Daphne Nwobike
Staff Writer
On Thursday, February 8, the Babson Center of Global Commerce invited Simba Chakanyuka (C ‘18), the Bryan Viewpoints Speaker for the Easter 2024 Semester, to share the details of his career journey, beginning with his experience as an international student at Sewanee to working at BlackRock. He sat down with The Purple to share an inside look into his Sewanee experience, how he landed his role at BlackRock, and the tips of success that Sewanee students should keep in their repertoires as they begin their careers.
Question: What was your Sewanee experience like, especially as an international student? What did you major and minor in?
Chakanyuka: Overall, looking at it, I would say it was good. Sewanee, being the first place I got to, made the transition easier because I had very low expectations of what to expect compared to other students coming from bigger communities. The first semester of my freshman year, I was absolutely outgoing, joining clubs, meeting people, and going to fraternity houses. But, during the second semester, I realized this was not sustainable and wanted to be more careful with how I spent my time. That’s when I started picking up who my friends were. I was at a stage of life where I had to make decisions. What do I want to do? Where do I want to go? Do I want to go back to Zimbabwe right after I graduate? What industry am I into? I came to Sewanee as a Physics major, but there was a shift during my freshman year when I realized that I didn’t want to be a physics major anymore. What was the next thing I could do? There were a lot of options.
Question: So, how did you begin to set yourself up for success after Sewanee?
Chakanyuka: One thing I quickly realized when I got here was that I didn’t have the luxury to not think beyond Sewanee. So, when I changed my physics major, I discovered that I was interested in finance. I applied for the Carey fellowship and started going to the Babson Center, where they showed me what businesses in the U.S. looked like. I started applying for things, and I applied for an internship with BlackRock. I knew that two months [of working] was basically a two-month-long interview, so I had to grind, ask questions, and network. By the time I came back for my senior year, I had already accepted a job offer from them.
Question: What other leadership roles did you have outside of Carey?
Chakanyuka: So I was part of the OCCU. That cohort of community was a strong piece of my Sewanee story, and they let me be the President. I was a member of Gamma Sigma Phi, and I made lifelong friendships that I probably wouldn’t have made otherwise.
Question: What are some positive lessons you’ve learned along your journey?
Chakanyuka: I would say adaptability and resilience. It was a skill I needed, especially after moving from Zimbabwe to Sewanee, then to New York, then to London, and back to New York again. Secondly, it is important to have a drive for success but be comfortable with failure. Listening is really important. Not just listening for things that’ll make more money but listening to people’s stories and connecting with people on a deeper level.
Question: What advice do you have for international students who are also trying to map out their futures?
Chakanyuka: If international students appreciate and understand the fact that they don’t have as much time as non-international students if they want to work in the U.S., they will be able to do more research and more planning at an earlier point in their career. I don’t think senior year is the year to apply for jobs. In interviews, don’t be afraid to tell interviewers who you are and how far you’ve come to get to that point.
Question: Any closing remarks or lack of comments?
Chakanyuka: I didn’t get to enjoy my senior year because I was focused on getting ready for my job even though 90 percent of my job is teachable. So enjoy your senior year, and take advantage of your resources. Once you’re out there, there’s no going back, and it just keeps moving.