Vietnamese student in US secures job at world-class investment bank before graduation

Ngo Minh Anh, 23, was hired following her accurate evaluation of a business's value at US$2.7 billion during her internship, a feat that caught the attention of senior leaders at the bank.

Anh graduated in 2024 with a GPA of 3.84/4 from UPenn, an Ivy League school ranked among the top 10 universities in the United States according to U.S. News and World Report. A year before her graduation, Anh was hired by Deutsche Bank, a prominent member of the Bulge Bracket, a group of the world's largest and most influential investment banks, according to the Financial Times.

"Securing a job before entering my final year makes me feel relieved," Anh said.

Her interest in investment banking started in her first year at university. Investment banks are known for working primarily with businesses and providing consultation on mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and capital mobilization. Anh's dedication paid off, offering her a rare opportunity to engage with top executives and hear their strategies firsthand.

Anh first applied for an internship at Deutsche Bank in her second year. Her application process began with submitting a personal profile and a recommendation letter, followed by a phone interview with a UPenn alumni working at the bank. This alumni played a key role in determining whether Anh could progress to the final round of interviews.

The final round consisted of 3-4 continuous interviews across multiple departments at Deutsche Bank. Though the interviews were typically conducted in person, Anh was able to do them online amid the Covid-19 pandemic. One particular interview question about explaining a money flow model proved challenging for Anh. Despite receiving suggestions from the interviewers, she was unable to complete the task fully. However, she followed up with a detailed email providing her solution.

A lot of people lose hope after failing to answer a question or two, Anh said, adding that she instead felt it was important to show employers that one had the willingness to learn and the capabilities to improve.

Just one day later, Anh received confirmation that she had secured an internship at Deutsche Bank. During the internship, her primary responsibilities included building models to evaluate businesses and preparing meeting documents.

In the summer of her third year, Anh's task was to evaluate the value of a business that could be acquired by a strategic investor. She determined the company's value to be $2.7 billion, and just one week later, the business was sold for the same price.

"Several people asked me if I had insider information, but I simply conducted thorough research and ran the model to reach that number," Anh explained.

The day after completing her internship, Anh received a formal job offer from Deutsche Bank, a notable feat for someone who had not yet entered her final year of university.

Anh credits her success to her ability to learn independently. Over her two summers as an intern, she developed her skills in building models and using spreadsheets, often turning to her Vietnamese contacts in the financial sector for advice and resources.

Anh also balanced her academic and professional pursuits with extracurricular activities.

Since she was 8 years old, Anh has practiced karate, and even in the U.S., she continued training and competed for the UPenn karate team, winning several medals. Additionally, she served as the vice president of UPenn's startup club and chaired the Model United Nations (MUN) among Ivy League schools. One of her entrepreneurial projects, which involved making cakes using Vietnamese ingredients and French techniques, won a $2,500 prize from the startup club.

Lauren Hooks, director of UPenn’s Food Innovation Laboratory, praised Anh’s idea of using culinary products to spread Vietnamese culture. She also commended Anh for her hardworking nature and ability to create a comfortable environment for her colleagues.

However, Anh's transition to a full-time job at Deutsche Bank was not without its challenges. In the early days, she faced the pressure of working up to 80 hours a week, leaving her with just 3-4 hours of sleep each day. But Anh soon adapted by creating a structured timetable, allowing time for her continued karate training, baking, and even running marathons.

Anh has now adjusted to her job and is considering the possibility of returning to Vietnam in the future to offer consultations in both the finance and food and beverage sectors.