Benjamin Funk (BS '11)

“International perspectives are constantly driving markets and influencing decisions,” notes Stern senior Benjamin Funk, who has been shaping his global viewpoint through his studies at Stern, his summer internship at Deloitte Consulting as well as his various trips abroad.

Ben, who is double-majoring in Finance and Economics with a minor in French, chose his areas of focus after taking Foundations of Financial Markets in London and Economics of Global Business in New York. “I realized together finance and economics provide an accurate picture of how the world operates,” he recalls. “After studying both, I better understand how financial principles drive capitalism and how economic principles govern human actions around the globe.”

Eager to apply classroom lessons to the real world, Ben took a summer consulting position in the Strategy and Operations group at Deloitte (a job he found through the Wasserman Center for Career Development). “My role at the company allows me to research industries, and think critically and creatively to develop strategies. I’m gaining experience in a corporate environment plus getting opportunities to travel.”

In addition, Ben has participated in various student activities abroad including the India Leadership Exchange Program; NYU Study Abroad in London; the International Volunteers program in Peru; and 2010 ISP competition in Buenos Aires (which his team won). He hopes to visit his fifth continent by applying to go to Ghana with Alternative Breaks next winter. “I love experiencing new cultures and traveling overseas has awakened me to different ways of thinking. Now I can better appreciate the people who make up our world and how we all interact.”

Ben is grateful for all the eye-opening opportunities he’s had thus far. “My experiences both inside and outside the classroom, in New York City and abroad, have challenged me and pushed me outside my comfort zone. They have helped me grow into someone more confident and capable of contributing to the world.”