This episode of From Education to Finance (E2F) features a guest whose career has been built on connecting two worlds: education and industry. Aniko Delaney, Lecturer in Marketing at Fordham University's Gabelli School of Business, has spent more than 30 years in financial services marketing, holding roles at firms including BNY and Bank of America before moving into academia. Yet unlike many educators who leave industry behind, Delaney continues to work closely with financial services firms through her consulting work with firms like Oppenheimer & Co Inc, giving her a unique perspective on both the opportunities available to students and the skills employers are increasingly looking for.

Spend a few minutes listening to her and one theme quickly emerges. She believes the future belongs not necessarily to the smartest students, the most technically gifted candidates, or those with the perfect career plan, but to people who combine curiosity, hard work and a willingness to keep learning. At a time when technology is transforming both business and education, her message is refreshingly grounded in qualities that have always mattered and always will.

Bringing the Corporate World into the Classroom

After decades working in financial services marketing, Delaney could have comfortably remained in the corporate world. Instead, she was drawn towards teaching, driven by a desire to help students bridge the gap between academic study and professional life.

"My true passion is to bring the corporate world into the classroom and help students understand how they can take steps into their new world."

That philosophy shapes much of her work at Fordham. Rather than focusing solely on theory, she encourages students to engage with real businesses, real challenges and real career opportunities. Guest speakers, industry projects and case studies all play a role in helping students understand what financial services actually looks like beyond the classroom.

For Delaney, exposure matters. Young people often have limited visibility of the industry and may hold outdated assumptions about the types of careers available. Direct interaction with practitioners helps break down those barriers and allows students to see possibilities they may never have previously considered.

"It's wonderful to have that opportunity to get personally involved with the industry."

The more students can connect with professionals, hear career stories and ask questions, the easier it becomes to picture themselves taking that first step.

There Isn't One Route Into Financial Services

One of the most reassuring messages from the conversation is that there is no single pathway into the industry.

Many students assume that careers in financial services are reserved for those studying finance, economics or mathematics. Delaney takes a much broader view. She encourages students to think carefully about their strengths and interests and then build experiences around them.

Whether a student is interested in digital marketing, market research, communications, analytics, statistics or branding, there are opportunities to develop relevant skills that can eventually lead into financial services. The key is to be proactive.

"I would also encourage students to volunteer to take on projects."

She suggests finding opportunities wherever they exist. Students might choose a financial services company as the focus of a research project, volunteer to run social media for a finance society, help organise events, or participate in investment and accounting clubs. None of these activities guarantees a job, but collectively they create valuable experience, build confidence and demonstrate initiative.

Networking also remains a recurring theme in her advice. Family members, alumni, professors, peers and professional contacts can all help open doors. Combined with internships, these experiences allow students to learn not only what they enjoy but also what they may want to avoid.

In many ways, Delaney's approach reflects a broader truth about modern careers: they are rarely linear. They develop through exploration, experimentation and continuous learning rather than a perfectly mapped-out plan.

Why Financial Services Matters

Delaney's enthusiasm for the sector itself is unmistakable. She sees financial services as something far bigger than a collection of banks, investment firms and financial products.

"I feel that financial services is like the oil of the world."

Behind almost every aspect of economic activity sits a financial institution helping people save, invest, borrow, protect assets or build businesses. It is an industry that touches virtually every stage of people's lives.

What particularly excites her is the industry's potential to help future generations build financial security.

"I'm particularly excited about how we can help, especially the young people, the next generation, grow, protect, and then eventually share their wealth."

This wider sense of purpose is often overlooked. Students sometimes see financial services through the narrow lens of trading floors, spreadsheets or investment banking. Delaney encourages them to think more broadly. The sector contains consumer-facing businesses, institutional firms, advisory organisations, technology providers and specialist service companies. It requires marketers, communicators, analysts, project managers, strategists, researchers and technologists alongside traditional finance professionals.

For curious students willing to explore, the variety of opportunities is enormous.

The Three Characteristics That Matter Most

When asked what qualities students should focus on developing, Delaney's answer is surprisingly simple. Rather than providing a long list of competencies, she identifies three characteristics that consistently stand out among the people she has seen succeed.

The first is work ethic: "There's no skipping the ‘do the work’ part."

At a time when discussions about productivity are increasingly dominated by artificial intelligence and automation, Delaney remains convinced that sustained effort matters. Expertise requires repetition, practice and commitment. Technology can accelerate learning, but it cannot replace the underlying work needed to develop genuine capability.

The second quality is curiosity: "The velocity of change is so intense."

