J.J. Pilapil’s Path to a Career in Finance

When first started his journey at ��, he didn’t envision a career in finance. Born in the Philippines, raised in Germany, and later moving to San Diego in 2008, he took a non-traditional path to business. Originally enrolled as a physics major, he later switched to criminology before venturing into an entrepreneurial stint, where he opened and managed restaurants for two and a half years. Eventually, he returned to �� and CoBA, adding a business administration major with an emphasis in Finance to round out his knowledge and experience.

This decision proved to be a game-changer as Pilapil graduated last December with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and an emphasis in finance. He also successfully secured a position in January as a Performance Analyst at Meketa Investment Group, where he now generates performance reports for institutional investors.

How CoBA Prepared J.J. for Success

Reflecting on his academic experience, Pilapil credits several impactful courses and professors for shaping his knowledge and career readiness. His most memorable classes include Investment Analysis with Professor Thompson, Securities Analysis with Dr. Rauterkus, Advanced Corporate Finance with Dr. Kim, and Multinational Financial Management with Dr. Sun. "The aggregate information from each of these classes provided the best foundation to prepare me for my current role," he shared.

Beyond the classroom, CoBA’s student organizations played a crucial role in his professional development.

“The Finance Society provided me the opportunity to network with industry professionals and introduced me to the spectrum of careers available within the field of finance. Additionally, the Finance Society helped me find a community of like-minded individuals who are interested in a career in finance.” Pilapil, also, credits the Cougar Fund as, “…it provided a medium for me to bridge academia and the real world where I can apply lessons learned in lectures to researching and choosing stocks for a stock portfolio funded with real money.”

The Power of Mentorship and Networking

In addition to CoBA’s internal resources, Pilapil also benefited from mentorship and support from industry professionals.

“A member of the [��] Foundation Board went above and beyond to help me and the Cougar Fund. At the end of the year, members of the Cougar Fund presented to members of the Foundation Board, and we wanted to continue to elevate the quality of our presentation. We asked one of the members for advice and feedback on our presentation, which they did on their own time. We ended up improving the quality of our presentation deck and presenting a moving message to the board as well, all with the help of one of the board members.”

To further support student success, CoBA launched the Career Mentor Program in Fall 2024, creating new opportunities for students to connect with experienced professionals. The program expands student interaction with alumni and the business community, providing invaluable career guidance and networking opportunities. Currently serving over 150 students, the Career Mentor Program pairs CoBA students with mentors who offer industry insight, career advice, and professional development support. In addition to the Career Mentor Program, CoBA also started the Peer Mentorship Program in Fall 2024, allowing an additional 150 freshman pre-business students to learn from junior and senior CoBA students, like J.J., as the new students navigate the start of their educational journey. Mentorship from start to finish is just one example of how CoBA supports student success.

Looking Ahead

When J.J.’s not working, he is balancing professional growth with personal interests. He’s discovering new hobbies, catching up on lost sleep, and studying for the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Level 1 exam. As Pilapil reflects on his time at CoBA, he would like to remind students that networking and preparation are key to success. “The more people you connect with, the higher your chances of landing an opportunity,” said Pilapil, but, one must always be prepared to strike because if you’re not prepared when the opportunity presents itself, “…luck will pass you by.”

Bridging Education and Career Success

J.J. Pilapil’s journey from student to business professional exemplifies the impact of CoBA’s well-rounded student success strategy. Through CoBA’s 3 pillars of quality AACSB business education, career readiness focus, and extensive community partnerships, J.J. developed the skills and connections that helped launch his business career. CoBA’s commitment to fostering professionalism and real-world experience ensures that students are not only prepared academically, but are also equipped with the industry insights and relationships needed to succeed. As CoBA continues to expand its success initiatives, students will have even more opportunities to learn, grow, and position themselves for success—just as Pilapil did.

��������