The day began at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (FRBNY), where students enjoyed a guided tour of the Bank’s historic gold vault, a powerful symbol of global financial trust and stability. Following the tour, students engaged in a panel discussion with Princeton alumni now working at the Bank.

Allen Liu ’22, a research analyst in the Fed’s capital markets group and former ORFE major, shared insights from his transition from Princeton to Wall Street and now to economic policy research at the Fed. Kendra Nealon ’13, an institutional examiner in the Fed’s supervision office, spoke about her path from studying Near Eastern Studies at Princeton to business school and finally to her current role as a financial regulator overseeing some of the largest banks in the world. Vanesa Sanchez *15, a SPIA MPA alum, discussed how her international experience informs her current role in leading the FRBNY’s stress-testing team, offering a global perspective on capital policy and systemic risk. Tess Hwang, director of strategic operations for economic education at the FRBNY, moderated the conversation with a focus on career development and public service.

In the afternoon, the group headed to Impact Hub NYC for two panel discussions exploring the intersection of finance, innovation, and social impact. Moderated by John-Paul Parmigiani, Impact Hub co-founder and CEO, the first panel centered on the rapidly evolving fields of impact investing and climate finance, bringing together a distinguished lineup of experts whose work spans both public and private sectors. Carolina G. Azevedo, MPP *25, Chief Communications Officer at the UN Development Coordination Office, opened the session by underscoring the power of strategic communication—not only as a tool for amplifying an organization’s mission, but also as a critical lever for shaping narratives and mobilizing stakeholders around global development goals. David Davenport, managing director at the New York Green Bank, discussed his career path from policy to finance, highlighting his work bridging funding gaps at the community level and the need for climate-inclusive investment within historically underserved communities. Former economics major Kathryn Wen ’20, now an associate at Lime Rock New Energy, spoke about her investment banking experience and her current role, steering capital toward sustainable infrastructure and emerging clean technologies. Dan Firger, MPA *10, founder and managing partner of Great Circle Capital Advisors, emphasized the importance of blended finance, which combines public, philanthropic, and private funds, for de-risking investments and catalyzing large-scale decarbonization efforts. His remarks highlighted the importance of structuring financial instruments that are innovative, equitable, and scalable. 

The second panel, moderated by JRCPPF associate director Pallavi Nuka, shifted the focus to venture capital andentrepreneurship, with three founders and investors whose careers exemplify innovation, investment, and purpose. Sara Schmitt, founder and chief operating officer of Adro, opened the session by sharing her entrepreneurial journey of launching a fintech startup offering vital financial tools and services to help immigrants to the United States build stable, prosperous lives. Her story highlighted the barriers immigrants often face and the potential for user-centered innovation in the financial sector. Robert Wolk ’91, founder and co-chair of Princeton Alumni Angels(Link is external), reflected on starting out his career in investment banking and, more recently, building one of the country’s most active and impactful alumni-led angel investing networks. He emphasized the importance of community in early-stage investing. Simone Tarantino, managing partner at H-Ventures, brought a global perspective to the conversation, offering insights into cross-border innovation and the growing role of venture capital in accelerating breakthroughs in deep tech. From biotech to artificial intelligence, he emphasized how international collaboration and investment are essential to solving complex, global challenges.

From the underground vaults of the Fed to the innovation hubs of NYC, the day offered students a powerful blend of inspiration, insight, and real-world perspectives on the evolving fields of finance and public policy.