
Katerina Folkin
5.0
(12)
Studied at Sookmyung Women's University
Worked at Tesla
Successful clients at
Not currently taking new clients
About Katerina
Hi! I’m Katerina, a senior student at Minerva University and a firm believer that where you start doesn’t have to define where you end up. I grew up in a family of immigrants, speaking two languages at home, and watching my parents build a life from scratch in a new country taught me resilience, hard work, and the power of seizing opportunities. Throughout my college journey, I’ve lived in six different countries, learning to adapt, connect with people from all walks of life, and navigate new challenges. Along the way, I’ve landed offers from companies like Amazon, JPMorgan Chase, and Tesla — experiences that felt out of reach not so long ago. I’ve also worked behind the scenes as a Recruiting Intern at Tesla, giving me rare insight into what recruiters actually look for and how hiring decisions get made at top firms. More than anything, I’m passionate about helping others realize what’s possible for them. Whether it’s breaking into big finance firms, building a standout resume, or gaining confidence for interviews and presentations, I love seeing people step into the best version of themselves. Outside of career coaching, you’ll find me composing pop songs, traveling, or hunting down the best coffee shops in whatever city I’m in. Can’t wait to connect and hear your story!
Why do I coach?
Coaching matters to me because I’ve seen how powerful it is to have someone in your corner who believes in you and helps you navigate the unknown. When I was first applying to competitive internships and top companies, I had no idea what made a great resume, how to tell my story in interviews, or what recruiters were actually looking for. The mentors and peers who took the time to coach me made a huge impact on my confidence, my mindset, and my ability to land the opportunities I wanted. One of my mentors from Bain taught me how to break down complex problems, think strategically, and approach challenges from different angles — lessons that shaped not only my career but how I tackle life. Now, I coach because I want to be that person for someone else. I know how intimidating it can be to break into top companies, switch industries, or feel like you’re behind your peers. Coaching isn’t just about resumes or mock interviews — it’s about building someone’s confidence, helping them tell their story, and showing them that they belong in rooms they once thought were out of reach. That’s why this work matters to me.
Work Experience

Summer Analyst
J.P. Morgan
June 2026 - Present
(secured return offer) - Led weekly delivery of an Alteryx-powered client performance heatmap for 50+ institutional clients, preparing financial inputs, resolving workflow issues, and analyzing results to inform FP&A decisions for senior management - Compiled & distributed two high-impact weekly reports to executive management by extracting client operational metrics (e.g., service levels, risk indicators), applying data validation and trend analysis, identifying emerging risks or trends - Automated a legacy financial reporting process by building an Alteryx workflow, reducing manual analysis time

Recruiting Intern
Tesla
January 2025 - May 2025
- Source candidates through LinkedIn, direct applications, and keyword searches to build pipelines of qualified talent. - Review resumes, screen applicants, and present top candidates to recruiters and hiring managers. - Conduct initial candidate screenings and schedule interviews, ensuring seamless coordination between managers and applicants. - Improve recruiting processes and implement proactive sourcing strategies to streamline talent acquisition.

Business Development Intern
Acceling Software
June 2024 - August 2024
- Led decision-making in design & launch of the website, client pitch deck, logo, & marketing materials (LinkedIn, Facebook) using Canva, set to increase client engagement by 100% through effective strategic planning & communication - Developed comprehensive legal policies, ensuring full compliance and operational readiness of startup, leading to a 100% increase in investor confidence, showcasing strong problem-solving and project management skills.

Professional Development Director
180 Degrees Consulting
April 2024 - Present
- Organized panels with consulting experts from McKinsey, BCG, and Bain, tailored questions to student interests, and promoted events to the business community at Minerva University

Director of People & Culture
180 Degrees Consulting
January 2024 - April 2024
- Experienced in strategic recruiting processes to identify top talent and build high-performing teams - Hosted information sessions to attract prospective candidates and promote organizational culture Onboarding, Human Resources (HR) and +1 skill

Strategy Analyst Intern
Siemens
January 2024 - April 2024
- Leading targeted interviews within the SIEMENS Battery Solutions team to uncover motivations and pain points, informing strategic improvements - Conducting in-depth research on hybrid teamwork models, translating findings into actionable insights - Using sentiment analysis and data analytics to conceptualize a solution to unite a globally dispersed team across countries and cities

Finance Intern
Absolute Caregivers
May 2023 - August 2023
- Handled billing for over 100 employees, including generating invoices and processing payments - Leveraged Excel spreadsheets to analyze and organize financial data, improving data accessibility and efficiency - Collaborated with the finance team to identify discrepancies and implement corrective measures

Marketing Manager
Humans of Minerva
August 2022 - Present
- Responsible for developing, managing, and executing marketing strategies for podcasts - Create and manage various campaigns to promote podcasts through communication platforms such as Anchor, Instagram, Community Portal (Minerva University), and Telegram - Experience in Google spreadsheets, analyzing data and reports - Utilize Canva to create custom graphics for promotional campaigns and social media posts to create visually appealing and engaging content Graphic Design, Marketing and +2 skills
Katerina was also given offers to work at

Amazon

Tesla

JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Education

Sookmyung Women's University
Exchange Program, Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services
2023 - 2023

Minerva University
Bachelor's Degree, Business Operations & Economics
2022 - 2026
Activities and societies: Marketing & Community Lead @ Humans of Minerva Podcast, Co-Founder @ 180 Degrees Consulting Minerva Branch, Minerva-capella, Agora (Musical Theatre) Relevant Coursework: B110 (Market Dynamics & Product Analysis), B111 (Financial Planning, Budgeting, & Modeling), B112 (Doing Business), B113 (Enterprise, Design, and Optimization), SS111 (Modern Economic Thought), SS110 (Psychology: From Neurons to Society), Complex Systems, Formal Analyses, Empirical Analyses, Multimodal Communications Cross-team Collaboration, Public Speaking and +6 skills
12 Reviews
Overall Rating
5.0
Katerina has helped Leland clients get into Purdue University
Katerina has helped clients get into these companies: