Biography: Natalie Wong is a rising junior from Hong Kong and is proud to be a Bruin. Driven by a curiosity for understanding how financial systems operate and how economic models can shape data-driven decision making in both businesses and society, Natalie is majoring in Business Economics and minoring in Accounting. Beyond academics, Natalie is a committed Vice President of the Financial Literacy Group, which aims to encourage others to make informed decisions regarding money through weekly presentations to students at UCLA and outreach to local underserved communities and high schools. In Natalie’s free time, she enjoys skiing, reading, watching cooking shows and trying new restaurants with friends.
Future Plans: Natalie’s academic and internship experiences in investment banking, private equity, real estate, and fintech have confirmed that finance is where she can continuously learn, challenge herself, and contribute meaningfully to real-world outcomes. Natalie is especially drawn to the fast-paced and intellectually stimulating environment of finance and wants to explore her interests in the various sectors within the finance industry before committing to one. And so, she has not fixed her mind on a specific career path yet. Natalie is excited to gain valuable insight from her private equity internship this coming summer and will continue to pursue further opportunities to hone her technical skills and refine her professional direction.
What this scholarship means to me: I am immensely honored and grateful to receive the Donald Lipschutz Scholarship. Not only will this scholarship be of great financial assistance for me to continue my studies, but it has also cemented my commitment to academic excellence and personal growth. It truly means a lot to know that this scholarship will hugely support my education and passions in finance and service, and at the same time, allow me to spend more time on enriching extracurricular activities. The motto of the school I attended in Hong Kong is “Daily Giving Service,” and I try to live by this motto every day. I am deeply thankful to Donald Lipschutz’s family, and their generosity inspires me to continue to give back to my communities wherever I am, whether it is in Hong Kong or in Los Angeles.
