Go With the Flo

Folarin Okulaja: All right, everybody. Welcome to episode number two of season two of go with the flo, special guests in the building. But before we get to the building, I just realized that the first episode which came out last week now, I just dove right into it didn't even announce them major updates for the podcast. So last season recorded the episodes in my dorm room on a little microphone. But we've officially come a long way which my guest will attest to in a second. I'm now part of the daily Prince podcast section, which means I get access to all their fantastic equipment, fantastic staff and other great resources. So sitting in this pretty dope studio right now. Makes me feel really professional looks like all my favorite podcasts that are recorded. So yeah, pretty cool to see the amount of growth has happened from just you know, starting this in my dorm last semester and now being able to have all this cool equipment makes me feel real professional. But yeah, that is, those are some some of the updates for the podcast. But now. Now let's get into the episode. We got a special guest in the building. Good friend of mine who's probably really happy that I didn't get him on last year like I said I would because now he gets to instead of being crammed in my little Spelman dorm, he gets to do this in a professional studio, but we got Andrew Hama in the building.

Andrew Hama: Very nice in here. Very, very nice. Yes

F: it is. And yeah, just tell the people about the studio Andrew tell them about studio.

A: Oh, that's nice. I mean you have the whole mic setup. You have the headphones on you have you know cameras in the background and you have lil lights.

F: It's a my we got a lot. We got it all in here. So we started we grinded out the dorm, we in the studio, the next step is $100 million Spotify deal. So hey, its coming one day one day call me Flo Rogan. They call me. So we got Andrew in the building. Very good friend of mine, like I said, want to get him on here last season. But you know, it was blowing up I didn't have time for you. But now Now I have time for you, Andrew, welcome. Welcome to the show.

A: Thank you. I'm very excited to be here.

F: So the way that I've started all these episodes off is just asking people to tell me about themselves a little bit, a little bit about the background, and then all the stuff they do on campus. And Andrew is a very, very, very involved man. So he might he might be going off for a while this dude is a multi talented, great at everything he does. So let's just just list off the the laundry list of things that you do, Andrew, Also we were roommates this past summer, which we'll get into in a little bit.

A: You’re gassing me you’re gassing me, man. Yeah, background. Originally from Ghana, we go over to the United States, pretty early on probably around four or five, we moved a little earlier than that I spent most of my time in the US growing up in Atlanta, just outside of Atlanta in the suburbs, hight school, middle school, elementary school everything there, and went back and forth between Atlanta and Ghana up pretty often. And then, you know, played a lot of basketball in high school was was super into that, but wasn't quite good enough to like, play heavily at the D1 level. So I decided that I would just kind of focus on school and then ended up at Princeton. I've always been pretty interested in business, from an early age just seeing differences in economic structures from Ghana, to the US to different places. And I think that shaped why I studied why I'm studying econ at Princeton, and why I've done a lot of the things I've done during my summers.

F: Yes. No, not the summers don't, okay, keep going about the clubs and stuff. not summer, so we'll get to summers.

A: Also clubs, as well. So on campus, just to keep it brief. I'm involved in Tiger Capital Management, which is a investment group on campus. We manage a little bit of money and invest in stocks. So it's pretty cool.

F: No big deal.

A: also involved in club basketball, pretty heavily which is which is a great time. Also an officer in the Ivy club

F:The Ivy club,

A: the Ivy Club, which Flo is also a glorious member of which we love to see. So that's been it's been crazy fun. also involved in the black men's black men.

F: PBMA, Come on man

A: PBMA, on the board of that. And then I'm also in Tru Thursday, which is kind of a ministry group on campus, focus on African, African Caribbean and kind of like the broader African diaspora. So that's I guess that's it about me

F: I guess that say except he went off for like six minutes. No you do a lot of stuff, man. Don't say I guess that's it. But yeah, Andrew is very impressive. does all that balances, balances it all very well still manages to have his fun and do his thing. So great guy. We're gonna get into a lot of like networking type stuff, because we've had some good conversations about that in the past and I think that's good for people to hear, because I've spoken to some people about this, but it would be a good person to talk about that with. The first thing that I want to talk about is this past summer. So we were roommates this summer, we had a nice lil finance internships doing over in New York City.

A: We didn't see each other very much.

F: We did not see each other very much. And honestly, so everyone who's listening, you probably have some friends who are like, Oh, yeah, I want to do investment banking, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. So I was never that type. I was like, IB that lifestyle seems too crazy for me. But Andrew over here, big big IB guy. So that's what that's what he was up to this past summer. And I'd live with you for two, two months. And barely saw you during the week, the hours are insane. So we're gonna use this little segment to Well, my purpose is to scare everybody away from banking, you could just, you know, tell a little bit so Okay, let me say this. I lived with you for two months, I knew you were an IB, I still don't know what you do. So please, Andrew, for the people, and for me, tell us what investment banking is. And tell me what you did. You don't have to go like into the minute details of the day to day, but just like generally, what do you do as an investment banker?

A: Yeah. So investment banking is essentially, the way I describe it is like a financial advisory for companies. So if you're a financial advisors a person, you go to them and say, okay, like, how's my finance situation? Like, am I saving enough? How can I, you know, optimize for the next purchase? I'm gonna make, how can I make sure that like, the strategy for my life is going well, financially, same thing for bankers. So what we do is we work with companies, which who are our clients, sometimes we also work with governments or institutions, but mostly companies, when they say for example, say Facebook is going to go merge with was going to go acquire WhatsApp. You know, we'd be advising them on one side of the deal, saying, okay, here's what we think you should pay for that deal. Here's how to structure it, here's how to move forward and make sure that this merger or this acquisition is going to be success. Let's say you need to raise additional capital for that, additional money, we help them with that. So that's our job. Essentially, just giving advice and doing a lot of work. Make sure that advice is legally sound.

F: Gotcha. Okay, so nice. You said some words that people probably checked out when they heard, so now to your hours. Okay. So this past summer, I would, well my hours weren't that great, either. But I would get into the office at 6am. So I would wake up at five o'clock. Be out the apartment. 5:30 get there for six o'clock. Andrew, what was the average time that you'd finish your workday?

A: My, so caveat by saying it depends.

