In business, graduating finance student aims to bridge cultures

In a world where we’re often defined by stereotypes and placed in boxes, Victoria Benaroya defies simple labels. Growing up in multiple countries, the senior at Rutgers Business School - New Brunswick says she doesn’t have a strong identity towards anything. Instead, her values and beliefs serve as her steadfast guide.

Born in Dublin to Argentine-Jewish parents, she had a nomadic childhood, moving from Serbia to Switzerland, Japan to Turkey, and Sweden to Dubai before settling in New Jersey – all by age 13.

As much as her international experience makes her stand out, Benaroya can seamlessly blend in – an art she mastered in Dubai, a predominately Muslim community where she had to conceal her Jewish identity, even from friends.

“You couldn’t even have a passport with a stamp from Israel, or the government would deport you,” she said.

Upon her 2015 arrival in the United States, amid the rise of Donald Trump’s presidential campaign, xenophobia was reaching a peak, and she encountered a different set of prejudices. Because of her “all-American” appearance, Benaroya effectively hid her multicultural identity while engaging in deep conversations about racism. “Because I’m white, blonde, and have an American accent, people didn’t know I’m Hispanic or a foreigner. I was seen as a safe space, having conversations with people who wanted to ‘build a wall.’ I’d say, ‘Do you realize you’re saying you want someone like me to be deported?’”

This experience as a cultural conduit is largely why Benaroya is pursuing a career in business. “We need more people who are international, who’ve had these experiences and are willing to put themselves in uncomfortable situations to be a bridge between different cultures,” she said.

Initially drawn to politics, the 22-year-old pivoted toward business after realizing it can have a larger impact – that’s the power of money over bureaucracy. She zeroed in on finance, seeing how it empowers people to create autonomy over their lives.

When applying for colleges, Benaroya received acceptance letters from prestigious private schools but knew she didn’t want to be saddled with debt from tuition fees. “Living abroad, you have a different perspective on how much education should cost. For a finance major, numbers matter,” she said. Her older sister, a geologist conducting research for NASA, went to Rutgers, so Benaroya knew she could succeed professionally with a state school education.

Immediately, she felt at home in Rutgers’ diverse environment, joining numerous organizations. She credits the Road to Wall Street program for landing her an internship at Blackstone and a Rutgers alum for helping her secure a position as an analyst at BlackRock. “Without his help,” she said, “my resume probably wouldn’t have been read.”

According to Benaroya, this collaborative “pay it forward” culture – an ethos engrained from the top – is what makes Rutgers unique. “At other schools, students compete against each other, but we don’t see it that way," she said. "We go out of our way to help more Rutgers students land jobs, with alumni who graduated 30, 40 years ago still coming back to support you.”

Benaroya also actively gives back, mentoring students from a career readiness course she taught and members of Rutgers Business School's Women BUILD program. From these experiences, she’s noticed how a fear of failure holds back many students, especially females. Her advice to them: to move past that feeling and recognize that failure is part of the process.

“I am not where I am today because I am a genius,” she said. “I have failed many times but still have achieved what most students would consider incredible success.”

- Elise McIntosh