In this episode of The Coffee Chat, host Ben Dowel sits down with Ryland Chandler, a sophomore at the University of Miami Herbert Business School, to unpack what it takes to break into investment banking—especially from a non-target school.Ryland shares his journey pivoting from a pre-law track to a finance focus, the networking strategies that landed him real conversations with bankers, and his plan to build a rock-solid technical foundation. Ben offers expert coaching on improving response rates, mastering cold emails, preparing for interviews, and converting networking calls into real opportunities.Key Takeaways:The right way to structure a cold outreach emailWhy technical skills are the foundation—not the finish lineHow to turn good conversations into real referralsBalancing academics, extracurriculars, and recruitingWhat makes you stand out in interviews (and what doesn’t)Whether you're from a target school or not, this episode is packed with practical, actionable advice for any student serious about landing a job in investment banking.Learn more about the Adventis Financial Modeling Certification (FMC) program at https://adventiscg.com