# Justin Kono

![Justin Kono](/sites/default/files/styles/866w/public/2023-05/Test%20Justin%20Kono.png?h=e984a6a6&itok=UdF9-DLS)

Student Voices

##  Justin Kono, MBA 2024

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- **Hometown**
Seattle, WA
- **Undergraduate**
School: University of Washington
- **Previous Company**
Caliber Home Loans
- **Summer Internship**
Bank of America
- **Specializations at Stern**
Real Estate
Corporate Finance
- **Student Clubs**
Outclass
Graduate Finance Association
The Association of Hispanic and Black Business Students

##  What moment made you realize Stern was the home for you?

I knew that I wanted to go into Investment Banking before pursuing an MBA, and I was excited about the idea of New York. I attended many, many information sessions for Stern and loved both the faculty and the students. Stern was my #1 pick before I even started working on my applications.

##  How did you prepare for the program before you began it?

I was still working full-time prior to the program starting, so I didn't have a chance to do much warming up before school. I primarily brushed up on my quant skills using GMAT guides since I am not the strongest quant, and I studied investment banking / Breaking Into Wall Street questions to get a head start. I also spoke to a lot of MBA1s (first-year MBA students) to get a grasp of how to best prepare for a cohesive start to school and recruiting. Speaking to current students is the best thing you can do to prepare.

##  What advice do you have for prospective students?

Getting an MBA is not only an investment in yourself but also a gift to yourself. You get to spend two years choosing what knowledge to consume, and you get to do it on your own terms while lining up a fruitful career that aligns with your interests & goals. Think carefully about what you want that experience to look like, and do everything you can to make that vision come to life.

##  What surprised you the most about Stern?

I read this a million times from students when I applied but I can't say it enough - Stern delivers on its EQ+IQ (and now +CQ - or cultural intelligence) promises. The student body is diverse, rich in experiences & perspectives, and beyond welcoming. Stern is the strongest community I have ever been a part of.

##  Who makes up your chosen family at NYU Stern?

It's tied for Consortium & Outclass. I met the Consortium folks at Orientation Program (OP) months before the program started, and we instantly became a family. We have monthly dinners to celebrate birthdays and catch up on life, and we are all a sounding board to each other professionally and personally. We celebrate our wins together and we are there to offer a hand if there are losses (but Consortium takes a lot more W's than L's). There isn't a single person in the Consortium that I couldn't go to for help and they really eased my move to the city from LA.

##  How has Stern prepared you for the recruiting process?

I did early recruiting beginning at the end of last spring and going into the summer. I was certain of what I wanted, and as soon as I articulated that, the career center gave me resources for my resume, cover letters, crafting my story, and most importantly - connections with current students. Those Sternies gave me immense resources, from sharing questions banks ask, to what to expect at interviews, even how to tie my tie.

##  How would you describe the Stern community?

I would describe Stern as a family. Even with 300+ people, everybody has a place where they fit in best and countless other welcoming places to join & collaborate. I am not usually one to strike up a conversation with strangers, but Stern is the exception; I feel I can talk to anyone and have a conversation that is meaningful or fun (or both).