2019 - 2021 FMA Magazine

A LOOK AT OUR STUDENTS
KATIE LEONE &
DANIELLA CUCCI
It didn’t take Katie Leone
and Daniella Cucci long
to become friends once
joining FMA. These winning women were in
the spring 2020 FMA cohort and got to know
each other through training and socials. Both
are Yankees – Katie hails from Philly, while
Daniella came to Auburn from Syosset,
New York.
Katie attended a tiny, Quaker high school and
wanted to do a complete 180 when it came
to choosing her college. “I was attracted to
Auburn first by its size and location but later
found the people to be the defining reason for
my selection,” Katie says. “Before deciding to
attend AU, I did my research and discovered
the Auburn FMA webpage. After learning
more about the program and its successes, I
made it my goal to join FMA my freshman
year. It was a huge selling point for me when
making the decision to attend Auburn and
has been the defining influence of my college
career thus far. Not only has FMA prepared
me and helped me succeed in the rigorous
investment banking recruiting cycle, but it
has given me some of my best friends. The
advisory and mentorship of this group are
unmatched. This past year, older members
consistently reached out to me to help me
prepare for interviews without hesitation.”
Daniella attended an all-girls Catholic high
school, where tradition and family were
constantly emphasized. So naturally, when
going through the college process, these two
characteristics were critical. “It might have
taken 10+ university tours,” Daniella says, “but
I was finally introduced to something familiar,
the Auburn Family. This meant being able
to walk down any street wearing anything
AU related and getting an enthusiastic “War
Eagle” or simply a smile from afar. While this
might be a small polite gesture to some, it
makes Auburn feel like home, especially being
so far from where I grew up.”
Daniella originally chose Auburn for the
computer science program in the College of
Engineering. However, a year in, the New
York native realized “many engineering
careers lacked the competitive edge that I
was seeking - it felt like a part of me was left
on the sidelines. I realized the answer was in
front of me all along in my mom. The ultimate
role model for me, I had watched my mom
successfully navigate the demands of a career
as a principal portfolio consultant while
raising three children.”
Daniella’s grit and quantitative leanings
made her a perfect candidate for FMA. The
feeling was mutual: “COVID-19 might have
put a pause on normal university operations,
but FMA did not skip a beat,” Daniella said,
“With Tracy’s guidance, I worked closely with
alumni and upperclassmen mentors, which
ultimately led to my success in IB recruiting,
even in the middle of a global pandemic. I’ve
never met such passionate people who jump
at the chance to lend a hand and celebrate
your successes. Having experienced all of this
mentoring has encouraged me to do the same
and pay it forward to younger members.”
Daniella loves her Italian heritage. Her favorite
activity is gathering at large family dinners,
and every summer, she and her family make
homemade tomato sauce. We are glad to
have both of these young women in the FMA
family. Daniella will intern with Wells Fargo’s
Financial Institutions Group in Charlotte for
summer, 2021. Katie will be an IB intern with
CreditSuisse’s energy group in Houston for
summer, 2022.
FMA 2019-2021 MAGAZINE 23