Lionsbridge: Finance is a free, four-day, in-person workshop designed to introduce Columbia first- and second-year students to the world of finance and to prepare them for internships and career opportunities.
The on-campus program will occur from January 12 to January 15, 2027.
To learn more about the program attend the virtual information session on October 19, 2026 at noon.
Interested in consulting? Check out our new program, Lionsbridge: Consulting.
During Lionsbridge: Finance, students are taught by industry expert Chris McGowan CC ’92 about accounting, finance, and valuation concepts through lectures, group exercises, and individual financial modeling exercises. Students also participate in site visits to NYC-based finance firms where they can network with industry professionals and gain firsthand insights into working in this industry.
Lionsbridge: Finance Fellows will:
- Build their skills through classes on accounting, finance, and valuation concepts
- Visit NYC-based finance firms through site visits hosted by Columbia alumni
- Share their resumes with Columbia alumni in finance through a Lionsbridge: Finance Resume Book
- Engage in virtual follow-on monthly lectures in the spring to keep their skills and finance vocabulary sharp
- Receive tailored support from CCE
Lionsbridge: Finance is a unique opportunity to explore the world of finance and sharpen your skills. This program is especially suited for students who are interested in learning about and potentially pursuing a career in finance but have little to no experience or training in the industry.
100% of 2025 and 2026 Lionsbridge Fellows would recommend the program to a fellow student.
Lionsbridge: Finance is a highly interactive program, and students will need to commit to all components. Attendance at the in-person January sessions (January 12–15, 2027) is mandatory. Students will be expected to work collaboratively with peer participants and engage with alumni and employer hosts at networking sessions in the evening. If you are accepted to the program, we expect that you will prioritize Lionsbridge: Finance over other commitments for the duration of the program.
Read more about the program and hear what your peers have to say about their experiences in our In the Know post Lionbridge Finance Boot Camp Completes Pilot Run and in Columbia College Today.
Questions? Stop by Quick Questions or e-mail Paige Allen at pea2124@columbia.edu.
Eligibility
- You must be a currently enrolled full-time undergraduate student at Columbia College, the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science, or the School of General Studies.
- Students with direct prior experience in financial services through internships or other extracurriculars will not be considered eligible.
- Students who are already members of one or more of Columbia’s competitive pre-professional finance-related clubs will not be considered eligible for Lionsbridge: Finance.
- Students on a leave of absence or who have withdrawn from Columbia University are not eligible.
- You must be a currently registered student in good academic and disciplinary standing.*
- International students are eligible to participate. This is considered a career exploration opportunity and therefore does not count as off-campus employment.
- International students do not need to secure OPT or CPT to participate.
Please note that this program is specifically designed for first-year and second-year students. Priority will be given to those students in the application process.
*By submitting an application, you authorize the Center for Career Education to conduct academic and disciplinary checks to confirm program eligibility. Certain University policy violations may disqualify you from consideration.
Application Process & Timeline
Application Process
The Lionsbridge: Finance application will go live on LionSHARE, powered by Handshake, on Monday, October 12, 2026. Applications are due by Wednesday, November 4, 2026 at 11:59 pm.
To apply, you must submit:
- your resume (one page)
- your unofficial transcript or a screenshot of your course schedule from SSOL (please do not submit high school transcripts; see FAQs below)
- the application form (to be posted soon) which includes:
- an answer to the following prompt in one to two paragraphs:
- Why are you interested in participating in the Lionsbridge: Finance program? What do you hope to gain from the experience?
- a list of all extracurricular activities and membership of Student Clubs and Organizations. (Please note: Students who are already members of one or more of Columbia’s competitive pre-professional finance-related clubs will not be considered for Lionsbridge: Finance.)
- an answer to the following prompt in one to two paragraphs:
Important note: Please do not use AI to generate your short response to this prompt. These questions invite you to share your personal and genuine interest and motivation for participating in this program.
By applying to Lionsbridge: Finance, you consent to sharing your materials with Lionsbridge: Finance instructor Chris McGowan as part of the application review process.
