"A Family Founded on Paying it Forward"

A group of students at the Stevens School of Business is investing more than just financial capital. Their collaboration is committing time and expertise to create opportunities and make a meaningful impact on future generations of Stevens students.

The Finance, Investment Banking, Advisory (FIBA) Society is "a family founded on paying it forward." The group started as a way for third- and fourth-year students to mentor first- and second-year students and prepare them for the competitive landscape that defines the high finance internship process.

Laying the Foundation

Now fully recognized as a student organization, the idea for FIBA originated from Nikko Inserra and Joseph Ames, both members of the Class of 2024. They wanted to use their experiences and help create a more straightforward path from Hoboken to Wall Street. The organization’s overarching philosophy is that members reciprocate the mentorship and guidance that was pivotal in their early career development.

“FIBA’s founders dedicated a significant effort to securing their internships." Javian Batista, a senior business and technology major and the previous President of FIBA, said. " They approached me with the desire to support my growth, hoping that once I secured an internship, I would carry the torch and continue the cycle.”

Javian secured a summer analyst position at Jefferies, one of the world's leading investment banks. Upon graduation, he will return full-time to the Financial Sponsors Group. He wasn’t the only recipient of the duo’s advice. Noah Porcelain, a senior finance student, knew he wanted to pursue a career in high finance but wasn’t sure how to start.

“I realized I was interested in pursuing a career in investment banking,” [IR1] he said. “I ended up working with Nikko and Joey, who were a year older than me and had just gone through the process. I leaned on them for help and assistance. We realized that we needed to make this a club and make it available to everyone.”

“I’ve been involved ever since,” he continued. “I ended up landing two investment banking offers during my sophomore year, and last year, I was able to help first-year students and sophomores through the process. We had really good success last year placing our sophomores.”

Noah completed an internship at Evercore during the summer of 2024 and will return in a full-time role after graduation.

Drawing on Experience

The program’s structure includes weekly meetings, office hours, mock interviews and opportunities to exchange ideas with mentors.

“When you're aiming for a career in high finance, there’s a proven framework to follow,” said Amin Labadi, VP of Banking and a senior quantitative finance major who interned at Société Générale as a Leveraged Finance Summer Analyst. “You need a strong technical foundation, effective networking skills and the ability to market yourself. Our goal is to equip students with those tools. A lot of this knowledge comes from experience — what worked, what didn’t and what we wish we had known earlier.”

This past year, the group introduced a fellowship program for first-year students. Approximately 40 students applied for the eight spots.

“We provide hands-on support every Wednesday and assistance with anything else they need,” Javian said. “Whether it’s reaching out to a connection, preparing for a stock pitch competition or refining an email or technical response, we’re here to help. Our guidance extends beyond just career preparation. We support them in any way we can.”

Aside from the technical and behavioral knowledge needed for success, the internship timeline is often accelerated. For example, many companies are already recruiting to fill positions available during the summer of 2026.

“Having a clear vision of your post-graduate goals gives you a significant advantage over most students,” said Noah Senchack, a senior business and technology student and previous VP of Finance. “By the time you are a sophomore, you'll be interviewing for your junior year summer. I faced challenges in defining my goals until my junior year, which resulted in me missing some opportunities. The experience proved important in shaping my understanding of having a clear sense of purpose. It has helped me to motivate students to develop this clarity early on, as I believe it is one the most crucial forms of support we can offer.”

"You have to know early on that you want to work in finance because the recruiting timeline is so accelerated,” Amin said. “It can be overwhelming. You start college unsure of what you want to do, and suddenly, you’re told that if you want a job in finance after graduation, you need to start now. Our goal has been to close the awareness gap and help students navigate this highly competitive recruiting landscape, and we’re proud to say we’ve been successful.”

FIBA members have secured roles at top firms across sales and trading, investment banking and hedge funds, showing the importance of proper guidance.

The FIBA-SSMIF Connection

FIBA is also closely linked with the Stevens Student Managed Investment Fund (SSMIF). Many students use what they learn from their mentors and apply it not only to external internship opportunities but also to secure spots within the fund.

“It all aligned perfectly,” Javian said. “During my investment banking recruitment process, I joined FIBA and later the Student Managed Investment Fund. The technical questions overlapped significantly, allowing me to strengthen my skills while preparing for my job.”

Javian started as a Healthcare Analyst in the fund and advanced to Head of Valuation and Presentation Development within the senior management team.

These skills also played a crucial role in Javian's selection as a National Investment Banking Competition finalist alongside Noah Porcelain. This opportunity allowed them to compete as finalists on the global stage and represent Stevens internationally.

The School of Business also tapped Javian to lead a valuation and accounting seminar. The experience reinforced his commitment to mentoring others in the field.

The SSMIF also helped forge the bonds that connect the FIBA executive team.

“In SSMIF, we sat in different sector coverage but were aware of each other’s work,” Senchack said of his time working with Amin and Javian. “There was an unspoken competition between us, but it was a supportive environment. The goal was to get on the senior management team the following semester, and all three of us made it. Amin and I worked together as Co-Heads of Research and Javian as Head of Valuation. We spent a lot of time working together. I also worked with Amin at Société Générale the following summer, and then once returning to school, we all served on the board of FIBA.”

Through it all, FIBA remained a cornerstone of their development, providing the foundation and support that helped them navigate the competitive world of finance. Now, they continue to give back, ensuring the posterity of Stevens students have the same opportunities to succeed.

Working with the School of Business

The mentorship and guidance FIBA provides its members coincide with the support from the School of Business and the Corporate Outreach and Professional Advancement team that works closely with industry professionals and organizations to promote employment opportunities for students.

"The COPA team has been helpful," Amin said. "We've worked with them on a few events, and whenever we invite a speaker or host a networking or training workshop, they assist with logistics and marketing. They've been a good resource along the way."

The group has also provided insights into potential financial curriculum updates, ensuring Stevens students are better prepared for recruiting.

“In response to the accelerated interview process, we have engaged in discussions with the administration regarding the possibility of advancing fundamental courses to the first, second, and third semesters,” Noah Senchack said. “By the time you're taking Intermediate Economics or Equity Valuation, where you're learning the basics of a technical interview, you have already had your interview take place.”

Looking to the Future

Despite a short existence, the FIBA mentors are excited about the future of Stevens and high finance.

“When I was in SSMIF, the best applicants were usually juniors and seniors,” Porcelain said. “Now, it’s not unusual for first- and second-year students in FIBA to get great positions. I've also seen general recruiting at Stevens get so much better, and I'm really happy about that. When I was a freshman, I think the graduating class had one investment banker. In this class, I believe it’s about five students that I know of, so it’s been a real improvement in investment banking and general front office job placement.”

The drive to strengthen the pathway from Hoboken to Wall Street is at the heart of FIBA’s mission.

"With FIBA’s guidance, members have produced exceptional work, demonstrating remarkable growth and technical proficiency. The caliber of talent Stevens is attracting is extraordinary, and having the opportunity to help cultivate and refine that potential is one of the most rewarding experiences,” said Javian.