“One of the best things about Randolph-Macon is the opportunity it gives you to personalize your study and experiences,” says Fidele Ntumba ’18, an economics and political science major and accounting and mathematics minor. In his four years at RMC, Ntumba has taken advantage of every opportunity that came his way, from campus organizations to internships.

Vital Steps
“Your college experience is paramount in helping you envision the next steps in your life,” says Ntumba, who is originally from Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo and grew up in Silver Spring, Maryland. “Being at a college where you can dictate those vital steps is invaluable.”

Ntumba’s “vital steps” included a commitment to get as much training as possible through internships and to apply to graduate schools. With the assistance of staff in The Edge, RMC’s career-preparation program, Ntumba secured four internships. These experiences gave him hands-on experience and helped in the competitive graduate school application process.

Ntumba interned at Bank of Africa’s regional corporate office in Kinshasa, Democratic of Congo, where he shadowed the internal control team. At his internship at Cobb Technologies, he served as a collections specialist; and at Myers and Stauffer, he assisted the auditing team in the drafting of reports and analyzing healthcare facilities Medicare requirements. He is currently interning at Anchors Financial Group, where he assists with tax preparation and account reconciliation.

This fall Ntumba will begin the Master of Finance program at Vanderbilt University – Owen Graduate School of Management. He plans a career as an investment banker.

The Edge on Career Preparation
Staff from The Edge helped Ntumba craft his résumé and map out his career plans beginning in the first semester of his freshman year.

“Whenever I interviewed for internships—and later for grad school—my interviewers always noted the strength of my résumé,” says Ntumba. “Most hiring managers will not spend more than 15 seconds looking through a résumé, so it pays to have one that immediately captures the attention of the intended audience. Additionally, by taking the advice of staff from The Edge and interning early in career fields that interested me, I was able to narrow down my field of interest.”

In 2016, Ntumba participated in RMC’s Boot Camp, a two-day immersion program that helps students identify their career passions and hone their interview and communication skills. At Boot Camp, Ntumba learned how to develop a solid elevator speech.

“It does not matter what job you’re interviewing for, the first thing you’ll be told is ‘tell me about yourself,'” he says. “And from my experience, this question will often set the tone for the rest of the interview.”

Scholarships and Campus Connections
Ntumba is the recipient of an RMC Board of Trustees Scholarship; the Porter Hardy Scholarship; the Ira M. Lechner Public Service Scholarship; the Michael A. Jessee Scholarship; and the John B. and Anita S. Werner Award. He is chair of the Diversity Council; chair of the Student Conduct Board; and is a member of the Academic Integrity Council.

As senior editor of politics/opinion for the Yellow Jacket student newspaper, Ntumba enjoys writing opinion articles on issues of race and politics, and international relations. “I believe one of the best things about writing is being able to challenge people’s opinions,” he says.

In addition, he is a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Society, Omicron Delta Epsilon International Economics Honor Society, Omicron Delta Kappa leadership honor society, and Pi Sigma Alpha National Political Science Honor Society.