What Being a NAF Alumni Means to Me

James Norman

11/09/2023

ALC Members, James G. Norman (left) and Shatiek J. Gatlin (right)

Happy NAF Alumni Month! Every November, the NAF Alumni Network plans a series of special events for our alumni – including virtual and in-person gatherings – to share their stories, network, and learn more about getting involved with NAF!

As a NAF AOF alumnus and member of the Alumni Leadership Council (ALC), I am honored to tell you more about what being a NAF alum means to me!

Being a NAF alum means having the tools to walk into any room and punch above my weight. It also means investing in and paying it forward to the next generation of leaders, as NAF invested so much in me so early on in my professional journey.

I graduated from the High School of Economics and Finance in New York City in 2014. While there, I was a part of the Academy of Finance. There were so many highlights I can think of while attending the Academy of Finance, from the job shadows to the alumni interactions. However, the one highlight that stands above the rest is getting the call that I was being offered my first internship ever at Ernst & Young (now known as EY). It was a highly coveted opportunity in my school and to be the one to earn the internship, was not only a highlight of my NAF experience, but to this day is a highlight of my career.

NAF’s programming had equipped me with the tools needed to succeed during my interview and more importantly, during my placement. Something I learned about myself was that I had the skills to succeed in any setting. NAF helped me to refine those skills. Today, I am a Senior Associate at Grant Thornton LLP, where we provide management consulting for banks and other financial institutions.

I learned about the NAF Alumni Network when I graduated from college. I was looking for avenues to give back to upcoming students and professionals and came across the NAF Alumni Network. I immediately thought it was a perfect match – paying it forward to those coming up the ranks and doing it through the program that jump started my career. Soon after, I joined the ALC. My NAF alumni experience has been stellar. Some of my favorite experiences include representing the ALC at NAF Next, having an active hand in brainstorming initiatives that will further strengthen and expand alumni engagement, and returning to my high school to be the keynote speaker for the Class of 2023’s commencement. It was a full circle moment – returning to the place where it all started and delivering an encouraging message to the next generation, as a professional, as an example, as a NAF alum.

Some advice I would give to this year’s NAF seniors is to always keep an open mind and welcome new opportunities. At this stage, you are going to start exploring what it is you want to do with your career. Many opportunities in the form of internships, jobs, networking events, and more will start to surface and it is up to you to be open, do your due diligence, and then make an informed decision.

Also, pay it forward. Find your way of giving back and give as much as you can. Joining the NAF Alumni Network will give you the opportunity to give back in many different forms. Whether it be mentoring, joining an advisory board, or even just telling your story, you will be inspiring the next generation and helping someone see that they too can excel and accomplish their dreams. Someone opened the door for you and me, it is our responsibility to keep the cycle going. We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.