In this episode of the Coffee Chat podcast, host Ben sits down with Nick, a first-year student at the University of Illinois, to discuss early-stage recruiting strategy for investment banking. From navigating location preferences (Chicago vs. New York) to building your narrative, this episode gives a front-row seat to the decisions that matter most—early.

You'll hear actionable advice on how to structure a productive freshman summer, how many banks to target, why managing your story across cities is key, and what kind of networking milestones to hit. Whether you're a freshman mapping out your future or someone recalibrating your recruiting strategy, this is your blueprint to staying focused and competitive.