On February 24th, ABSA welcomed Amanda Chen, Nhi Nguyen, and Kexin Zheng from Starbucks for an engaging discussion on their career journeys and experiences at the company. They shared insights into working at Starbucks, navigating career growth, and developing key professional skills. Here are some of the main takeaways from the event:
Meet the Speakers!
UW Graduate (Political Science and Communication)
HR internships at a local engineering firm and Seattle Children’s Museum
Worked at Alaska Airlines, Seattle Union Gospel Mission, Close Consulting
Recruiter at Amazon
Currently a Senior Recruiter at Starbucks
Seattle University Graduate
Finance Internship at T-Mobile
Joined Starbucks through its rotational program
Currently a Senior Financial Analyst at Starbucks
Fordham University Graduate
Interned at L’Occitane en Provence and Fresh (skincare company)
Worked at Discuss (video streaming company)
Currently a Senior Financial Analyst at Starbucks
What inspired you to pursue a career in finance?
Nhi: Growing up, Nhi was deeply influenced by K-Pop, and her father frequently traveled to Korea for work. This inspired her to start an online K-Pop reselling business, where she took on the challenge of managing her own financial statements. That experience sparked her interest in accounting and finance. After interning at an accounting firm, she realized she preferred finance and decided to pursue it as a career.
Kexin: Kexin discovered her passion for finance by minoring in it during her undergrad. She pursued a master’s degree in finance, interned in finance roles, and realized that she enjoyed the analytical aspects of the industry, leading her to her current role.
How did internships shape your career path?
Nhi: For Nhi, internships helped her refine her career interests, providing both technical skills and hands-on experience. Serving as the Vice President of Finance in Seattle U’s student governance organization allowed her to work with students outside the business school, strengthening her ability to challenge different perspectives.
Kexin: Kexin’s internships exposed her to retail finance and business management. Her hands-on experience at Fresh helped her secure her first full-time role and provided a foundation for her next career move.
What are some complex challenges you encountered at Starbucks?
Nhi: Nhi found working with financial modeling programs at Starbucks both rewarding and challenging. Managing a vast number of metrics required close collaboration with marketing teams, many of whom had limited financial backgrounds. Navigating and bridging this knowledge gap became a key aspect of her role.
Kexin: Kexin’s main responsibility involves forecasting, which means integrating reasonable assumptions into operating income and revenue models to determine the most accurate EPS (Earnings Per Share). The challenge lies in balancing numerous moving parts to make accurate projections.
What surprised you about being a senior financial analyst?
Nhi: One unexpected aspect of Nhi’s role was the level of ownership she has in managing relationships—with suppliers, partners, and her team. Unlike previous roles where she worked closely with a team, she now takes the lead in meetings and represents finance more independently.
Kexin: For Kexin, the ability to provide and evaluate different financial scenarios was surprising. She now plays a crucial role in demonstrating these scenarios to various teams, giving her more freedom to voice her opinions and contribute to strategic decision-making.
Reflecting on your career, what advice would you give to students aspiring to enter the finance industry?
Nhi: Nhi emphasizes the importance of beginning career exploration early. If you’re unsure about your path, reaching out to professionals on LinkedIn can provide valuable insights. She compares relationship-building to planting a tree—the earlier you start, the more benefits you’ll reap later. Additionally, she advises students to take every interview seriously and to research not just their own stories, but also the recruiter, the company, and the role they’re applying for.
Kexin: Kexin encourages aspiring finance professionals to be open to new experiences and not fear failure. The finance industry is rapidly evolving with new technologies, making it essential to embrace learning opportunities. Staying adaptable and curious will help professionals keep up with industry trends and advancements.
We hope you found these insights valuable and gained a better understanding of the diverse paths that can lead to a successful finance career. Be sure to join us next week for our Philanthropy Collab with AIESEC and BITS (3/3) and our Finance Speaker Panel Collab with PFUW and BLB (3/6)—we look forward to seeing you there!
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