Sesilia Min graduated in 2018 with a BS in Hospitality Management and a concentration in Marketing and Revenue Management, from the Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality. She is currently a Financial Advisory Consultant at Deloitte, a global professional services provider and one of the Big Four accounting organizations.
What has your journey been like after graduating NYU?
I graduated two semesters early because I wanted to start working without delay. After graduating, I was able to gain an excellent work experience at Highgate as a Revenue Analyst for two years in New York City. I was ready to learn and grow as a true hospitality professional once I graduated, so I did not hesitate to take an opportunity to join the Revenue Management team at Highgate! As an analyst, I optimized our revenue streams by identifying demand generators/competitors of a hotel and determined its pricing strategies, forecasts, and pace analysis. The most memorable project that I have done was transitioning The James New York NoMad Hotel from Denihan Hospitality to Highgate on a tight timeline. The work opportunity at Highgate after graduating NYU certainly provided my first substantial step in growing up as a real professional.
Can you talk about your current role at Deloitte?
I am currently working as a third year Consultant based in the Korea office. My core responsibility is to provide financial advisory services focused on the Real Estate business sector. As a hospitality industry professional, I formulate market feasibility studies for hotel development projects and conduct FA services for major hospitality investors, including due diligence, investment analysis, and transaction management plans. It has been a great experience with an outstanding team in Korea so far!
What are you passionate about in the work that you do?
I am passionate about new opportunities - not only in the work that I do, but during my leisure time as well. I like to explore new ideas and challenge myself. For instance, meeting new people from various cultures fascinates me in diverse ways. I love to interact and share my thoughts with others. I believe this passion has helped me to break out of my comfort zone and step into a bigger world.
In what ways has your NYU experience had an impact on your career and shaped who you are today?
At NYU, I loved engaging with professors and advisors. Not only would I receive meaningful advice from these professionals, but it also allowed me to develop my career goals. They listened to what I liked, what I wanted, what I was interested in – and provided personal guidance and encouraged me on my path. Also, I attended various networking events that the Wasserman Center offered. Through those events, I was able to meet and talk to industry professionals from different backgrounds. There is no doubt that the NYU community impacted my career path and shaped who I am today.
What career advice would you give to NYU students?
I certainly would like to tell NYU students to use the resources provided by the school. For example, NYU hosts career events and invites guest speakers from various industries. From those events, I am sure you will get to learn more about the industry you are interested in. Moreover, connect with NYU alumni through the Violet Network platform or LinkedIn! Most alumni would be more than happy to listen to your concerns and give practical advice. Lastly, be confident in what you really love to do. If you know what you LIKE and CAN to do in the future, do not hesitate and move forward!