Sabeena Bal graduated with her master’s in applied economics and finance from UC Santa Cruz in 2021 and now works as a payroll systems analyst at Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E). She is interested in championing the advancement of women in finance and is part of PG&E’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging initiatives to provide training and resources to minority staff.
Q: What made you decide to get a master’s degree in applied economics and finance?
A: Watching my dad as a real estate entrepreneur in the Bay Area inspired me to take an interest in business and math from a young age. As a first-generation college student, it was important to me to further my education to prove to myself what I was capable of and what I could do for my family.
Thanks to my inspiring professors (like Robert Baden) at UCSC, I loved getting my B.A. in Business Management Economics and wanted to pursue my master’s in a related field. I needed a degree that would provide me with a well-rounded understanding of micro and macroeconomics, accounting, and finance. The M.S. program in applied economics and finance at UCSC gave me that challenging but rewarding experience in just one year.
Q: What drew you to a career in payroll after graduating?
A: Before graduating in June, I began applying for roles in March, including my current position with PG&E. I was interested in this position because it placed me at the intersection of human resources and finance. On the one hand, I get to work on the people side of things, and on the other, I manage the numbers and logistics of it all. My master’s degree prepared me for this role, thanks to the balance of application and theory in the curriculum.
Q: What skills or perspectives from the program have you ended up applying in your career?
A: This program provided me with a great theoretical foundation, allowing me to look at the world through an economic lens. I also learned many technical skills that I use every day, from data collection to programming languages like Java, SQL, and Python.
Q: What are some of your favorite memories from your time as a student?
A: I started and finished the program during the COVID-19 pandemic, which shifted my entire cohort online. Despite this, we developed a tight-knit community and learned how to collaborate remotely, made connections with our professors and teaching assistants, and forged intentional friendships and support systems. Many of us are still friends to this day and are working in diverse fields related to economics and finance.
Q: What advice would you give to students considering pursuing a master’s degree at UCSC?
A: Do not give up. It all pays off! For women in the program, it can feel like you don’t belong in the world of business or finance, but you should be there and be proud to be where you are, because there is a seat at the table for you.