F: bullshit. Tell tell the truth. Tell the people what time you finish your work days, and then I'll get to the, ok nevermind just go.

A: So yeah, so I probably for context, I didn't get in that early. So I'd get in like 9:30, 9:45 I probably get out an average day 2:30, 3 in the morning

F: in the am guys that is am 2:30, 3 average in the AM. Let let me just tell this, tell us a little quick, quick story. So it was like three or four different times when like I said, I remember the first time it happened. So your room for the first part of the summer was right by the bathroom. Oh no Second part of summer was right by the bathroom. So I remember this one morning. Wake up five o'clock. barely awake. I stumbled to the bathroom. I peeked into your room. It looks unchanged from last night. I'm like ain’t No way. Is he okay? Is he alive? I was like a genuine concern. I was like, oh snap. Where's Andrew? I text him like Yo, Andrew, did you make it back? All right. Are you okay? I don't have your location. So I can check. I'm like, Oh, snap was wrong with Andrew. So I go a shower. So I'm ready to head out the apartment. This man stumbles up the stairs. Right as I'm about to leave the apartment at 530 in the AM. Andrew Hama 5:30am in the morning, getting back. And that was not the only time that happened that summer. Tell me why you, tell me why you would want to do that to yourself and all the people listening who think they might want to go into investment banking. Why would you want to do that to yourself?

A: Yeah, I mean, it is true. So the nine to 2:33am average is an average obviously. So some nights its 12am. Some nights it's 5, 5:30am I think you learn a lot when you're under high pressure situations and you're kind of put in a situation where you know you have to turn out a lot of high quality work while you're sleep deprived is I guess the textbook answer. The real answer is that it's the best way to get to where I want to get to and I'm willing to sacrifice sleep for that in the short term.

F: Fair enough. Fair enough. And I say this all this very jokingly obviously I respect the grind. Andrew is different, everyone who does this is very different and you know what you want and you're going for it and I respect that so we will leave the the investment banking at that.

A: I will say it is was definitely a mind trip. To come back, see you leaving the apartment is a huge mind trip.

F: We just didn't see each other until Friday night. I'll see just out like oh man. Hey, how you doing? I haven't seen since Sunday night

A: Flo Friday’s

F: Friday is great time. It was a great time. And then one more quick thing about the summer. I don't want to spend too much time on that. I bet people don't care. But I just needed a way to tell the story. So remember when you texted me? or you called me? Do you remember what you called me about? Tell the people what you called me about.

A: Jermaine Cole

F: Jermaine Cole, J Cole, Jermaine Cole. Okay, so I just needed a way to get the story out there. So randomly one day, before even this day, there was a Friday beforehand, I get this. I get this message from someone in the building. They're like, Oh, come over, like come over to my desk. And anyone who knows, and this is the first you’re hearing this sttory too, because I don't think I've told you the story. So everyone who knows me if you meet me, like after like a minute you know I love J. Cole. That's my guy. So this guy calls me over. I'm like, Yo, what's up? He called someone else over and he whips out his phone, and it's just J Cole. Across the office at this mall called Brookfield Place just in line getting lunch. I'm like, No way I run out the office, run around the building. I don't see him. Next Monday. That's when you called me and I actually saw it 15 minutes late because I was in a meeting. And then you're like, oh, Flo like I usually wouldn't do this. But like, dude, I saw J Cole across the office again. I'm like, no way. Again, run outside. miss him. I'm like, it's not meant to be. if it's meant to be it'll be. right now, It's not meant to be. So fast forward a week later. I just happened to be going to lunch at Brookfield Place I didn't even mean to I wasn't even trying to see J Cole. So I go you know, go upstairs, go to food court, grab my food. Sit down and look up. Very first person I see. He was just standing right there. I was like aint no fucking way. This is just how things are meant to be. So for like 20 minutes I'm like gassing myself up. I'm like, Oh, it's J Cole. This is like my guy. First concert I ever went to my favorite rapper since forever. Know, all the words to his songs like this is my guy. Gonna be seeing for the third time in concert on September 29, this is my guy.

A: He loves J Cole, he really does

F: I love J. Cole, I got his face on my wall, it’s bad. I'm wearing his shoes right now. It's absurd. So I hype myself over for 20 minutes. Eventually I walk over. And so I had been hearing that he had been saying no pictures to people. So I was like, I'm not gonna be that guy. So I walk up to him. He like, is eating eating his lunch by himself. He looks up he gives me this look is like bro don't blow up my spot. And I'm just like, aye man, I don't want to bother you, I just want to say I'm a big fan. I stick out my fist. He gives me a fist bump. And I'm like, aye man. Enjoy your meal. I got a fist bump, bro. I got a fist bump. I haven't washed this hand. So I got the fist bump. And I told the man enjoy his meal. I did not know how to end the conversation.

A: That’s Smooth.

F: It's not over. It's not over. So I walk back and I sit sit back and still eating my lunch. He's sitting ahead of me. Like 10 minutes later he goes, throws out his trash walks right beside me. Obviously I'm staring at him. Its J Cole five feet away from me. We lock eyes, he gives me a little one of these, gives me gives me a little head nod. And in that second I could have died a happy man, and that would have been the great the greatest way to go. So I just had to find a way to tell that story. I love J Cole, happened to meet him over the summer. Best day of my life, till this day, till this day, probably will be for a long time. But yes. Okay. Alright, so now transitioning to being on campus a little bit. There's some stuff that I wanted to talk about with you. First thing is when you heard that we were all coming back to campus and everyone was mandated to be vaccinated. What did you think about whether or not there would be outbreaks on campus about whether or not we will be able to have a normal semester? Just what were your initial reactions when you heard that everyone will be welcomed back and everyone was mandated to be vaccinated?

A: Yeah. I guess after being here in the fall living so 2020 fall campus was completely closed. But a few of us lived nearby off campus, including yourself, Flo and myself. That was alright. And then we were back in the spring, under heavy, heavy, heavy, heavy, heavy, heavy,

F: heavy emphasis on the heavy

A: restrictions. And that was slightly beat but it was good to see people

F: Very beat, don't under sell it

A: It was quite beat. Yeah, long story short, I was very excited when I heard that. I think. One, you know, the vaccination requirement would probably help the outbreaks and I think two also also I think people I don't know, like, we didn't have that many outbreaks in general. Last last semester.

