ISFB Insight
Raphaël Pinto’s Feedback on His Participation in the 2025 Summer School
March 25, 2026
Aimed at students and recent graduates who want to gain practical experience in banking and finance, the ISFB Summer School offers an intensive immersion in the heart of the financial center. Through presentations by professionals, case studies, and direct exchanges with industry players, it aims to bridge the gap between academic training and operational realities. A few months after the 2025 summer session, a former participant looks back on this experience and the role it played in his entry into the job market.
You attended the ISFB Summer School during the summer session of 2025. What stands out most in your memory?
What stands out most to me is how practical the Summer School was. We weren’t dealing with theoretical professors, but with professionals who are actually working in banking today. They talked about their day-to-day lives, their jobs, what works, and what’s more challenging. It allowed me to discover many different fields, such as corporate banking, private banking, M&A, and retail, and above all, to better understand the reality of the sector, unfiltered.
A few months after the Summer School ended, you found a job in the banking and finance sector. How did the Summer School help you establish yourself in the job market?
The Summer School definitely helped me position myself more effectively. I gained a better understanding of how to speak to recruiters, what words to use, and, most importantly, how to align my background with the actual needs of the job market. It gave me a clearer picture of the various career paths and helped me feel more confident and credible during interviews. I had a clearer sense of where I wanted to go—and why.
Would you recommend that students or recent college graduates sign up for the next session?
Yes, definitely. I recommend it to anyone interested in banking and finance but who still lacks a concrete understanding of the field. It’s an excellent bridge between academia and the professional world. You save time, avoid certain misconceptions, and come away with a much more realistic view of the industry and its opportunities.
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