
Q&A With FMA President Katrina Estrada
Meet Katrina Estrada, a driven sophomore majoring in Pre-Finance at the David Nazarian College of Business and Economics. As president of the Financial Management Association, Katrina is dedicated to fostering financial literacy and professional growth among her peers. Through FMA, she works to connect students with valuable resources, industry professionals, and opportunities that prepare them for successful careers in finance. Her passion for finance and commitment to helping others thrive are at the heart of her leadership.
What is the mission and purpose of FMA?
The Financial Management Association, previously known as the Student Finance Association or SFA, aims to promote financial literacy, career development and a strong professional community for students. FMA thrives on four pillars: diligence, accountability, respectfulness and excellence.
Our mission is to provide the necessary resources for students to be successful beyond their time here at Nazarian College. We hope to continue to build our robust network of finance professionals and support each other through our individual paths.
How does FMA contribute to the academic and professional development of its members?
This semester, FMA hosted its first finance banquet, connecting alumni, professors and students. Networking is such a vital part of business, and I think it’s important for business students at Nazarian College to become immersed in this practice as early as possible.
Beyond bringing in guest speakers, we are looking to connect our students with recruiters and alumni in their desired fields. The Spring 2025 team wants to educate freshmen and sophomore students on the different career pathways available and the necessary steps to take for these students to succeed post-graduation.
We plan to host workshops that allow students to practice their interview and financial modeling skills. In addition, we know that recruitment cycles are time-sensitive and intense, so we want to educate students on the necessary prep work and steps they should be taking to differentiate themselves in this highly competitive field.
What motivated you to join FMA initially, and what inspired you to take on a leadership role?
Before I transferred to CSUN, I researched programs that I could join to get the most out of my experience. I knew I wanted to find a community of people who were on the same path as me and was happy to see that a finance club existed. Besides my passion for finance, I’ve always had a passion for helping others. Luckily, at FMA, I’m able to do both.
I find it rewarding to bring these resources and opportunities to students at CSUN. Not everyone is knowledgeable of the resources available to them, and I think it is a rewarding opportunity to help elevate people’s resources and college experience.
Why should students consider joining FMA?
Students should be highly focused on creating a network before graduating. FMA provides that. Our focus this past semester was to provide students with educational resources and presentations on material topics that are essential for investment banking. For the Spring 2025 semester and onwards, we aim to have more networking opportunities for people in our club that connect students with alumni, professors and professionals in the field.
We also want to help students with professional development and provide key insights into recruitment timelines. Also, we plan to continue our mentorship program that connects finance alumni with students. Having a mentor can kickstart students’ professional development, especially if they’re in their desired field.
Where do you see this club going in the next few years?
In the next few years, I would hope that this club is able to work closely with professors and faculty. Not only do we endeavor to bring outside professionals and workshops to the finance students at Nazarian College, but we also want to build a tight-knit community on campus that allows students to explore other career paths related to finance.
I hope to see more alumni graduate with full-time roles secured, and I hope to see them come back to support FMA. I want this club to continue to be an invaluable resource to students and alumni. I hope that we’re able to build a robust network of individuals outside of FMA and create stronger connections within the field of finance.