ignite Ventures
Second-Year Summer: Private Equity at GIC
Third-Year Summer: Consulting at Boston Consulting Group

What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced at Wharton/Penn?Shifting my mindset to value experiences for learning and growth rather than the need to follow the herd

What is one thing that a new student should learn more about? Wharton Wellness Passion Projects

Fun fact(s) about you: I helped bring the Penn logo waffle maker to our dining halls!

Activities: Wharton Undergraduate Finance Club, Wharton Cohorts, Wharton Investment & Trading Group, Wharton Korea Undergraduate Business Society, Penn Dining Advisory Board

Email: samicag@wharton.upenn.edu

Hometown: Warren, New Jersey

Degree: Wharton Dual-Degree

Concentration: Health Care Management & Policy

Second concentration: MS, Biotechnology

Favorite courses: FNCE 2070 (Valuation), MGMT (Teamwork & Interpersonal Influence), HCMG 1010 (Intro to Healthcare Management

What are your career interests and where have you interned/worked over your summers? I’m really passionate about accelerating healthcare innovation, specifically in medical devices, pharmaceuticals, and health tech. I want to explore the various strategies firms use to make investment decisions on cutting-edge research that improves patient care.

A secondary interest of mine is in antitrust and merger law, especially in unique markets like biotechnology.

So far, I’ve held internships in M&A advisory, life sciences consulting, and healthcare legal research.
Summer 2024: Summer Analyst, Gordon Dyal & Co.
Summer 2023: Summer Analyst, a-connect Inc.
Summer 2022: Huang Fellow & Margolis Research Intern, Duke Law School

What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced at Wharton/Penn? Transferring into Penn after freshman year and finding my place at the University! Happy to say it worked out great.

What is one thing that a new student should learn more about?Penn’s (Non-Wharton) Club Fair

Why should a first-year student see a peer advisor, and what should they ask a peer advisor about?Submatriculating (accelerated master’s degrees), Transferring (internal or external), Healthcare, Wharton Clubs, Wharton Senior Thesis

Fun fact(s) about you: I spent the summer after my senior year beekeeping and did not get stung.

Activities: Philomathean Society, Wharton Undergraduate Consulting Club, Wharton Undergraduate Healthcare Club, Penn Band, Penn Beekeeping. External: Board Member for Eyes Like Mine Inc.

Hometown: Verona, Italy

Degree: Uncoordinated dual-degree

Concentration: Finance

Second concentration: Business, Energy, Environment, and Sustainability

Secondary major: Political Science

Minor: Computer Science

Favorite courses: OIDD 2000 – Grit Lab: Foster Passion and Perseverance in Ourselves and Others; LGST 2150 – Environmental Management Law and Politics, OIDD 2930 – People Analytics

Off-campus study: Took a Global Writing Seminar and travelled to Mongolia, Took LGST 2600 for which I went camping hiking and canoeing in Virginia

What are your career interests and where have you interned/worked over your summers? Intesa San Paolo, Analyst in Structured Finance (NY, United States)
European Parliament, European People’s Party Andrea Caroppo Office, Intern (Brussels, Belgium)
Courtyard of the Gentiles, Pontifical Council for Culture, Intern (Vatican City)

What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced at Wharton/Penn? Time management

What is one thing that a new student should learn more about?Penn Abroad

Why should a first-year student see a peer advisor, and what should they ask a peer advisor about?Class registration and recommendation, Tips on how to succeed in classes

Fun fact(s) about you: I love DJing and playing tennis

Activities: Wharton Europe Treasurer, Wharton Undergraduate Energy Consulting Project leader, Wharton ESG Integration Projects, Pi Lambda Sigma, Tri Delta

Email: mbulga@wharton.upenn.edu

Hometown: Missoula, Montana

Degree: Huntsman

Concentration: Management

Second concentration: International Studies

Concentration Track: Multinational Management

Favorite courses: MGMT 2880 Managing and Competing in China; MGMT 2240 Leading Diversity in Organizations; MGMT 2670: Entrepreneurship and Technological Innovation

Off-campus study or courses: Penn Global Seminar in Korean where we had the opportunity to travel to Korea; Study abroad for a semester at Yonsei University

What are your career interests and where have you interned/worked over your summers? Career interests: Marketing, Entertainment, Media, Tech/Startups

First-Year Summer: Study Abroad Classes and was a Design, Content, and Operations Intern at Fiveable

Second-Year Summer: Consulting & Social Strategy Rotational Intern at Ogilvy

Third-Year Summer: Growth Marketing Intern at an Education Startup

What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced at Wharton/Penn? Figuring out how to balance academics, extracurriculars, wellbeing, and a social life while coming from a FGLI background

What is one thing that a new student should learn more about? Penn Abroad Programs!

Why should a first-year student see a peer advisor, and what should they ask a peer advisor about?Honestly, anything related to your success while at Penn. Whether it is academics, course registration, extracurriculars, social life, or balancing a budget, we have all been in your shoes 🙂

Fun fact(s) about you: I was a background dancer for an episode of the show Yellowstone (filmed in my hometown)!

