Prep Trustee and Alumni Work to Expand Student Opportunities at Black-Led Banks

Prep for Prep students graduate from high school and college as mission-driven young professionals seeking to effect positive change as leaders in their fields of interest. As an organization, our mission is to develop their leadership skills through giving them the tools and opening the doors to a variety of opportunities and experiences. To that end, Prep Board member Harold Butler and Prep alumni met with several leaders of Minority Depository Institutions (MDIs) from the National Bankers Association to discuss how Prep students can benefit from working with these institutions and become valuable members of their teams. 

“For Citi, and other Wall Street firms, we’ve become accustomed to the relative ease in attracting the top talent. This is not the case for small, minority banking institutions,” shared Harold, a managing director in Citi’s Public Sector Group. In addition to access to capital and technology, strong talent acquisition is necessary for the long term sustainability of MDIs, of which there are now 18 across the nation. The panel discussion centered around how minority-owned and Black-led banks can improve talent acquisition through a partnership with Prep for Prep, by providing summer internships with the potential for long-term remote work. This year has affirmed the possibilities of telecommuting across the nation and even internationally for our students. Prep alum Savitri Bishnath (P9 VIII) expressed how pivotal internships were for cultivating confidence in the financial field, and Prep’s role in preparing students through academics, opportunity, and access to a vibrant alumni community: “Prep is the backbone of my personal community and my professional success.” 

The opportunity for Prep students to work for small Black-owned banks to support local communities aligns with what fellow alum Daniel Tobon (XVII) notes is the ethics of a Prep student. After all, Prep for Prep’s mission is to develop ethical and effective leaders who reflect our diverse society for the enduring benefit of all. The conversation ended with excitement on both sides about future collaborations with the Prep for Prep community. Special thanks to Prep Board member Harold Butler, and Prep alums Savitri Bishnath (P9 VIII), Elizabeth Jimenez (XXIV), Kimberley Mosley (P9 XIV), Na'eema Thompson (XVII), Daniel Tobon (XVII), and Jorge Valcarcel (XI) for continuing to innovate programming for our students.