F: Yeah, we didn't no

A: So I was pretty high up. I didn't think we could have any we'd have any outbreaks. I thought we'd have a few minor flare ups. And obviously as delta variant got more and more intense, I was like, okay, it's a chance they might call it off. But honestly, at this point, like we're all vaccinated, I think it's gonna be just fine and has been just fine. So I’m hype.

F: I agree. And the reason I brought that up is this article just came out the other day, on The Prince, you know, shout out to the Daily Prince. My new partners, partners in crime came out on September 7, and it says so far, Princeton's contact tracing reveals no on campus transmission. That is the

A: Oh, wow

F: exactly. That's the title of the headline. And, and then I want to go to the COVID dashboard, because last episode I talked about but I did not have official numbers. Numbers have finally loaded. The week ending September Third 2021 out of 6626 test, there were seven positive cases for a positivity rate of 0.11%. That is outstanding.

A: Yeah

F: I don't know how you feel about that. But that is outstanding. And so when it comes to something like the mask mandates, which they said they will be revisiting, and well four days now, but by the time the episode comes out, it will be revisited. What are your thoughts on if the mask mandates are still necessary throughout the year? And if they should take that away?

A: I think in lecture, I think it's Professor optional. I think is the way we should do it for now. If it's a big lecture hall, I think you're fine. Honestly, if it's like, you know, say office hours with the professor who is like, quite old, then I probably would wear a mask, just like out of respect to make sure don't transmit anything to them. But beyond that, I mean, I just see no reason, right? If you're in D hall with somebody eating food, and you're packed in there, no masks eating. And then you go to class, but the mask

F: whats the difference, whats the difference, like, Oh, you got to walk in the building with it. But then you sit down and I sit down, it's 100 strong people all right next to each other, but you dont need the mask then. And I'm someone who obviously, when things were at the peak, obviously wear a mask before vaccines were a thing, wear a mask. But at this point, especially now that we've created our bubble, I'm like, these masks are getting tired.

A: Dillon gym as well

F: So you're putting me in a pickle here. I work at Dillon. And that is my building. I love everybody there. And it is my job to enforce that mask mandate. But to be perfectly honest, if I did not work in that building, I would probably be, because the basketball court is the biggest problem. That's like been given us a biggest headache trying to get people to wear their masks on the basketball court. But it's like I get it. we’re playing basketball we’re all vaccinated. And if I didn't work there, I probably would be, you know, mask around my chin all the time, but you know I gotta set the standard. I can't work in there not having it on

A: Flo is the number one employee he's always killing it. I’ve seen

F: I try. I try to. So yeah, that's just one thing. I'm very pleased with the way things are going so far. And obviously there's going to be breakthrough cases. But at this point, what like 99% of students are vaccinated. So, you know, we're fine. I think we'll be okay.

A: I’m actually really glad they haven't. They've been weird and cryptic about masks and eating clubs, but they haven't actually said anything official about it. Which is nice. Because, you know, our official policy for Ivy is that you know, you wear face coverings when you're not eating or drinking

F: And we do that all the time, very diligently. We would never break a law, never break a rule

A: Never that you know, Princeton University, we will never break any rules

F: never, it's kind of like last semester with the social contract that come out here, I would never, never, never, ever, ever break the social contract. Why would I do such a thing. But no, I just hope that even because, okay, we'll get to the eating clubs in a second. But just even just in there when you know, stuff is going on. And still transmission rates are what they are, which is zero or next to zero. That should just be the standard. We are. We've done our part with the vaccinations. And I think at this point, I'm hoping and I'm predicting that at this September 14, that's coming up, they will lift the mask mandates. And if they don't I just see people just like start to gradually and gradually increase or like just ignore it. Because even in dorm rooms like they say, I walk around my building. No one's wearing a mask. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, for the freshmen.

A: Except of the freshmen.

F: Well yeah, the two classes of freshmen. The froshmores and the freshmen. Although froshmores I stole that term from some kid. I forget his name. Shout out to you though. Okay, wait, next quick thing. This article that says, Can you wait, can you guess what the lawn party's budget is for this semester? If you didn't already see this article?

A: I haven't seen it. I know last year was a little bit you know, a little bit south of $80,000.

F: Okay.

A: Given that we’re back on campus. I mean, it's the same budget usually so I'm guessing like 85

F: 85, try double that

A: 160?!

F: 160k is the budget for lawn parties

A: For who?!

F: That's what I'm saying. So with that in mind, first give me your ideal dream guest and then give me more realistically who you think they're going to pay 160k to or however percent of that goes to the artist

A: dream not including, because we know how much people get paid for for appearances. Not including price any dream guest at this point. I might get some flack for this, but I'm I'm big on Kanye right now. I like Donda.

F: Oh, no, I'm with you on that one. Oh, well, that's another question. We'll get to actually no, we'll get to that right now. But put a quick pin on that, Donda versus CLB. What is your What is your take?

A: I am the classic Twitter head that says CLB is mid I will stand by that take it as mid it is mid grade. It is mediocre it is medium. Drake can't make bad music. So I'm not gonna say it's trash. Right? But it's it's very mid. It's Drake, elevator music the kind of thing that he wakes up He recycles the same bars over and over again, pops it in, puts it on iTunes and it goes viral because people like to listen to soft music that's easy to listen to

F: And that's the thing I 1,000% agree with you. I also think, I personally prefer Donda. I've had that on repeat way more than I would have expected since it came out. The song ‘Pure Souls’ with Roddy Rich, Oh my god, that is most definitely going to be my most listened to Song of the Year and it came out what two weeks ago That shit is amazing. So that song, ‘Jail,’ ‘No Child Left Behind,” all the songs are just, ‘ hurricane,’ ‘Off the Grid.’ The songs are amazing on there. And CLB The thing about that is I didn't know whether I liked rapping or singing Drake better and then this album came out I'm like, dude, I need the bars, I need him rapping. he rapped on the first song I was like bet he'll do this every song but the next like eight songs tt was just him crooning. I'm like I don't want to hear this shit. But now I realized oh it’s certified Lover Boy so obviously he's gonna be doing all that singing shit

A: but even if he's gonna sing like can you give me ‘Take Care’ singing you know?

