Fairfield Dolan Paves the Way for Women in Finance

By Bella Podgorski
Alumni Caitlin Budzynski ’24 dressed in a white blouse and blue blazer smiling for a professional photo.

Caitlin Budzynski ’24 has represented her company at the 100 Women in Finance Impact Investing Symposium and other industry conferences, leveraging her Fairfield Dolan network.

Caitlin Budzynski ’24 wasted no time after graduation. She joined Turning Rock Partners (TRP), a women and minority-owned private credit investment firm located in New York City just two weeks after graduating from the Charles F. Dolan School of Business with a bachelor of science degree in finance and minors in English and communication. As a client services analyst, Budzynski uses the skills and insights gained from her internship with TRP to regularly engage with investors while deepening her expertise in the finance industry through attendance at industry conferences. Passionate about mentoring, Budzynski encourages Fairfield Dolan students, especially those who may not have considered finance, to explore investor relations as a field that values strong communication skills and offers diverse career opportunities.

Since joining TRP, which focuses on providing flexible capital solutions for non-sponsored, founder-owned-and-led middle-market companies in North America while delivering risk-adjusted returns for investors, Budzynski has had the privilege of representing TRP at the 100 Women in Finance Impact Investing Symposium and the HER Day Conference sponsored by Morgan Stanley. These events have allowed her to expand her network and connect with key players in the financial services industry, even internationally.

Budzynski attributes much of her success to the encouragement she received during her time at Fairfield Dolan. “Had it not been for the support that Dolan fostered and the encouragement of my professors to pursue the private investment space, I would not be where I am today,” she said.

From the moment Budzynski started at Fairfield in the fall of 2020, she knew that Fairfield Dolan would be the catalyst for her success. “When I arrived at Fairfield, it felt like home. I was drawn to Fairfield for its renowned academic programs and exceptional job opportunities for Fairfield Dolan students, not to mention the school’s dedication to upholding its founding Jesuit mission of 'care for the whole person,’” she said.

Budzynski seeks to become a leader in the finance industry and to explore international finance opportunities, starting with the connections she makes at conferences and in her alumni network. As she begins her career, she has encountered many people while networking who have expressed opinions about the “power and quality” of a Dolan degree.

Eager to become a mentor herself, she invites current Dolan students and aspiring graduates to connect with her and also advises them to fully engage in conference experiences, at networking events, and with Fairfield Dolan professors and mentors when job hunting.

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