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Nicholas Hernandez ’26 has long been drawn to the worlds of finance and entrepreneurship. That interest, he said, began at home. Growing up in the Bay Area, he watched his mother build a cleaning service business from the ground up—an experience that made a lasting impression on him.

“Seeing the work it took my mom to create her business had a deep impact on me,” he said. “She was creating something without the kind of AI help we have now. It was just hard work. Watching that gave me a much more personal understanding of what entrepreneurship means.”

When he crosses the stage at Commencement this May, he’ll begin the next chapter of his business journey at Bloomberg, where he will work as an analytics representative.

A double major in economics and history, Hernandez will work with Bloomberg Terminal, the company’s widely used financial software platform providing real-time market data, news, and analytics tools. His path to Bloomberg began during his sophomore year, when he completed a three-day experiential program with the company. He had the support of a fellowship with Management Leadership for Tomorrow, a national nonprofit organization that supports the career development of students of color.

“I attribute a huge amount of my success to that fellowship,” Hernandez said. “Older students at ���Ҵ�ý encouraged me to apply as soon as it became available.”

C-Suite, Startups, and More

Hernandez said his summer internship at Bloomberg’s Bay Area office proved transformative. Working with clients who rely on Bloomberg Terminal, Hernandez saw firsthand how the analytics and sales departments contribute to the fintech world. The experience also gave him the confidence to contribute in ways he hadn’t anticipated.

“I found that my voice was actually being heard in meetings,” he said. “I was even giving presentations to C-suite executives. The culture there is incredibly open and collaborative. When people think of finance, they often imagine something very traditional, but Bloomberg felt different. It’s a fintech company, and that spirit of innovation is very real.”

Hernandez credited much of his professional development to the opportunities provided across The Claremont Colleges. During his time at ���Ҵ�ý, he became involved with the Randall Lewis Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Claremont McKenna College and also completed an internship with a biotech startup. These experiences helped him develop the broader skill set that made him an attractive candidate for Bloomberg.

The ���Ҵ�ý Difference

Hernandez said the path that led him to ���Ҵ�ý began even earlier, thanks to a perceptive high school counselor who recognized his interest in social engagement and encouraged him to consider ���Ҵ�ý.

“When I learned more about ���Ҵ�ý, I realized it embraces a model of shared governance that’s less traditional than many other schools,” he said. “I felt like if I came here, I would be able to work more closely with the administration to create change through organizations like Student Senate.”

During his four years at ���Ҵ�ý, Hernandez said faculty mentorship has played an important role in shaping his academic path, too. Among those who have guided him are his history adviser, Professor Harmony O’Rourke, who helped him navigate his interdisciplinary interests.

Equally important, he added, has been the community of friends he’s found at ���Ҵ�ý—many of whom are pursuing paths very different from his own.

“I didn’t want to be surrounded by people with exactly the same aspirations,” Hernandez said. “Most of my closest friends aren’t economics majors and aren’t going into corporate careers. I really value that. They challenge me to think about why I’m doing what I’m doing and help me see my work in a broader context.”

Before enrolling at ���Ҵ�ý, Hernandez considered larger universities such as UCLA and the University of Washington. In the end, he said, the smaller scale of ���Ҵ�ý proved to be an advantage.

“At a big university, you might assume there are more opportunities because of the size,” he said. “But at a place like ���Ҵ�ý, opportunities feel much more personal. You’re not just one of hundreds of students—you’re connected to people who help you find your path. That’s exactly how I ended up where I am.”