F: Thats what I'm saying, that's what I'm saying. But then there's the one song, the song ‘Way too Sexy,’ I hated that song at first, kind of good. The other song ‘No Friends in the Industry’ that song is fire that's probably my favorite song. So, it has some good tracks. It's obviously like you said Drake can’t put out bad music, but as a whole I'm rocking with Donda over CLB. So sorry back to you, back to your question about dream lawn party guests

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A: Yes yeah, I think Kanye would be an absurd performer and it would be just absurd. He would be just absurd.

F: The only thing is he'll probably show up like an hour and a half late.

A: Oh for sure

F: perform like three songs be like ah fuck these Princeton students.

A: Show up like half an hour late in a Canada Goose jacket and in 80 degree weather and just sit in the corner and just vibe out. That’s what would happen.

F: Okay, so now who do you, who do you think is going to be the lawn party performer

A: So $160,000 doesn't give you very much to work with. Now note that $160,000, I think only 70% of that goes to like the actual artist

F: artist, that makes sense.

A: So that obviously limits us a bit so I'm going to bookmark us at like around like 115 120 who can we get with that money? We have to get someone who's like known but kind of washed up is the way out

F: Haha yea, or up and coming but not blown up yet?

A:Yeah, exactly though.

F: Yeah, you gotta- you can't catch them at their peak. If it's a nice little what's that curve called?

A: Like the parabola?

F: Exactly. Yeah, that's not the word I say no, but yes, parabolas.

A: Bell Curve?

F: Bell curve. Yes. That's that's the thing. You gotta catch people either on the rise or on the decline. We can't catch anyone at the peak or even close to the peak.

A: Now. He can't he can't so and i think i would love to have someone on the way up but knowing Princeton people on the way up, I just, we just don't have good taste as a campus music wise.

F: Amen. [laughing] Remember who we had? Who’d we have?

A: We have we had we had cupcake.

F: Yea cupcake, it was trash.

A: Right, it was garbage. We had some of the EDM homies which that one wasn’t bad

F: ehh. We had a boogie that was cool

A: We had boogie but no one was vibing not a single person in the audience was like

F: We had Rich Homie Quan but I only like two songs I can't even lie to you. I was going crazy with those two songs though.

A: Oh, yeah.

F: We had “Three O’ Three” I was like ehh.

A: We had, oh Flocka it was good.

F: That was good. Okay, now half the artists we mentioned were good. [laugh]

A: That's right, that's right, that's right. We could get like Don Toliver, there's no way right?

F: I don't think enough people would even know who Don Toliver was.

A: They heard the Tiktok songs unfortunately.

F: Okay, true. I don't know what's going crazy on the Tiktoks I don't have a Tiktok.

A:I don't either but I see it on Instagram and it hurts me.

F: Okay fair, so is it production Don Toliver

A: I think Don Toliver would be nice. Yeah. That’s my prediction.

F: I'm gonna go off my prediction, and also hot off the press. I probably should not even be saying this. I probably wasn't even supposed to know apparently the artists that they initially had booked canceled on us like a few days ago. Oh, so they're probably in the search for a new artist right now and I probably wasn't supposed to say that but whoops. I'm gonna guess it the next person they will get will be, what's the what's the girl who does, she is a big Tiktok song also and she's- oh Doja Cat.

A:That is also very likely

F: Because I don't think she's like huge.

A: No, she's also lowkey cancelled so

F: yea she was confuse canceled for like two seconds canceled culture’s pretty quick. Yeah, we're not gonna get into that now. So delicateDoja Cat I think, that's my prediction.

A: I think that's actually a very good prediction. I think I could definitely see Princeton spinning Doja Cat in a bunch of different ways and kind of playing that up. Yeah, I see very much see that and I think that girls would like that

F: yeah, I can't name a Doja Cat song but I go for, I would go, I'm going to the lawn parties for the vibes this year. We've missed out on three lawn parties at this point because of COVID so I'm gonna be out there having a good time regardless of who's performing, just wake up, begin to debauchery that's just gonna be Yes, that's just the whole point. When is the lawn party, by the way,

A: I think it is. I have it on my calendar actually. Because It's social events, it is I think it's I want to say three Sundays from now

F: three Sundays from now.

A: Lemme make sure

F: Um, let's see. Yeah, I don't have it on my calendar. Was it the second?

A: No it’s not the second. it's the third? It's the third, third October 3 to fourth edition or three.

F: Alright, bet bet bet bet bet

A: One more thing on Don Toliver and the reason I'm also bullish on him. I forgot to mention this

F: Bullish Wow.
A: Yeah. For those of you who don't know me, like, investing runs in my blood so at this point it just comes out. There's nothing else I can say. But he has a concert in New York, October 1. in Newark, October 4.

F: Ohhh, might as well do a nice little pitstop in Princeton, New Jersey

A: Exactly

F: Ah ok I like that, Like that might be the opener, to be honest.

A: Exactly.

F: There you go. All right, bet. Bet. Bet. Bet bet. Okay, so now getting into some of the other topics that I really wanted to delve in with you. Um, we've talked about and I remember when we had this conversation, we were it was last fall, we were outside. I think it was we just had breakfast, and we're talking about networking, and specifically in relation to securing internships. So I know a lot of people hear the term networking and they're like, what does that even mean? How do I network? Probably freshmen, especially they're like, oh, the person I work is all this and all that. And they probably don't know what that means. So first question, What does networking mean to you?

A: I think it's a really, really good question. A really important question. I think networking for me is like bifurcated. So there's two sides of it.

F: What the hell does bifurcated mean? Dude, what does that mean?

A: Hey man says the neuroscience major

F: Oh, hey, man, you know what, nothing. No, but actually, what does bifurcated mean?