2026–2027 Timeline
October 12, 2026 — Application Opens
October 19, 2026 at 12:00 pm — Virtual Information Session
November 4, 2026 at 11:59 pm — Application Closes
December 15, 2026 — Mandatory In-Person Orientation
January 12–15, 2027 — Lionsbridge: Finance Program (January 12 will feature a short afternoon session, followed by the three full days of the program)
TBD — Follow-up Sessions in the Spring Semester
FAQs
How many students will participate in Lionsbridge?
Due to extraordinary interest, this year’s program will be expanded with the goal of accepting approximately 100 students into the cohort.
Are there any prerequisites for this program?
Lionsbridge: Finance is designed to introduce students to finance, accounting, and valuation concepts. While we’re looking for applicants with an interest in these areas, we do not expect applicants to have had previous experience with them. We are intentionally seeking applicants who have had little to no internship or extracurricular experience in these areas.
How can I write a compelling statement?
We encourage students to be authentic in outlining their interest and motivation for participating in Lionsbridge: Finance. As such, highlighting your interest, commitment, and motivation for the program is essential when crafting your short statement. In short, we want to know why you want to do Lionsbridge: Finance, how this fits into your career exploration, and that you will actively participate and fulfill program requirements.
Please do not use AI to generate these responses.
Can I get help with my materials?
Yes, CCE offers Quick Questions, virtually or in person, daily between 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm. We strongly encourage students to visit us to review your statement and resume, as these materials form important components of your application package.
What does the day-to-day of the program look like?
Lionsbridge: Finance is a highly interactive program, and students will need to commit to all components of the program. Attendance at the in-person January sessions (January 12–15, 2027) is mandatory. A typical day will begin at 8:30 am (or earlier) and include an early evening site visit to an NYC-based firm. Students will be expected to work collaboratively with peer participants and engage with alumni and employer hosts, including at networking sessions in the evenings.
If I am a junior or senior, can I still apply?
Lionsbridge is designed for first- and second-year students. Priority will be given to those students in the application process.
I am interested in both the Lionsbridge: Finance and Lionsbridge: Consulting programs. Can I apply to both?
If you are genuinely interested in and eligible for both programs (i.e., a sophomore), you may apply to both. You must submit two separate applications indicating your specific interest in each program. You will be asked to rank your preference in your short answer submission.
What type of transcript do I need to submit?
Your unofficial transcript from the Columbia registrar’s office is preferred. We also accept a copy of your course schedule from SSOL. We do not accept high school transcripts. If you are a first-year student or do not have a transcript that shows all of your Columbia courses, a screenshot of your course schedule is sufficient.
Will I have to arrange for my own lodging or meals?
No. The dorms reopen prior to the start of the spring semester, so you will be able to move back into your room the week of Lionsbridge. Meals will be supplied for January 13–15, 2027, the three full days of Lionsbridge: Finance.
About the Lead Instructor
Chris McGowan (CC’92, BA, Pure Mathematics) has been a private equity and venture capital investor for 30 years. He is also an Adjunct Professor of Entrepreneurship at University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business, where he has taught finance classes and seminars focused on private equity and venture capital for 14 years. Chris trained as an Analyst at Morgan Stanley and as an Associate at AEA Investors before attending Harvard Business School. After getting his MBA, he spent an additional 12 years in private equity at Madison Dearborn Partners before starting CJM Ventures, a growth equity and private equity investment firm focused on investments in Chicago and London. He has served on over 30 boards, including Autism Home Support Services, Consumer Ventures, Hyde Park Angels, Hyde Park Venture Partners, Kenna Security, OPTO International, Psycle London, Simple Mills, and Spikeball. Chris is also an active angel investor whose recent investments include Alnair Therapeutics, AuditSight, Awakened Foods, BallotReady, Farmers Fridge, Klover, Made In Cookware, Nanograph, nOCD, Pacha Soap, Packback, ParkWhiz, PopWheels, Provi, ShipBob, Stroma Vision, Techstars, and ThinkCerca. Chris married his high school and college sweetheart, Sandy Wang (CC ’92), and serves on the SHSAA Board of Trustees for Stuyvesant High School, where he attended high school with Sandy in New York City.
