The good Cornellians can do: Valentina Xu ’22

Valentina Xu '22, currently a second-year analyst at Goldman Sachs, shares her story of supporting women in extreme poverty.

"I was a Hotelie and everyday when I walked out of Statler Hall, I used to see a quote by E. M. Statler that said ‘Life is service – the one who progresses is the one who gives his fellow men a little more – a little better service.’ Servant leadership is something rooted in my education, and my aspiration. Through Goldman Sachs's Analyst Impact Fund, I worked with Trickle Up, a global nonprofit based in New York City that focuses on helping women in extreme poverty start micro-enterprises and savings. After rounds of pitching, my team made it to the final four teams from 300 global teams, and we had a chance to present in front of Goldman's current CEO David Solomon, previous CEO LLoyd Blankfein, and more than 30 other senior partners. We won the fan favorite prize and helped Trickle Up raise $125,000, which will benefit thousands of women in extreme poverty through coaching and empowerment. After the competition ended, my team and I have been continuing to work with Trickle Up to help raise awareness and fundraise. It has been a really inspiring experience. "

Cornellians around the globe are sharing how they do good in communities big and small. Share your own story.