A: It means like, like split split into, yeah, okay. Okay, yeah. So, yeah, so I think it's, there's two sides of it. The first side is the classic side, everyone knows about where it's like, you approach someone with the intent of getting to know them for a mean, as a means to an end. So you wanted to know them. So you can get an internship or get some kind of thing from them, get into an eating club, get into a frat, get into something, right, that's like networking, where you have somewhat, you know, some interest in the person more interested in what they can do for you, right. And that's like, the biggest thing people think about. So for jobs, it's like those cold calls when you're talking like, you know, alumni at firm, trying to get to know them. That's that networking. The other side of networking, which I think is actually much more interesting and much more impactful is the organic networking, where you just want to meet someone to meet them and get to know them. And luckily, it just grows out and the person becomes successful enough to where they're part of your network professionally. But they're not a formal part of your network, is what I would say.

F: And I like that, I like that breakdown a lot to be honest, because like you said, the first type you said is the one that most people probably think is what they have to do. But then I think that it's a second type, the more organic one, that actually does more for you in the long run. But even so just I just want to just keep going on that just a little bit. So when it comes to something like looking for so you've had some you've had some good internships, we don't need to name companies, but you've had some good internships, places that everybody would want to intern at. How did you go about securing those, how did how did networking play a role in you landing those, if any?

A: Yeah, so my freshman summer when I worked in consulting, that one was, as I showed up to an info session that was all seniors, as you guys know, the recruiter, and they actually didn't even have an opportunity open for freshmen at that point. But I just, like, tripped up with her kept in touch, that kind of thing. And then met some, some people at Penn actually, who were sophomores and juniors at the time, just like, coincidentally, who are still you know, I call them I think of them as friends of mine. And one of them actually did that program when he was a freshman. So that was another example of someone who I didn't, like I didn't know he did this program when I met him. And luckily enough, he did this program he gave me kind of like the run through of how I should prepare for it, how I should case study, all that kind of stuff. And then from there, it was actually pretty minimal networking. I just read through it.

F: And that was even another good point that you just brought up there is when people think of networking, they think that only means like alum and people 30-50 years older than older than them. But in this situation, like you just mentioned, it was people 1, 2, 3 years above you who are still in college at the same time, who you were able to get in contact with and were able to help you get what you needed to get tell you about things you didn't know about otherwise, and then even going back to the recruiter, like you said, there wasn't even a position for you at the time, but you stayed in contact with this person, and she was probably like, Oh, that's a cool, dude. We'll we'll find something that works for him. Yeah, but Okay, so that was the first internship. Oh, do you have similar stories for your other internships? Or how did those sort of shakeout?

A: So yeah, so literally, so I worked at that company my freshman anf sophomore summer, and then I had two internships since then. I had a real, well not a real, a full two month internship with you, I'm in the same firm as you this summer. And then I had a little like, kind of three week internship between school and the start of that internship over the summer. The one before that summer, there's a three week internship at like a kinda like a private equity venture capital / fund. That one was completely spontaneous. What happened was, the head of the fund came to speak at my class. This class I was taking, I was like this person, just a cool dude, a great insights just top of the range. Great guy. So I just emailed him, I was like, let's connect right? You know, trip it up a little bit, draft a nice little email, and we started talking. Literally, I had no interest in working for him, because he only hires like, he does biotech stuff. So I was like, there's no way he's gonna hire me. Like, he's gonna hire PhDs, whatever. I had no interest in that. So I got to know him. We speak for quite a bit, get to know him pretty well. We speak probably like, at that point, we're speaking maybe like once every couple of months. And then eventually, he was like, why don't you just pull up? That was it, then that's like, that was my end to that firm ish. And then that person kind of opened my horizons to the investing world.

F: Gotcha. And so look at that something as simple, not the biggest takeaway from that, from, from what you said is you took initiative, and you saw something that you were interested in, and you were like, Oh, this dude does some pretty cool stuff, I would want to stay in contact with him. And you reached out and things worked out. And that is all it takes is just a little bit of initiative. Because even for me, so I, you know, you know, you know, my whole story started off pre med, pre med engineering, like, Oh, yeah, I'm going to medical school. Stupid. That was dumb. Thank God, I switched out of that path. They're not happy, they’ll get over it. Okay, I'm switched out. And I was like, oh, what am I gonna do now? And Larry, the way that I was thinking of it was, first of all, what does everybody else around me doing? Whatever? What are a lot of alumni in? And what can I secure the fastest to like, get my parents off my back for a little bit. So then the list was narrowed to finance, consulting, tech, i don’t like tech, whatever they get paid? Well, I don't care. I have no interest in tech. So that was off the list, then it was just data consulting, finance. So I applied to a bunch of both of those. And the finance track is the one to move faster. So that's why I ended up going down that route. But actually, the reason that I even really got a lot more into that was, I literally just went on LinkedIn one day, looked up, Princeton alum, in X, whatever company looked at all the alumni in there, and just cold emailed a bunch of them. And the internship that I ended up getting was someone who I cold emailed out of nowhere, just got back to me, hopped on the phone with me, told me about what he did connected me with other people in the building helped me prepare for my interviews. And then a few months later, internship secured. Yeah, so just out of the blue, the Princeton, because that's what that's the one thing that I've noticed. And it's it's only been over this last year that I've really noticed it is Princeton alum, they really do want to help you out. Oh, for sure. And they want to stay connected to the school in whatever way they can. And helping out students is a big way to do that. And so anyone who reached out to you like you'll probably get, like, ignored, I emailed 10 people, one guy back to me, but they're all busy. I don't take it personal. But yeah, that's just the way it is. You're gonna, all it takes is one person or him to respond, and then it's gonna work out. So this guy responded to me. And then later, it was just like, straight shot. He did everything that I needed to. He just helped me out in many ways that he didn't even need to for someone who had never met him before.

A: Yeah, no, it's, it's that's how it works. It's crazy. And you know, it worked out for him, too. You were one of the top. I'm not to ask you, but you were one of the top interns.

