Interested in both economics and computer science, Zoe Buck ’20 was able to find a career that seamlessly integrated both. As a Data Analyst for Bella Private Markets, a consulting firm, Buck supports clients by examining and assessing financial data.
During her childhood and her time at M-A, Buck was involved in gymnastics, specifically training in aerial silks. “It was like fabric that hangs from the ceiling, so you do acrobatics on it, which was always very fun,” she said.
Buck appreciated her time at M-A, especially liking the school’s size. “It’s nice going to a big high school just because there’s so much stuff to do. There were a lot of different club options,” she said.
One of Buck’s most memorable classes at M-A was AP European History with John Florio, which she enjoyed for its difficulty. “The class was definitely more challenging than the stuff I was used to. I feel like it hit that benchmark of good college prep, and it definitely pushed me to improve my writing,” she said. “It was a good chance to push myself academically.”
Another favorite teacher of Buck’s was English teacher Lisa Otsuka. “She helped me improve my writing. A lot of teachers in college sometimes don’t give quite as detailed notes on stuff,” she said. “I think a lot of the teachers that M-A really took the time to provide very detailed feedback, and you could tell they really wanted you to improve,” she said.
Buck was also involved in Leadership at M-A, and helped to organize school dances and the Canned Food Drive. She appreciated how the class compelled her to volunteer more. “I’m very goal-oriented. It was nice that leadership gave you a set number of volunteer hours you need to get, because I think it’s very motivating to have a specific number,” Buck said.
While at M-A, Buck was also vice president of M-A’s chapter of the Leo Club, an international organization dedicated to fostering leadership among youth via local service initiatives, which provided her the opportunity to support local veterans’ groups. “They used to do a bunch of stuff with the VA [Veterans Affair Hospital], so that was really nice to sort of feel more connected to the community,” she said.
Buck gained organizational skills by being a member of the club. “It was nice to have a chance to plan some events. And I think that those are the sort of soft skills. It’s good to start building them, they help you later on in life too. It was a very rewarding experience, for sure,” she said.
After graduating, Buck attended Smith College in Massachusetts. Her decision to attend Smith came down to its small campus and stark contrast to M-A. “After going to a larger high school, I sort of wanted to try going to a smaller college. It was a very classic, small liberal arts school, with small classes and cozy vibes,” she said. “I feel like moving across the country was nice. It’s also all women, so it’s a very safe environment to try something new.”
While attending Smith, Buck double-majored in economics and computer science, choosing economics for its variety of applications and computer science due to her growing interest in it. “I wasn’t exactly sure what I wanted to do going into college. I saw economics as a good jumping point, because I think it gives you a bit of flexibility career-wise, she said. “I also just had extra classes, so I started taking computer science.”
Buck initially found computer science daunting due to her Bay Area background. “I was a little intimidated, because, especially in the Bay Area, I feel like a lot of people seem like they’ve been coding since birth. I think in college, especially the program at my school, the beginner classes were way less intimidating than I thought, so I just started taking them,” she said. “At some point, I was through what people consider the ‘hardest class taught [in computer science?],’ and I was like, ‘I might as well just major in it now,’” she said.
During her sophomore year at Smith, Buck worked as a Software Engineering Intern for Collective Health, where she coded an internal tool for the company to use. “I just had this entire project to myself, so I was able to work on a bunch of different aspects of it and sort of have full ownership over the project, which was cool and a great learning opportunity,” she said. “There are definitely a lot of software skills that aren’t necessarily covered in some of the computer science classes. It was definitely valuable.”
In her junior year, Buck studied abroad at the London School of Economics (LSE). Known for its large population of international students, LSE provided Buck with the opportunity to meet a diverse group of students. “It was nice to meet so many different people from all different walks of life,” she said.
After graduating, Buck took on her current position—a data analyst for Bella Private Markets, a private equity consulting firm. She was drawn to the position because of her background in computer science, economics, and her experience growing up in the Bay Area. “It felt like a good application of the technical skills from computer science in a somewhat economics field,” Buck said. “Private equity also interested me just growing up in the Bay Area, because it is definitely a hot spot for that sort of activity. You see so many startups on the news and stuff, it’s nice to be involved as an insider.”
In her current role, Buck works on a broad spectrum of initiatives. “[My] projects can range from technical development to client-facing initiatives. For example, I’ve even had the opportunity to assist at a finance workshop in Saudi Arabia,” she said. “I typically work as part of a team, but am generally focused on a subtask as part of a larger project that I will work on myself. I then get feedback from other team members on my portion at various points.”
Through being a data analyst, Buck has learned the importance of being resilient and thorough. “One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is the importance of adaptability. Priorities can shift quickly as clients may introduce new requirements, or projects may require learning new tools and technologies on short notice. Being able to pivot and get up to speed efficiently is important,” she said.
“This role has also reinforced the importance of attention to detail. Small elements, such as formatting consistency in presentations, can have a significant impact on how work is perceived. This role has reinforced that precision and presentation are as important as the underlying analysis,” Buck added.
Buck’s advice to current M-A students: “Don’t stress too much about academics. I think a lot of people get really caught up in it, but everything sort of works out in the end. I think just explore new opportunities as much as you can, and keep pushing yourself to improve. I think just measure improvement against yourself, and avoid comparing yourself to others when possible.”
To students interested in computer science: “Focus on developing personal projects, because I think that’s a really great way to learn. You can sit through a bunch of lectures, and when you’re in school, you’ll probably be plenty busy with problem sets. But when you have time, I think it’s worth it to even just try building your own app for something random, just because there’s always stuff out there that you don’t know until you do it.”
