25 Under 25 Honoree Aylin Erdal

For Aylin Erdal, excellence has never been about taking the easiest path. Instead, it's the deliberate choice to walk the path that stretches limits and redefines potential. That philosophy has guided every decision the business and technology student has made at Stevens Institute of Technology, from switching her major to better align with her ambitions, to seeking out competitive conferences, scholarships and experiences that have helped her become a more well-rounded individual.

Maintaining a spot on the Dean's List every semester, Erdal concentrated in finance and information systems with a clear destination in mind: a career as a Sales and Trading Analyst. To prepare, she enrolled in a rigorous quantitative finance course, studied abroad in Sevilla, Spain, – to deepen her global perspective – and earned a CME Group Foundation Scholarship for two consecutive summers. She will join Société Générale as a Global Markets Sales and Trading Summer Analyst.

Beyond her own trajectory, Erdal has invested deeply in the success of those around her. As Vice President of Stevens Women in Business, she built a new membership development program that doubled attendance at the Columbia Women's Business Society Conference and helped launch the inaugural Women's History Month Gala at Stevens. She also works as a Peer Career Coach at the Stevens Career Center and has served on the executive board of the Muslim Student Association, advocating directly for the needs of her fellow students.

Away from campus, she volunteers at her local mosque creating programming for college-aged women and organizes community service events for the Hoboken Food Shelter, extending her commitment to building community well beyond Stevens.