F: Well I don’t know what he’s talking about,he's lying. Cut it out, don’t gas me up. But hey, I did okay. And even within the building just couldn't we've just with the network within certain buildings. Yeah, everyone connected with all that go into Princeton, go talk to him. He's like, Oh, my God says with the fact 30 minutes talk tells you everything you need to know. And then just like that stuff works out. So networking is one it's like, yes, like you said, there was this more like direct. Oh, like I'm trying to get this job, which is kind of how I secure that. But although it started that way, it kind of transformed into the more organic thing where this guy's now one of my mentors, very good relationship. Hit him up all the time for whatever I need. And I know he's always there. For me, it's the type of situation where there are so many people out there who wants to help you way more than you would expect. And all it takes is just a little bit of initiative, and all it takes is one to stick and then you'll be golden. And it's insane how and you could probably say the same thing. So many people who interned at whatever great company you want to work at. You ask them well, how did you get that? So I reached out to this alum or I was connected to this alum and they helped me out they connected me and boom, it worked out that way.

A: Yeah, no networking and I mean just the people you keep company with can change your career.

F: Oh deadass yeah, it could change your trajectory yeah

A: completely so that's why I mean getting to the best ways you can and getting to know as many people as you can is huge. I was talking to Flo about this as well didn't that same conversation last last spring is crazy like I knew flo and Max. Max is our other roommate works at the same firm. And and we since probably the early days, my freshman year I've known both of them. And like those are the homies

F: the homie since day one since day one

A: the boys and then now we're all at the same firm and like now they're part of my professional network technically, because they're killing it right? And raw killing it. But we didn't start off thinking like that

F: Not at all. Man, I was supposed to be a doctor right now. on my way to be

A: It’s just crazy to see other people that were in our friend group who end up doing the same thing and that's what I mean when I say you know, build it organically and it will become professional at some point.

F: Exactly. And even just what just keep keep going on that it's not even just the just when I look at my friend group, kind of like you said, there's you max like Jailany Toussaint these all these people who are like literally just like taelous I met a preview, actually so pre Princeton just been one of my guys since day one. Jelani met day one at club soccer, that's where also where I met max. And just seeing the way all of us just like, Did our thing when it comes to like internships and grinding and networking and just landed all these different things. And it wasn't even like I chose y'all. I'm like, all these dudes are gonna be successful. It's just cool as people, and then we just look up in three years. And because that's one of my favorite things about Princeton is everyone is such a go getter, everybody's so motivated. And so just being around that type of energy, you're gonna want to be on your shit. I don't know if I've ever told you this before. But literally, it was because remember when it was you, jelani, Tucson, y'all got that internship freshman year, and I remember you guys sent it to me, and I was like, What even is this company? disregard? Then apply? Y'all got it, obviously start to learn a little bit more like, Oh, that's what company that is. Maybe I should have done that. And then that was at a point where I was still, you know, struggling, a little bit all of you, you all balling out, and I was like, aint no way, I'm gonna be the only friend. And this friend group who was not on their A game doing their thing. But it wasn't even like a jealousy thing. Not at all, it was more like, Oh, these dudes are so inspiring. They're doing all these great things, I'm gonna be on my grind. And just that little bit of energy, just being around that sort of friend group, it just also elevates you at the same time. So the people you surround yourself with is, is is it does a lot for you. And at a place like Princeton, everyone you go around is going to be that same type of motivation. And so kind of like you were saying, These people start out, start out as your friends, but 10,15, 20 years from now, they are still your friends, but they will be very cool places. And you'll just have that network instantly.

A: And one last thing I had on that networking that I'm sure you notice as well, is that even in the calls where I was contacting them for an end as a means to an end, I was talking to them to get to get a job, I would notice the calls that went the best were the ones where within five to 10 minutes, they were kind of just like testing and once we hit that one thing that was like the vibe check done so like eating club, or some kind of like Greek life affiliation that like you have friends or something or like something you did on campus like basketball, soccer, etc. Once you hit that is no longer like a like a cold call.

F: it's just you just chatting it up. Exactly. That's exactly what happened to me with this alum that I talked to really late in the in the summer. And I called him and then we chatted for like two minutes. And then it came that I was in ivy and he was like, oh, like, Oh, my wife. He was like, Oh, yeah, I was in ti but my wife who I actually met my senior year was in ivy. So every time that I'm back in Princeton that's like for reunions, that's where I hang out. He's like, Oh, yeah, when I'm back, we're definitely grabbing a beer at the next reunion. I'm like, yeah. Yeah, so just little things like that. Everyone's looking for that little human connection. So I guess just like put a button on the networking thing. Human connect on people, like genuinely matters. Networking doesn't only involve people who are older than you and actually in the industry, people like at Princeton right now, you don't think of that you don't think of it as networking, but when you're going around and meeting people every single day, it kind of is networking. So the way I justify my, the way I justify socializing so much to myself and going out and partying so much is I'm just now working. I'm just trying to expand my circle and just, you know, meet as many people as possible. It's fair. Yeah. And so, uh, next thing what you just mentioned, eating clubs. You are you're our treasurer and my treasurer. How's that been? Like, just tell us what it's like been the treasurer the responsibilities what it's like living in the building. Just speak a little bit to that.

A: Yeah. So I think I got I got conned a little bit and historically on Well, I'll explain. First of all, it's a great experience. I can't I can't complain. I I already love the club a lot because of the great people in it and just being an officer and hitches it's just amazing. You live there. You're there all the time. time you kind of just like live and breathe the club. And it gives you like, honestly a lot of excuses to not do work. So you just vibe all the time. Yeah. Now the reason I say I got conned is the treasurer has stories historically for ivy, the most chill position, you just, you know, follow up on dues and that part is kind of annoying because like, I don't wanna be the person, you know, no one wants to be the tax man, right? Yeah. We paid your dues like, Can you send this in whatever. So that's historically my job. Now I'm, they want to add additional roles to Treasurer role, where it's becoming like, a lot, a lot of stuff out to manage and like, be in the weeds of like finances and stuff, which is fine. Like, I'm grateful for the opportunity. And I'm excited to do that and do it well. But I'm like, man. But yeah, I mean, it's been it's been great angle, the biggest thing I've noticed is an officer beyond living there beyond everything else that I didn't know I didn't expect, is when you're an officer, you kind of get a pass to be more social in a way, which I mean, I the way I explained it is if maybe it was just me, but I didn't have a lot of people in these circles when I was a freshman, or a sophomore, okay, it was like the ivy, cottage circles, etc. But now, like, even an ivy thing, right? Anything I can walk up to anyone be like, Hey, what's up, like, get to talking to them. And because they either know of me because of the officer ship, or because like, we have friends in common. Like, I feel no reservations just go up to anybody, even people in the club who I don't know, super, well just get to know them. And you know, and at that point, it's not like, I mean, for anyone is fine. Especially as an officer, I feel like it's like my duty to do that and get to know people in the club. And it gives me an excuse to do that, which is really cool. So it's like, not only do I feel comfortable doing it, but I like almost like kind of pushed to do it, which is even more fun.