Whether the topic is artificial intelligence, consumer behaviour, geopolitics, financial markets or emerging technologies, the pace of change continues to increase. For Delaney, curiosity is no longer simply a desirable trait. It has become an essential professional skill.

She encourages students to read widely, follow trusted news sources, listen to podcasts and continually seek out new information. Those who stay curious place themselves in a stronger position to adapt as industries evolve.

The third characteristic is collaboration: "I truly believe one plus one can be three if you have a great team."

Few careers are built in isolation. Whether someone is leading a team, contributing to a project or working directly with clients, success ultimately depends on relationships and the ability to work effectively with others. Technical knowledge may create opportunities, but collaboration often determines how far people progress.

Together, these three qualities form the foundation of Delaney's career advice. They are not tied to a specific degree, profession or industry. They are habits and behaviours that remain relevant regardless of how the workplace changes.

Why Communication Still Matters in the Age of AI

Artificial intelligence inevitably featured prominently in the discussion, but Delaney's perspective differs from the more alarmist narratives that often dominate headlines.

Rather than seeing AI primarily as a threat, she sees it as an opportunity, particularly for students.

"It's like an even playing field, right? Because we're all learning AI."

There is a certain logic to this view. Experienced professionals possess years of domain expertise, but AI is a technology that virtually everyone is still learning how to use effectively. That creates an unusual moment in which students can develop valuable expertise relatively quickly and make meaningful contributions early in their careers.

Yet Delaney repeatedly returns to the importance of critical thinking.

"You need to use your critical thinking, your research capabilities to really make sure that the AI help is truly helpful."

The ability to generate content is becoming easier. The ability to assess what's accurate, relevant and useful remains far more valuable. As a result, communication skills continue to grow in importance.

"You have to figure out strategy, and you have to figure out how to communicate it to inspire people to follow you."

For aspiring leaders, this point is particularly significant. Good ideas alone rarely drive change. People need to understand those ideas, trust them and feel motivated to act on them. That requires clear thinking, persuasive communication and the ability to connect with others.

In other words, the rise of AI may actually increase the value of uniquely human skills.

The Advice She Wishes She'd Received Earlier

When reflecting on her own career, Delaney offers an answer that many students will recognise immediately.

"Have confidence."

Self-doubt is common among students and graduates entering the workplace. They compare themselves to peers, worry about their lack of experience or question whether they are ready for professional responsibilities.

Delaney's response is both practical and encouraging. Confidence should not come from assuming you know everything. It should come from trusting your willingness to learn.

"If you have great work ethic, you are curious, and you are collaborative - I have not seen anybody not be successful."

It is a remarkably optimistic observation, but one grounded in decades of experience. Time and again, she has watched people with those qualities progress, develop and build successful careers.

She also encourages patience. Different industries recruit on different timelines, and marketing roles often follow a different hiring cycle from finance or accounting positions. Students sometimes become discouraged when opportunities take longer than expected to materialise.

Her advice is simple: stay persistent, keep learning and trust that opportunities will come.

Investing in the Next Generation

Perhaps the most passionate section of the conversation came when Delaney turned her attention to industry professionals rather than students.

She believes businesses have an important role to play in developing future talent and encourages marketing leaders to engage directly with educational institutions. Guest lectures, panel discussions, mentoring opportunities, company visits, internships and industry projects all help students gain valuable exposure to the realities of professional life.

"It's the biggest investment you can make in the future."

For firms concerned about attracting talent into financial services, the message is clear. Building awareness cannot start at the recruitment stage. It begins much earlier through education, engagement and creating opportunities for meaningful interaction.

Students benefit from those experiences, but so does the industry itself.

Why Aniko's Insights Matter

Although the conversation covered topics ranging from branding and AI to internships and financial education, a consistent theme ran throughout: success is rarely about finding the perfect path. It is about developing the right habits and attitudes.

Delaney's advice can be summarised in a few key principles:

• Develop a strong work ethic.

• Stay curious and continue learning.

• Learn how to collaborate with others.

• Communicate clearly and confidently.

• Embrace AI while maintaining critical thinking.

• Seek practical experience wherever possible.

• Build relationships and grow your network.

• Have confidence in your ability to learn and adapt.

For students considering careers in financial services, her message is both reassuring and empowering. There is no single route into the industry and no perfect formula for success. What matters most is a willingness to engage, experiment, learn and keep moving forward.

That is exactly what From Education to Finance aims to explore. By sharing the experiences of educators, industry leaders and practitioners, the series helps illuminate the many different pathways available to the next generation. Aniko Delaney's story is a reminder that while technology, markets and industries may continue to evolve, the qualities that underpin successful careers remain remarkably consistent: curiosity, confidence and a commitment to lifelong learning.