2028 Fintech Academy - Greenwood Project Scholar Program

Application Deadline: 15 June 2026

Department: Talent Acquisition - College Program

Employment Type: Programme

Location: Chicago,IL

Description

About The Greenwood Project Fintech Academy: At Greenwood Project, we are dedicated to breaking down barriers and empowering Black and Latino undergraduate students to thrive in the financial services industry. Our mission is to provide social, academic, and aspirational capital to our scholars, ensuring talented individuals have the opportunity to shape the future of finance.

The Fintech Academy prepares scholars for careers at the intersection of finance and technology, including fintech innovation, operations, risk management, trading technology, and quantitative roles. Through our comprehensive 10-month program (July 2026 - May 2027), you'll develop the technical capabilities, analytical frameworks, and problem-solving skills needed to build the future infrastructure of financial services.

Program Overview:We are currently recruiting 100 scholars for our 2028 cohort. You can apply if you are a freshman graduating in 2029. Upon acceptance, you will complete a comprehensive training program from July 2026 through May 2027. This program is designed to train you as a sophomore and prepare you for a junior year internship in Summer 2028. You'll gain invaluable insights into fintech, operations, risk management, and trading, and prepare for a potential 10-week summer internship placement with our esteemed partner firms. Please note: Internship placements are not guaranteed.

What You'll Do:

• Complete assigned technical projects, risk analysis exercises, and operational simulations to demonstrate proficiency in fintech and operations concepts within program deadlines
• Engage in guided training sessions covering fintech platforms, operations infrastructure, risk frameworks, trading systems, data analytics, and technology in finance
• Participate in networking events, mentorship programs, and professional development opportunities to expand your network within fintech, operations, and risk management communities
• Embrace a culture of innovation, analytical rigor, and continuous learning, positioning yourself as a future leader in the technology-enabled financial services industry

What We're Looking For - Ideal Degree Backgrounds

• Computer Science
• Engineering (all disciplines)
• Mathematics
• Statistics/Data Science
• Finance with a technical focus
• Operations Management
• Management Information Systems
• Risk Management
• Political Science
• Economics with quantitative emphasis

Technical Skills (or strong willingness to develop)

• Programming fundamentals (Python, SQL, or similar languages)
• Data analysis and visualization
• Understanding of financial systems and technology infrastructure
• Analytical frameworks for risk assessment and operational efficiency
• Problem-solving with structured methodologies
• Familiarity with trading systems, blockchain, or financial technology platforms (preferred but not required)
• Excel and data manipulation

Soft Skills & Characteristics
Greenwood Project selects students who display Grit, Resourcefulness, and Intellectual Curiosity, along with:

• Strong analytical and logical reasoning abilities
• Systematic problem-solving approach
• Attention to detail and commitment to precision
• Ability to translate technical concepts for non-technical audiences
• Collaborative mindset for cross-functional teamwork
• Adaptability in rapidly evolving technological environments
• Process-oriented thinking with a continuous improvement mindset

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

What Makes a Strong Fintech Academy Candidate?

The strongest candidates combine technical aptitude with genuine curiosity about how technology is transforming the financial services industry. You should be a structured problem-solver who enjoys diving into systems, processes, and data to identify areas for improvement. Successful scholars demonstrate the persistence to debug complex issues, the creativity to design innovative solutions, and the communication skills to collaborate across technical and business teams. You don't need to be a coding expert—we're looking for analytical thinkers who are excited to build technical skills and apply them to real financial services challenges, whether in operations effici