F: I’m about to say that is great to hear and I think definitely I think even just coming off not being in the club for so long. Everyone is excited for that level of connection. So even when you do that I bet people are that more receptive to it not just because you’re the officer but they're like oh, like cool guy I don't know you want to get to know you so even myself I do the exact same thing I just walk up to people in the club I'm like oh what's your name? Like Nice to meet you. Yeah, cuz I bought by like the next week I want to know everyone's name I want to be able to just walk up to anyone say hi to anyone after just have that level of connection. So definitely important that everybody officers or not keep that same type of energy up

A: 100% agree and I think eating clubs. I think luckily ivy been doing pretty well with this but I know even clubs in general, people tend to kind of split into their own kind of factions or affiliation, cliques or no cliques. But i think the sooner You can make everybody in the club your friend, like not your friend, you know, I'm saying like, yeah, you know, befriend, most people in the club, the better the experience is going to be because when you sit down for dinner, you can sit down next to anybody and just vibe, right?

F: Yeah. And that's Yeah. And honestly, I don't just, that's the reason why I, some of the other clubs didn't really appeal to me because you do hear how clicky it is, whether it's whatever, whatever groups of people who all join the same eating club, and it's just them hanging out with themselves and with their friends is like, I don't want that I came to meet me, meet new people, make new friends, and have a great time with a bunch of people and not just people on my same sports teams and whatever. So that is one thing I've appreciated so far.

A: Yeah, no, it's been great. I mean, and being an officer itself, it's kind of cool. I mean, planning stuff, making sure like, my job is to make sure the club is in the best state possible.

F: Yeah, it is. And you know, I'm on your ass about everything, Katie's already getting tired of me. And maz is probably tired of me. Brooke is already tired. I don't care. I will be on your asses

A: That’s why we gave you the music chair room. But yeah, I know, people keep us accountable, which is good. And yeah, we want to be happy. So like, we have a good night out when people are like laughing at the dinner table like having fun. It just brings out a joy to our hearts because a lot of planning that goes into all of this. And the staff has all of this work behind the scenes to make stuff happen, shout out to the staff. The staff and task people too, the food has been hitting

F: Oh my god. Oh my god, right.

A: So it's just exciting. It's really exciting. Obviously, there's some parts of it that like, are less glamorous, but I would not trade it away for anything.

F: Yeah. And how tired of y'all how tired are each of the officers of walking downstairs and seeing me in the building 24/7

A: love it, you’re literally in there more than I am. And you're just like taking a nap or lying down.

F: Hey, man, Hey, man, I got to make myself at home making up for lost time. But no, I have spent a stupid amount of time in the building. But you know, we missed out on we missed out on a lot. I gotta we gotta we gotta take it back, as he should. And for everyone who listens. I would like to think we are well, I would like to think we've gotten some new new users at this point or new listeners. So at the end of every episode, we do the tiger confessions section. We, I read two tiger confessions, and we just react to them. Answer the question. If it's a question, just say whatever it is that comes to mind just to react to it naturally. And so we'll do that right now. Real quick before that. I'm trying to get one more segment ideas for the show. So if anyone has any ideas, reach out, either a DM on Instagram, email me, whatever, whatever. There's no bad ideas. I'm just trying to figure out different ways to make the show exciting. So hit me up if you have any other suggestions. Okay, so now tiger confessions section, first one. It says do people get annoyed when pre froshes reached out to ask questions about little things like which classes to take, where to eat or on campus, transportation etc? Does it ever come off as the frosh trying too hard or if it gets annoying? Andrew guests always answer first.

A: I actually think this one is not straightforward, my answer. Because there are ways to do it in an annoying way and ways to do it in a way that's not annoying. And I'm a big proponent of like reaching out and being proactive and getting to know people. But if like, you can read you can take the hint right? If I'm replying with like one word answers or two word answer. I'm a very nice person too, like so if I reply with one or two word answers, like I'm sorry, just stop asking me question

F: if you got if you've gotten to the point where Andrew Homme is responding with one or two words you don't you're doing something wrong. Cuz he is a nice guy,
A: if I can meet you somewhere and like we vibe and then you asked me a couple of times and like kind of get all your questions in that's fine. We've all been there like I'm happy to help but at some point you just gotta you know kick start it for yourself

F: yeah and kind of agree kind of don't agree. I definitely like helping people because another big thing that I'm going back to the network thing from a little bit earlier is paying it forward the same way people reach out and I'm not saying you don't obviously you do like you're great you have this dude helps amen I was just saying this yesterday the fruit of your tree when it comes to helping people land internships absurd you and jelani absurd. You're employing every single person at the school. So yes, you obviously do help out so I'm very similar in that way. It's like if someone reaches out about anything, especially like professional help, I will take take the time out of my day to help them out. Even just little things like cuz I remember how this place is a scary place to navigate. It's not easy, especially as a freshman, especially coming in off a pandemic freshmen and sophomores so frosh-mores, frosh-mores and freshmen. So when people reach out I definitely love to help and I don't think I get annoyed by it unless like you're saying, it gets to the point where it's just like constant pestering. It's like there's like no EQ, and they can't really tell like when to leave people alone, that type of thing. But for the most part, I doubt many upperclassmen are to the point where Like, any little question about, oh, what class do I take? How do I like campus food, whatever they're going to like, Oh, fuck this kid like leave me alone never no. We're all Yeah, we're all very one to help the same way other people have helped us out back in the day, except the one thing I will say is one caveat. Don't ask about eating clubs as a freshman. That's annoying, dude. I was helping 2025 moving day if you whatever Saturday that was, and these kids hadn't even unpacked their boxes. They already asked me what eating club I was in and I was like, slow your roll. It is not even it is a negative one. Don't worry about this for another year and a half. So if it comes to that, leave me alone. I will I will not answer your questions. Yeah, but other than that, feel free to reach out to me, Andrew and we will all be the best resources we can be 100%, and then second one. This one's a little more fun. Trying to get myself excited for school starting again. Please comment fun things about normal semesters. So Andrew, what are what are some fun things about a normal Princeton semester?

