Our Founder, Managing Partner and Chief Investment Officer, Dmitry Balyasny, recently sat down for an introduction and Q&A with the Class of 2022 ATLAS Fellows. ATLAS Fellows, Inc., which was founded in 2021 with support from BAM, aims to transform the finance sector by opening doors for brilliant and under-resourced young people and providing access to life-changing careers.
This four-year college and career development program recruits high school seniors interested in finance and allows them to gain industry experience by placing them in full-time paid internships at top financial firms. ATLAS Fellows are guaranteed a first-year internship at BAM and offered up to $20,000 a year in financial assistance for college for up to four years. This year, ATLAS welcomed 25 new Fellows – forming the second cohort of their program.
“Meeting with one of BAM’s Founders was a great experience and truly showed me that BAM’s culture trickles from the top down”, said Bryce Perkins, 2022 Fellow. “Dmitry gave us great insights into the beginning of his career, where he is now, and the lessons he learned along the way. Engaging with him showed me how much BAM cares about ATLAS and that this program is an opportunity for us to forge our paths. Discussions like this make me feel even more motivated to become successful in this industry and pay forward the excellent opportunity that this program has provided for me.”
In addition to introducing himself to the Fellows, Dmitry shared his hopes for what ATLAS will achieve – which is improving the reputation of the finance industry, becoming a stronger sector by employing talent with diverse experiences and perspectives, and making finance a more obtainable career for anyone with the aptitude and talent.
“Meeting with the leadership team at any company can be very intimidating, but within minutes I was able to see how down-to-earth the culture at BAM is and how committed Dmitry is to this company and the people within”, said Damaris Mejia, 2022 Fellow. “I felt inspired -- instead of anxious – to be surrounded by a leader at a top financial firm. I realize that as a daughter of an immigrant family, this opportunity is extremely rare, but BAM opening their doors to us allows us to be the new faces of the finance industry.”
BAM is proud to continue partnering with ATLAS to help transform the finance sector – one young person at a time. To learn more about the ATLAS program, visit their website at atlasfellows.org.