Advisee Spotlight: Steven Zhang

At CareerSpring, we believe that opportunity is everything—especially for the FGLI Advisees in our Network. That’s why partnerships that open real-world doors are at the heart of our mission.

This summer, we partnered with Commodities People’s Future Leaders Initiative to provide student passes for our Advisees to attend the Commodity Trading Week Conference in Stamford, CT. The event brought together major players in global markets, offering a unique lens into the fast-moving world of commodities trading, sustainable finance, and risk management. Through this partnership, CareerSpring was proud to invite a group of Advisees from across the Tri-State Area to participate—students from institutions including Columbia University, Baruch College, Fairfield University, Fordham University, and more had the chance to gain critical insights and network directly with professionals shaping the future of the industry.

One of the attendees was Steven Zhang, a CareerSpring Advisee and first-generation college student at Columbia University studying Economics and Political Science, with a minor in Sustainable Development. Reflecting on the experience, Steven shared: “Over two days, I had the privilege of attending insightful panels and engaging directly with industry leaders who openly shared their expertise and perspectives on the future of commodities trading…For a first-generation student aspiring to enter commodities trading, this opportunity was genuinely inspiring and motivating. I left the conference with newfound clarity, valuable connections, and an even stronger commitment to pursuing a career in commodities trading.”

For Steven and the other Advisees in attendance, the conference was more than just a learning experience—it was a tangible reminder that curiosity, preparation, and saying “yes” to new opportunities can unlock doors to careers they may have never imagined.

We continue to expand on these unique learning experiences for our Advisees—whether through large-scale conferences, Lunch & Learns, or virtual information sessions. We encourage all the FGLI students we support to deepen their career exploration through our Network!

If your company is interested in sharing opportunities with the CareerSpring Network, contact our team today at learnmore@careerspring.org.