Activities: Global Research Consulting, Penn Debate Society, Wharton Women, Penn Social Entrepreneurship Movement, Women Who Lift, Sigma Kappa Sorority, Penn BBBS, English Second Language Tutor, and Various Marketing Ambassadorships for Beauty & Luxury Brands

Hometown: Amman, Jordan

Degree: Wharton

Concentration 1: Business Economics & Public Policy

Concentration 2: Operations, Information & Decisions

Favorite courses: MKTG 2110: Consumer Behavior; MGMT 2910: Negotiations; OIDD 2900: Decision Processes

What are your career interests and where have you interned/worked over your summers?

1) Freshman Summer: EY-Parthenon – Strategy and Transactions Intern
2) Sophomore Summer: SME Fund (a leading $175 million private equity fund in Jordan) – Financial Analyst Intern

What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced at Wharton/Penn?My biggest challenge was figuring out what expectations I should realistically set for myself.

What is one thing that a new student should learn more about? The Wharton Alumni Network – Wharton alums are everywhere in the world and incredibly willing to help!

Why should a first-year student see a peer advisor, and what should they ask a peer advisor about?Peer advisors give you personal and relevant advice since they were in your shoes not so long ago. You can ask me about literally anything!

Fun fact(s) about you: I appeared in some scenes of a Netflix Original series!

Activities: PennSEM, WUPP, Kite and Key, ILMUNC, Penn Arab Student Society

Hometown: Accra, Ghana

Degree: Wharton

Concentration: Finance

Second Concentration: Real Estate

Favorite course: REAL 2090: Real Estate Investment: Analysis and Financing; SOCI 1010: The Family; CIS 1050: Computational Data Exploration

What are your career interests and where have you interned/worked over your summers?

Career Interests: Real Estate Private Equity; Sports, Media, and Entertainment Investment Banking

Freshman Year Summer: Investment Banking Summer Analyst at Stanbic Bank (Accra, Ghana)
Sophomore Year Summer: Educational Coordinator/ Wharton Leadership in Business World TA (Philadelphia)
Junior Year Summer: Incoming Investment Banking Summer Analyst at Goldman Sachs

What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced at Wharton/Penn?  Learning how to balance all my responsibilities and not get sucked in the overwhelming pressure of academics, clubs, recruiting

Why should a student see a peer advisor? Peer advisors have been in your exact place before and usually know the best way to help you navigate Penn. Whether it’s academics, social, or extra-curricular, students can ask us any questions that they may not want to ask their advisor.

What is one thing that a new student should learn more about?  Career Services, Prof Rimmer’s Math Tables, Office hours

Fun fact(s) about you: I can solve a rubik’s cube in 1 minute

Activities: Black Wharton (VP of Finance), Penn Ghana (External Chair), BlackGen Capital, Wharton Undergraduate Real Estate Club (WUREC), STEP

Hometown: North Potomac, Maryland

Degree: Wharton

Concentration: Finance

Second Concentration: Management

Favorite courses: LGST 2150: Environmental Management, Law, and Policy; MKTG 1010: Intro to Marketing; MUSC 1300: Music History of 1000 Years

Off-campus study: GRIP: Business in Sydney, Australia; WIP: Sustainability in Stockholm, Sweden

What are your career interests and where have you interned/worked over your summers?

My interests lie in impact investing, education, endowment + foundation work, and sustainability!

Roles:
Girls Who Invest Scholar + Investment Analyst @ Xponance (Summer ’25)
Fintech Intern @ Xchainge (GRIP Sydney, Summer ’24)

What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced at Wharton/Penn? Learning to strike a balance between navigating pre-professionalism at Penn and making time to explore my personal interests and passions.

What is one thing that a new student should learn more about? Penn Abroad programs – they have so many cool abroad opportunities for all times of the year!

Why should a first-year student see a peer advisor OR What should a new student to Wharton ask you/a peer advisor about? GRIP Sydney, navigating Wharton clubs, joining a business frat, classical music on campus, work-life balance at Penn

Fun fact(s) about you: I went skydiving in Australia last summer!

Activities: Wharton ESG Initiative, Phi Gamma Nu, Moso Capital, Wharton Undergraduate Consulting Club, Pit Orchestra (flute), Girls For Business

Hometown: Barboursville, West Virginia

Degree: Wharton

Concentration(s): Business Economics & Public Policy

Favorite courses: COMM 3950 (Communications and the Presidency), LGST 2910 (Negotiations), MGMT 3530 (Wharton Field Challenge)

What are your career interests and where have you interned/worked over your summers? Summer 2023: Intern to the COO- West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources

Summer 2024: Intern to Senator Joe Manchin (WV)- US Senate

Career Interests: Public policy, governmental agencies

What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced at Wharton/Penn? Coming from a small town, I have been surrounded by a lot of the same friends and classmates since a pretty young age. When getting to Penn, it was a new challenge for me to broaden my perspective in order to make meaningful connections.

What is one thing that a new student should learn more about? New students should definitely attend professor and TA office hours! They are a great way to reinforce your knowledge, ask questions, and form lasting connections!

Why should a first-year student see a peer advisor, and what should they ask a peer advisor about? We have been in very similar circumstances as you, and we want to help you make the most of your Penn experience! Feel free to ask about course recommendations, professors, or extracurriculars.

Fun fact(s) about you: I love trying new things and exploring nature! Some of my favorite adventures have included skydiving, sail boating, and climbing a via ferrata.

Activities: Wharton Council, Williams Cafe, WUEC, McNulty Leadership Compass Program, Wharton Women

Email: oturman@wharton.upenn.edu