On 27th September 2025, the Alumni Relations Committee of Jaipuria Institute of Management, Lucknow, organized an insightful session under the series “Wisdom from Alumni” and attended by over 40 students via physical and online mode. The guest speaker was Ms. Garima Tripathi, alumna of the 2013–2015 batch and currently Branch Head at ICICI Bank, who shared her valuable experience and perspectives in the domain of Finance.

The session started with Ms. Ishita Singh welcoming Ms. Garima with brief introduction of esteemed speaker for audience and presenting Green Certificate as per tradition of Jaipuria, there on Ms. Tripathi began the session by introducing the Hedgehog Theory, emphasizing the importance of discovering what one is truly good at, passionate about, and where opportunities lie. She highlighted that in the BFSI sector, students should build strong foundations while also exploring freelancing and trading as parallel avenues. She encouraged students to open Demat accounts, practice trading, and approach finance with practicality and consistency.

The speaker stressed the role of LinkedIn as a professional platform, advising students to stay active, refrain from political assumptions, post regularly about their company, and use it for effective networking. She urged participants not to stifle their creativity by being overly reactive and being dependent of AI but instead balance pragmatism with innovation.

For skill development, Ms. Tripathi recommended case studies, industry analysis, and data analytics practice through Excel and other finance-related tools. She suggested pursuing relevant certifications such as NISM Mutual Fund, Financial Derivatives, Anti-Money Laundering (IIBF), and CAMS Global Financial Crime. Additionally, advanced qualifications like CFA, Financial Modelling, and AIF knowledge were highlighted as essential for aspiring investment bankers and portfolio managers.

She also encouraged students to build the habit of reading finance-related novels, research career opportunities in advance, and focus on long-term skill-building rather than quick fixes. Her practical insights on statistics, freelancing, and data-driven decision-making provided a roadmap for students aspiring to succeed in the finance domain.

The session concluded with an engaging Q&A, and vote of thanks by Mr. Ishita who at the end invited Mr. Anurag Mohan, Senior Manager- Alumni Relations to present memento to Mr. Garima. The session left students motivated to pursue continuous learning, networking, and practical exposure to thrive in their careers.

Write up by- Ms. Samiksha Srinet, Junior Member ARC