profile
Based in Chicago, Coco’s academic foundation at the prestigious University of Chicago, where she is pursuing dual Bachelor of Arts degrees in Economics (with a Data Science Track) and Art History, underscores her capacity for both rigorous quantitative analysis and nuanced qualitative understanding. Expected to graduate in June 2027 with an impressive GPA of 3.90, Coco consistently demonstrates a commitment to academic excellence.
Coco’s burgeoning professional experience is marked by impactful internships that showcase her versatility and drive. As an Investment Banking Intern at Traction Advising in Seattle, she actively supports end-to-end Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) processes within the software industry. Her responsibilities include comprehensive market research, in-depth financial analysis, and the preparation of compelling pitchbooks. Coco has also demonstrated her analytical skills through market sizing, competitive benchmarking, and due diligence activities, specifically within the vegetation management software sector. Her proficiency extends to CRM tools like HubSpot, which she leverages for strategic outreach and research, having successfully connected with a significant number of Seattle-based M&A lawyers and venture capitalists.
Prior to her role at Traction Advising, Coco gained valuable international experience as an Equity Research Summer Intern at Guotai Junan Securities Co., Ltd. in Beijing, China. During this intensive period, she conducted top-down analysis of China’s real estate sector, utilizing STATA across a broad range of datasets and policy reports. Her work contributed to the identification of potential Japanification risks and informed internal sector outlooks. Coco also developed financial models and performed critical ratio and sensitivity analyses for three infrastructure firms, providing crucial support for equity theses presented at the company’s 2024 midterm strategy meeting. Her organizational skills were further demonstrated through her coordination of logistics and briefing materials for key client meetings and the midterm strategy session in Beijing, reinforcing client engagement.
Coco Jia’s multifaceted background, combining rigorous academic training, practical professional experience, diverse research endeavors, and leadership engagement, makes her a valuable and promising member of our team. Her analytical abilities, coupled with her intellectual curiosity and strong communication skills, contribute significantly to our collective success. We are thrilled to have Coco bring her unique insights and dedication to our organization.
