Lauren Erlichman (BSM '25)

Name: Lauren Erlichman

Hometown: Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania 

Major: Finance and Real Estate 

Minor: N/A

Post Graduation Plans: I will be working for Goldman Sachs as an Investment Banking Analyst in their Real Estate Financing Group.  

Freeman Activities: Alpha Kappa Psi Professional Fraternity (Fundraising Chair), Tulane Real Estate Group (Professional Chair), Pi Beta Phi Sorority (Director of Finances), Green Bull Group (Selected Member), Lake Forrest Charter School (Volunteer)  

Favorite Business Course: My favorite business course is the Business Capstone. It ties together everything I have learned in the business school and lets students practice making real business decisions as a team. We use Harvard’s case studies to improve our critical thinking and get better at presenting our ideas professionally. Professor Larry Merington is great at making the class feel like a real business setting and provides feedback like we’re pitching to real investors, which is excellent practice for the real world. 

Favorite Business Professor: My favorite business professor is Shams Bharwani, who taught my Intermediate Accounting course. Professor Bharwani has an incredibly positive attitude that makes learning engaging and fun. He often sent us inspirational messages through Canvas and shared "dad jokes of the day" to lighten the mood and make us laugh. 

He is also very dedicated to student success and was always willing to accommodate my schedule for additional help. In class, he was great at breaking down complex accounting concepts with relatable examples, making it easier for students to grasp difficult topics. Shams always genuinely believed in my potential and was committed to my growth, which profoundly impacted my academic journey. 

Academic, extracurricular or personal achievement you're most proud of: The achievement I am most proud of is landing my internship at Goldman Sachs, which has led to a full-time job offer upon graduation. The banking recruitment process was so intense that it felt like an additional course during my sophomore year. I dedicated countless hours to preparing, which involved months of building my confidence through interview prep, seeking feedback from mentors and peers, networking extensively, and deeply studying the real estate market and technical banking questions. 

This hard work paid off when I secured the internship, which was particularly exciting because it perfectly combines my two passions: Finance and Real Estate. This opportunity validated the effort I put into my preparation and has set a solid foundation for my career, offering me a chance to work in an industry I am genuinely passionate about. 

Top items on professional bucket list: I hope to travel abroad for work to win new business and build stronger relationships with clients and colleagues. I also want to become a real estate developer who specializes in luxury hotels and resorts.  

Fun Fact: I worked as a pastry chef in a 5-star restaurant at only nineteen years old.