Born and raised in Dakar, Senegal, Baye Samba Fall (pictured left) always had a passion for school. It wasn’t until he picked up the game of basketball at 13 that he realized he could combine these two passions. He attended SEED Academy from 2008-10 and earned a scholarship to attend Wilson High School (Texas) where he went on to secure a scholarship to attend York College. After injuries cut short his collegiate career, Baye re-dedicated himself to his studies with a focus on finance and accounting.
It was in the summer of 2015 while interning for SEED in NYC that Baye met SEED Professional Board Member and former Syracuse basketball player, Todd Burach, through SEED’s professional mentoring program. They quickly formed a bond, and Todd helped Baye over the course of the next year navigate his network and eventually land a Summer Analyst position at JP Morgan.
After a successful summer, Baye was rewarded with a full-time offer at JP Morgan upon his graduation from SUNY Brockport University in June ’17.
Please read below for a personal reflection from Baye.
From Senegal to JP Morgan by Baye Samba Fall
“I recall heading to the NY Offices of JP Morgan, for my first day at my summer internship the same way I remember coming to the United States six years ago; I was anxious, excited, and felt unseemly out of place, as if I didn’t deserve to be there. Growing up in Senegal, people don’t frequently have the chance to intern on Wall Street, let alone a major firm like JP Morgan.
From the very first day with JP Morgan, I was embraced as a member of the team and legitimately expected to make a contribution. I immediately hit the ground running, working on high-level material for senior management.
This internship may not have been possible without the incredible help and mentoring from Todd Burach. Todd went above and beyond to help me secure an internship — from resume and cover letter writing to tips on interview etiquette, his advice played a crucial role in me securing this internship.
I am really excited about my future.”