Written by Colin McEvoy | October 23, 2026 | SHARE
Lehigh alumni who once studied in the United States as international students returned to campus to share career advice and professional insights during the Wall Street Council’s first networking session dedicated to international students.
Lehigh University alumni who once navigated the challenges of studying and launching careers in the United States as international students returned to campus this month to share their experiences and offer advice to the next generation of international students.
The alumni shared their insights during a special International Student Networking Session held Oct. 17 as part of the Lehigh Wall Street Council’s (LWSC) 20th annual Financial Services Forum, which brought nearly 100 alumni back to campus.
The discussion focused on overcoming immigration and employment challenges, adapting to American workplace culture, building professional networks, and exploring opportunities to gain professional experience in the United States and abroad.
"You took the challenge to come to this new country, be part of this culture, get a degree here, and hopefully work and have a fulfilling career here," said Wasti Farzan Khan ‘22, a Lehigh alumnus originally from Bangladesh who now works as senior analyst at Nasdaq. "You took that challenge, so you are proof that you want to rise to that challenge."
The session marked the first time the Financial Services Forum included a networking session specifically for international students.
Connecting across generations
Organized through a collaboration between Lehigh's Office of International Affairs (OIA) and the LWSC, the session connected current students with alumni who could offer firsthand perspectives on the challenges and opportunities facing international graduates entering the American workforce.
"Sometimes the networking has already been done for you by the people who graduated before you," said Tanyaradzwa Masunga ‘26, a Lehigh alumna from Zimbabwe who earned her master's degree in financial engineering and now works as a treasury analyst at Adamas Trust Inc.
In addition to Khan and Masunga, the alumni panelists included Besa Masaiti ‘25G, founder of Rehoboth Research; Chris Park, co-founder and managing partner of Accretive Partners; and Mark Zhang ‘06, director of investment banking at Barclays. The discussion was moderated by Michael Connor ‘80, retired former principal of Tower Hill Advisors.
Cheryl Matherly, Vice President & Vice Provost for International Affairs at Lehigh, said the session grew out of conversations with Connor about the significant number of former international students among the Wall Street Council's membership and the opportunity to connect them with current students.
"We realized that many members of the Wall Street Council were once international students themselves, and many went on to careers in finance and related industries," Matherly said. "We wanted to give current international students an opportunity to hear from people who have been in their shoes and can offer guidance as they think about jobs and careers.”
Different paths to success
Although the panelists represented a range of professional backgrounds and career paths, they shared a common experience: arriving in the United States as international students and navigating the challenges of building careers in a new country.
Masunga, for example, found her current position after her employer contacted Lehigh seeking graduates of its financial engineering program. Her future supervisor was himself a graduate of the program, and the connections she had maintained with Lehigh faculty and staff helped her learn about the opportunity.
"Because I had spoken to them, they remembered that I existed, and they sent me a message saying, 'Do you want to apply to this?'" she said.
Other panelists described finding professional opportunities beyond the United States. Khan completed an internship with an asset management company in Bangladesh during the COVID-19 pandemic, while Park described how internships in Seoul and Hong Kong helped him eventually secure a position with Bank of America in New York.
"You have to make the most of whatever opportunity is in front of you,” Khan said.
Navigating employment challenges
The panelists also discussed the additional challenges international students face when pursuing employment in the United States, including understanding immigration requirements and finding employers willing to sponsor international graduates.
Khan encouraged students to familiarize themselves with regulations governing Optional Practical Training (OPT), STEM OPT, and H-1B visas, noting that smaller companies may not have dedicated immigration specialists who understand the requirements for hiring international employees.
Masaiti emphasized the importance of developing relationships with staff in Lehigh's Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS), who can help students understand employment authorization requirements and navigate the complexities of the immigration system.
Connor encouraged students to reach out to Lehigh alumni for career advice, professional connections and guidance as they pursue opportunities after graduation.
"That's why we're here. So please follow up with us," Connor said. "We want to help you.”