When Lena walked into her VE classroom at Fort Hamilton High School in 2003, she had no idea that the experience would chart the course for her future in finance. As the VP of Marketing for her virtual business, she learned how real businesses operate. More importantly, she learned to lead with confidence, teamwork, and grit.
“I remember before one big competition, my team looked around the room at the other teams prepping for their presentations and said, ‘We didn’t come here to lose!’ Our teacher, Mary Grace Alfredo, helped us develop the skills to succeed during the year. It was now time to put what we learned to use, believe in our abilities, and win!” she recalls.
Moments like this helped prepare Lena for a career that’s been all about coordination, communication, and excellence. Today, she’s the Vice President of the Credit Trade Support Team at Blackstone, where she describes her role as a “traffic cop,” collaborating with numerous teams both internally and externally and ensuring all processes run smoothly.
Before Blackstone, Lena majored in Finance with a minor in Accounting at Brooklyn College.
As part of the VE program, Lena had the opportunity to pursue an internship at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York which was definitely exciting. But to get there, she had to interview with VE’s founder, Iris Blanc. “I was so nervous and intimidated to speak with Iris! For a high school kid, this was a big event” she laughs. “But I learned that nerves happen to everyone and overcoming the moments that make you uncomfortable is a great skill to have.” She must have done alright: she got the internship!
Her first observation at FRB: the Bank’s structure, with departments in Finance, Operations, Marketing, Human Resources, etc., looked very similar to how VE taught her about how a business operates. She realized that, although this was a new experience, she was well prepared because of VE. “VE gave me the confidence and building blocks to tackle every challenge that followed.”
Along the way, two mentors in particular made a difference in Lena’s life:
As a partner (now retired) with Deloitte, Joe Delaney worked with students at Fort Hamilton High School and regularly took an interest in their lives and journeys. “Whether by card, email, or a call, Joe has consistently been there through the years. He never forgets to tell us just how proud he is of our achievements in life and our careers. These little moments will always stay with me as constant reminders of the support and care from the entire VE community. Joe is a great example of how ‘keeping in touch’ is a modern-day superpower,” Lena says. [Editor’s note: Joe Delaney is also a member of VE’s Board of Directors.]
Lena Sun (Sixth from the left) with Joe Delaney (Fourth from the left) at the 2023 VE Gala, in which Joe received VEI’s Global Citizen Award. Also Pictured: Mei Zheng (third from the left) and Simon Chow (eighth from the left) were also in Lena’s VE class at Fort Hamilton.
Another mentor, Stephen Leit, met Lena while she was working part-time during college as a bank teller. Her ability to connect with customers and resolve their problems so impressed him, she eventually secured an interview at his company. This ended up being her first full-time finance job. “That moment changed everything,” she says.
Her advice for current VE students?
“Ask the question.” Too many times, we don’t ask, for fear of sounding silly, or unprepared. More likely, others have the same question, and will be grateful that you asked. “This is how we lose opportunities: we don’t ask the question.”
And one more thing:
“Recognize the power of human connection.” We say, “This could have been an email,” but emails don’t build relationships. People do. Lena’s connection with both Joe and Steven are great examples.
Why It Matters
Lena’s story shows what happens when preparation meets potential – and when mentors take the time to invest in students. VE’s business partners make these moments possible every day through volunteering, mentoring, and helping to shape the next generation of professionals.
Interested in getting involved?
Join VE as a mentor, judge, or partner and help students like Lena turn classroom lessons into lifelong success.