The Hult Banking Society is yet another feature of Hult’s burgeoning club scene. Like other career-focused clubs, the society aims to ensure its members maximize top opportunities to break into the financial sector. We spoke to the Club President Mariyam Hiba about how they do that.
Hult: How did you come to be involved?
After high school in the Maldives, I was focusing on my career and never thought I would study abroad, let alone come to London. But when the opportunity came, I took it. When I joined Hult, I was excited to get involved with the incredible clubs; not just attend classes. However, I never imagined I would help start a club.
In the fall of 2023, Nicholas, our previous president and one of the founders of the Hult Banking Society, approached me with an exciting idea: he wanted to start a finance club. Given my background and experience, and the lack of a strong finance community at Hult London, his idea grabbed my attention. I was eager to help create something meaningful for my peers.
I started as the Head of Communications. This role allowed me to connect with students, promote our events, and get people involved. While I wanted to help others through the Hult Banking Society, the club also helped me make friends, fit into the Hult community, and face new challenges.
Hult: What sort of events do you host?
We are currently hosting events that help members break into the banking industry: Here are a few highlights:
Meeting the Lord Mayor
Our adjunct professor, Chidi Oti Obihara opened an incredible opportunity for five of our members to meet the Lord Mayor of the City of London on June 26. These lucky members gathered at Mansion House for a special meeting with the Lord Mayor, Michael Mainelli engaging in discussions on the history of the City of London and its contributions to finance, sustainability, and innovation.
UBS x AmplifyMe
Perhaps our most successful and recent event was the UBS x AmplifyMe simulation. When we opened registrations, the number of sign-ups quadrupled the average for Hult events, reaching over 160 registrations. On the day of the event, more than 130 postgraduate and undergraduate students filled the classroom, eager to learn and engage with members from AmplifyMe. It was a jam-packed day, and we are proud to say this was one of the largest club-organized events in undergraduate London campus history. The management and acquisitions simulator covered many aspects of investment banking, including financial modeling, Excel skills, and valuations.
Career coaching
We also held career coaching workshops in partnership with the Careers Team, focusing on the journey of students breaking into banking and applying for graduate roles. These events covered spring weeks and summer internships, including when they open up, and how to search for and apply to them. We also provided essential tips on improving CVs, utilizing LinkedIn, and advice from seasoned finance recruiters on breaking into the industry.
Hult: What aspects of banking are you most interested in?
Hult Banking society is in other words “all things finance, banking and economy”. We aim to touch upon all the different areas where you can have a career in finance. And so, we do not limit ourselves to investment banking or commercial and retail banking. We cover it all.
Hult: Is the club educational?
Our goal is not to repeat what members learn in the classroom. Instead, we provide opportunities to meet industry leaders and learn about various job roles, including their daily activities. This helps our members excel in their future careers by offering experiences not covered extensively in class. Additionally, we create a platform for like-minded students to network and learn from each other.
Hult: Do any faculty support the club?
One great example is Professor Hossein Khatami, who announced our AmplifyMe event in their class. They even gave flexibility during their classes and encouraged students to attend so they wouldn’t miss the opportunity.
Then there’s Professor Chidi Oti Obihara, who arranged a meeting for our members with the Lord Mayor of the City of London Corporation.
Hult: How tough is it to break into the banking industry?
Breaking into the industry is tough, not just for famous investment banking roles at big firms like Goldman Sachs, which has a 0.8% acceptance rate, but also for commercial banks and smaller boutiques.
However, many Hult alumni work at major corporate and investment banks, showing that Hult students have the quality and skills needed to succeed in the banking industry. We continually learn from their journeys and try to get them to share their advice with our members to increase their chances of success for them.
We aim to provide as much help as possible to students, so they have the best chance of succeeding. It’s not that students are unwilling to learn. Their dedication is proven by the fact that over 100 students show up for events on a Friday at 6 pm, after a full day of classes.
Hult: Do you collaborate closely with any other clubs?
So far, our most successful collaborations have been with the Managers and Acquisitions Society from London Undergraduate and the Hult Student Banking Club from London Postgraduate for the AmplifyMe simulator event.
Ultimately, by the time we graduate and hand over the club to the next generation, we want to have leveraged one of Hult’s unique strengths: its multi-location presence. Our dream is to organize a multi-city event or challenge spanning different time zones—London, Boston, New York, San Francisco, and Dubai.
Hult: What are your plans for the future?
Our plans focus on growth, increased activities, and expanding our reach to benefit a larger student base. Our ultimate goal is to establish a Hult Banking Society presence on every Hult campus.
We are developing our competitions in collaboration with external parties like GAIN UK, which we plan to host in the upcoming term with exciting prizes. We also have trading simulators as part of our agenda.
Moreover, fostering a community feeling is essential. We aim to arrange multiple networking events throughout the year, allowing students with similar aspirations to connect, build strong networks, and improve their relationship-building and social skills. These gatherings will help create a sense of community, making the club more than just a platform for discussing finance.
Hult: Tell us three things that would surprise someone about the club.
- We were founded less than a year ago.
- We organized one of the largest club events at Hult London so far.
- The Hult Banking Society board has 9 members representing 8 nationalities.
Can you describe the perfect banking club member?
Our club is designed for individuals with a broad range of aspirations within the finance sector, not just banking. We welcome those who are eager to learn and stay informed about current events, such as Fed rate cuts, AI stock booms, or other significant financial developments.
We seek members who are dedicated to constant self-improvement, striving to be the best version of themselves not only in finance but also socially and in other aspects of life. Our ideal members are those who enjoy helping others and are willing to share their knowledge and resources to uplift those around them.
Thinking of breaking into banking in London? Check out our range of courses in the city and you too, could be making waves in this world-beating metropolis.