A: School wise or socially school wise, right? Like school?

F: fuck no, not school wise. I mean, not socially, like clubs. I don't I don't mean like classes. I that's why I was I was like, No, no, no, no, no, there's no no school. No, no. outside the classroom fun.

A: Okay. Okay, a couple of fun. I'm just gonna go and just

F: list them off.

A: days like this, where it's like, not too hot, not too cold. And people just posted outside, either chilling out on lawns, somewhere sitting by the fountain in spia or sitting in their eating clubs. Amazing. What else long weekends. Those are those if you don't have a class when you don't have precept or something? Why do you have a Friday class? It's a precept. I might move it honestly.

F:You should move it, having a three day week. If you're listening don't take friday classes. Yeah, you don't need that in your life.

A: Don't do it. That's why I think seeing people is just so fun. It's like you see people randomly dab them up, you talk to them, catch up with them. That's fine. Seeing seeing crowds of people in places is so energizing now after being on campus in the spring. And seeing how with five No, four 4000 5000 kids here how ghostly this place felt. And now it's vibrant again. That's just amazing.

F: Yeah bro, we were both here last fall and walking through campus on a fuckin Thursday, Friday Saturday night and there was it depressing like sad sad nothing going on. Just no music coming out of dorm rooms no crowds of people walking around and that's a fast forward to now and things are basically back to normal. It feels feels great. Yeah,

A: lastly, I'll hit three more things. First thing is hearing loud music on the street or in dorm rooms

F:I do love that even it's like damn I'm where's my invite, but I appreciate the other people having fun out here exactly

A:just like you see for a good time. I think the second thing is like, walking around to smell and especially like, I don't know, maybe this is selfish, but smelling food in different places whether it’s eating club on Nassau street or stuff like that. It's just great. We're all hungry it is a good vibe. Fantastic. The third thing The third thing is I like this campus, like scenery wise.

F: That's a view. This is a beautiful campus, right?

A: And I think we're at the point now where like we've done our thing at Princeton, like we're kind of an island say we're in we're in close mode. I'm fully in close mode to be honest.

F: I'm in close mode, dude, it is it is bad. I don't know how to motivate myself to do any type of work. It is bad. I don't want to have some sort of like Rude Awakening. But dude, when I tell you I have no motivation, bro. It is bad. This past week like it’s that I'm laughing about it. But at the same time, I'm like, yo, Flo, like, go do some work. Like I don't know how to make myself do work. Because all the distractions are back, which are very welcome. Since they've been gone forever. Yeah. And it's like, I don't know how to make myself do work. So yeah.

A: It's very hard. Yeah, it's so hard. But yeah, campus view and being able to walk around and take it in without kind of feeling stressed or anxious or anything. It just great. Yeah. Yeah.

F: All great answers. And I'll just add a few things on top of that. More like event specific things. The first one that comes to mind is a dodgeball tournament, which I haven't Dude, I know. Think about how sad it is that we only did that our freshman years and haven't been able to do it since and now we're gonna get at senior year but haven't been able to do it. But the dodgeball tournament is so low key and underratedly the most fun one of the most fun things I've done since I was at Princeton, I agree. Just a random night where I was playing dodgeball for three hours made it to the finals against the football team, the club soccer team. They cheated football after football team like 90 guys and they cheated. We would get them out and they would not go out. So yeah, I'm still salty about that to this day. So that's one thing the dodgeball tournament really fun when that happens. Everyone show up. I am sports. Very fun time haven't happened since sophomore year on basketball, soccer, volleyball, all those shout out to Dillon Gym go sign up. Dan shows. Yeah, the dan shows are so fun. fantastics haven't been to them in a long time so can't wait for those to get back going dan shows are really fun What else is there? Lowkey I want to go see some acapella I'm yet exactly I'm yet to go to a show I boom, we are going to show together acapella everyone's still Everyone's so talented on this campus so

A: Lord knows we ain't doing work so yeah

F: I'll compile shows the sports games getting to cheer on cheer on your friends because that's another one of my favorite things about Princeton is so just most small campus community that you do get to know people on a personal level on a bunch of sports teams and so you could go support them tonight we're gonna go to the water polo game shout out miles our president go goals do I don't know how the sport works. I'll figure it out tonight. So sports games that's really fun. Lawn parties are usually fun. nights out on the street are things to look out. There's just so much to look forward to it's this is a great place to be Andrew I don't know if you agree or disagree but I think it's a great place to be

A: there are times when my princeton life where I've I've not appreciated how great you know that for better or for worse haven’t appreciated it. Me too. And I think it's we're great. Yeah.

F: And so with that. I will I think we could wrap up there 55 strong minutes. Andrew, do you have any final words for the people?

A: No, enjoy your year people I know coming off a pandemic it's a bit stressful kind of socially. It's like so many stuff going on. People have like social anxiety and like getting back to everything. Like just breathe just relax and more importantly have a lot of fun.

F: I will also hot off the press bro we finally got our our security deposit back for the summer. I just got the text. Let's go we balling dinner's on me tonight. Let's go, but, yeah, final words, hey another and I can't keep saying this. But I ima keep saying this. Another great episode of go with the flo. It's all thanks to the guests. The host has nothing it’s the guests who carry the show. But yeah, I echo everything you said. I'm gonna say this every episode because hopefully people eventually listen. Have some fun this year. We've all deserved it. Classes are stressful, this place is stressful. Enjoy yourself. Life is too short to just be grinding and Firestone 24 seven and only worried about classes, have some fun because it goes by fast and you will regret it if you don't take advantage. So with that, that has been another episode of of of go with the flo, forgot the name. This has been another episode of go with the flo. Andrew, thank you for being here. And everybody. Thank you for listening.

A: Thank you for having me.

Transcribed by https://otter.ai