Ohio State to RX Investment Banking at Ducera in NYC | Chat with Daniel Chen | WSO Academy

·26 min·2 clips

A high school student started a marketing agency to buy Fortnite skins, leading to a business exit before college.

The episode features an interview with Daniel Chen, a student at Ohio State University studying economics and philosophy. Daniel starts by explaining his background from Cincinnati, Ohio, and how he began a social media marketing agency in high school during quarantine to pay for Fortnite skins, eventually exiting the business before college. He discusses his initial interest in finance, switching majors due to a preference for qualitative over quantitative thinking, and joining Ohio State's Fisher Futures investment banking program. Daniel details his summer internship at Copper Run, a boutique Columbus investment bank, and his upcoming internship at Ducera in New York. He shares his networking approach, advising freshmen to practice with low-stakes calls to regional boutiques, and describes his recruiting timeline with first rounds starting in December. Daniel outlines his email strategy, sending 30-40 emails weekly and doing 5-7 coffee chats, skipping classes and meals to accommodate calls. He explains his focus on restructuring and tech coverage, converting 100 chats into 10-15 first rounds and eventually securing an offer. Daniel reflects on what made him stand out, including his entrepreneurial background and mature pitching style. He argues that conceptual understanding of accounting and business is more important than financial modeling for interviews. The episode concludes with Daniel emphasizing the importance of refining behavioral answers by connecting personal experiences to job fundamentals.

As heard by us

A practical recruiting story about turning curiosity, personal experience, and early outreach into a path to Ducera.

Daniel's route from Cincinnati and Ohio State to Ducera's New York City office gives this single-episode review a clear recruiting spine: preparation as a mix of curiosity, personal experience, and timing.

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Why you'd press play

You want a recruiting reset that starts with Fortnite skins and ends with a Ducera New York City offer.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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