ATLAS Celebrates First Graduating Class as Inaugural Gala

On May 7, ATLAS Fellows hosted its inaugural gala at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. The event honored the first graduating class of 15 students, 11 of whom already have secured full-time positions in the finance industry.

The evening was a celebration of the Fellows, many of whom are the first in their families to attend college. Through scholarships, mentorship, and internships, ATLAS has helped these graduates begin their careers in finance.

Attendees heard from Kaylee Yin, a first-generation college graduate and ATLAS Fellow, who also is the daughter of refugees. With ATLAS’s financial support and mentorship, and following internships at Balyasny, Bridge Investment Group, BMO and Citi, Kaylee will soon begin her career as an analyst in Citi’s Global Wealth Management Division. She shared how ATLAS has empowered her and other talented individuals from all backgrounds to thrive in finance. You can watch a video about Kaylee’s story here.

Speaking at the event, ATLAS Fellows co-founders Rebecca and Dmitry Balyasny reflected on the program’s genesis and its mission to transform the finance sector by opening doors for under-resourced young people. They emphasized the importance of expanding access to finance careers and their belief that broadening opportunities for emerging talent benefits the entire industry.

The gala marked a significant milestone for ATLAS, with $1.6 million raised by attendees and partners, including Bank of America, BTIG, Morgan Stanley, Barclays, J.P. Morgan, Goldman Sachs, Citi, Wells Fargo, Jefferies, and UBS. This funding will help ensure that more ATLAS Fellows can benefit from the opportunities and guidance that have defined the experience of the first graduating class.