Beyond Graduation: Where the Class of 2026 Is Headed

After graduating this May, members of Minerva University’s undergraduate Class of 2026 are beginning careers across finance, technology, academic research, and entrepreneurship. Their next chapters include developing financial technology for a global institution, launching a cross-cultural psychology lab, and helping build an early-stage company.

While their backgrounds, disciplines, and ambitions differ, these graduates share the curiosity, creativity, and global perspective that define the Minerva experience. Each of them also worked closely with Minerva's Career and Talent Development (CTD) team along the way. We are proud to celebrate their accomplishments and the many ways they are putting their education into practice.

Shazil, a Computational Sciences and Business double major, will join the World Bank Treasury as a Quantitative and Financial Technology Analyst.

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"What excites me most is getting to work on financial technology that supports the Bank's global operations, where even small improvements can have a real impact. It's also a role that brings together both of my majors, which made it feel like a great fit from the start."

One class that really stood out to Shazil in preparing him for his new job opportunity was CS166: Modeling and Analysis of Complex Systems. "We used network theory and Monte Carlo simulations to analyze complex economic and financial systems. It gave me a strong foundation in quantitative thinking and problem-solving that I'll be using in this role."

Looking ahead, Shazil hopes to help make financial systems more efficient, secure, and ready for the next generation of technology. He’s especially interested in how large institutions are adopting AI responsibly, and is excited to learn how financial technology can be used to solve problems at a global scale while supporting the World Bank's development mission.

CTD was a steady resource throughout his time at Minerva. "I did a few mock interviews with my career coach, Neha, and her feedback was incredibly helpful during recruiting. I also found the workshops and career resources really useful as I prepared for internships and full-time roles."

Katerina, an Economics and Operations major from Indiana, will join JPMorganChase in Boston as an analyst in the Securities Services Leadership Program.

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"What drew me to the program is the opportunity to complete three rotations across different parts of the business, including product development, product management, and client service. I'm excited to see how different teams work together to support clients, gain exposure to multiple functions before specializing, and learn from mentors and managers across the organization."

For Katerina, co-founding and serving as president of 180 Degrees Consulting, a Minerva student initiative that connects student consultants with socially conscious organizations, had the biggest impact on her growth. 

"Over two years, we grew the organization to more than three times its original size, partnered with nonprofits, and built a team that could take on real client work. Leading the club meant recruiting members, managing projects, working through setbacks, and learning how to motivate people with different backgrounds and perspectives. It was also the experience I talked about most during my interviews because it taught me how to solve problems with a team while keeping the client's goals at the center."

Moving to a new city gives Katerina the opportunity to keep doing what Minerva taught her best: entering unfamiliar environments and learning from the people around her. "Professionally, I hope to build a strong foundation in Securities Services while developing a deeper understanding of how products, technology, and operations come together to solve complex problems. Over time, I hope to become someone who can connect different perspectives, contribute meaningful ideas, and lead teams that create thoughtful solutions for clients and organizations."

She credits her CTD coach, Rebecca, as one of the most influential people she worked with at Minerva. "She helped me prepare for my Venture Café Tokyo startup pitch, refine my interview responses, think through my Capstone project, and reflect on larger career decisions. What I valued most about working with Rebecca was her ability to ask thoughtful questions that encouraged me to reflect and find my own answers. She never simply told me what direction to take; instead, she helped me better understand my strengths, priorities, and long-term goals."

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Vitória, a Social Sciences and Natural Sciences double major from São Paulo, Brazil, with a minor in Neuroscience, will join the University of Massachusetts Amherst as lab manager of the Cognitive Developmental Cross-Cultural Psychology Lab, also known as the CoCo Lab.

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"I am very excited to work full-time in research, spending my days talking about hypothesis development and testing, learning new skills, and just overall joining a department with people who are nerdy about similar things to me. This is a new lab, so I am also excited to help get it started and envision what kind of place our three-person founding team aims to create."

Vitória reflects how two experiences prepared her directly: working as an intern at Minerva's Psychology Lab during her second summer, where she learned most of the basic research skills she now uses, and doing primary research in developmental psychology for her Capstone. “The Psych Lab was only in its second year of operation, so some of my responsibilities included creating systems and protocols, which is exactly what set me apart for this position. My Capstone study with ChildrenHelpingScience.com became the key work material I discussed throughout the hiring process.”

"As a lab manager, I hope to be able to mentor undergrad students in the lab on research best practices and critical thinking I learned from classes at Minerva, and be an advocate for more diversity and cultural nuance in the research we do. … In the long term, I want to work on children's moral development across cultures and design a more humanized K–12 education, especially in Brazil."

Vitória credits CTD for helping her throughout the search. "CTD has been one of my biggest supporters and resources in the process of my job search. Rachel had calls with me every two weeks for most of my senior year, discussing job prospects, mock interviews, and giving me emotional support to keep going. Maina and Rebecca were amazing mock interviewers and made me feel much more confident during the hiring process. I got two job offers at the beginning of June, and they were some of the first people I emailed about it. Up until the end, they helped me make an informed decision that fits my values and goals."

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Mariana Vilela Konovaloff Jannotti, a Computer Science and Business major from Belo Horizonte, Brazil, has joined the founding team of an early-stage AI startup backed by a16z speedrun.

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"We're building an AI product to solve one of the biggest challenges facing corporations and scale-ups today. What excites me most is the chance to build something from zero: shaping the product, talking directly to customers, and seeing our work make a real difference in how people work.

My Capstone project, where I developed a full startup business plan, was my first real immersion into the startup world. It went from validating an idea to thinking through go-to-market and business model questions. It gave me a working understanding of what building a company actually takes, which made the jump into my current role far less intimidating."

Ultimately, Mariana hopes to make the workplace a better place, where people feel happier, more supported, and more able to do meaningful work. “That mission is what I work toward every day, and I'm excited to see the company scale and to grow alongside it."

Regular check-ins with Rebecca at CTD helped her get there. "Those conversations helped me understand myself (my priorities, my values, what actually motivates me) far better than I would have on my own. That clarity was invaluable when I faced career decisions such as choosing between a stable corporate path and the uncertainty of joining a startup."

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The Class of 2026 leaves Minerva ready to take on new challenges, build meaningful work, and contribute in ways that extend far beyond the classroom. We look forward to following their work and celebrating what they accomplish along the way.

Discover where more Minerva alumni are making an impact, and learn how Career and Talent Development helps students turn their interests, experiences, and ambitions into meaningful next steps.