Mariel DiNatale talks about finance in a way that feels refreshingly grounded. Because of McIntire, she understands finance to be about people, communication, and how business operates in the real world.
A fourth-year concentrating in Finance and Management, Mariel has had a learning experience that reflects that broader view. Her Global Commerce & Society Track and minor in Foreign Affairs complement her business education, giving her a more complete picture of how economies, cultures, and global systems intersect. Together, those pieces have helped her see business as something that extends around the globe and in communities of all sizes.
That perspective came into focus through her study-abroad experiences in Costa Rica and Argentina, both of which she describes as the most transformative parts of her time at UVA.
In Costa Rica, she worked on a consulting project for an artisanal chocolate business, exploring ways for it to expand into tourism while learning about the area’s economy and environment. “It really reframed how I think about business,” she says. “Not just with my own needs in mind, but thinking about how people in different regions experience the world.”
Spending time with local professionals and academics also gave her a deeper understanding of how concerns about the natural world have an outsized impact on decision-making. “The environment is first and foremost on their minds,” she says, reflecting on how those conversations expanded her sense of responsibility in business.
In Argentina, Mariel built on that experience while working on a data consulting project for a winery in Mendoza, one that challenged her in entirely new ways. With a client who spoke little to no English, communication became the core of the project. “It was my first experience really having to work through a language barrier,” she says. “We had to simplify what we were trying to say and make it more concise so he could understand.”
The shift forced her team to alter how they approached their work. “We had to throw out that thinking of trying to show how much we know,” she explains. “It was more about serving someone else, a real client with a real business and a pressing need.”
One of the most meaningful moments came when her team stopped using their tech tools. “We just decided to put our laptops away, and we had him lead us around his winery,” she says. “We were listening to him and his experience,” which helped them understand not only the technical side of the business, but the personal side as well. “It was a generational family business [made up of] him and his wife, their children, and their grandchildren,” she says. “It made me realize how much this business meant to them.”
That same people-first mindset carries into her leadership on Grounds. Mariel has been involved in Smart Woman Securities since her first semester, growing within the student organization from a research analyst to a leadership role as community outreach chair. Along the way, she has taken on increasing responsibility, including helping lead the organization’s investment team and outreach efforts.
She credits Smart Woman Securities with shaping both her professional and personal growth. “There was a strong culture of mentorship,” she says. “It’s kind of implicit that if someone reaches out to you, you become the one to reach out to younger students.” That pass-it-on mentality encouraged her to step into leadership and support others navigating similar paths.
A highlight of her time in the org was Girls in Finance Day, an annual event she helped organize that brings high school students to the Commerce School. This past year, the group hosted 35 students for a day of learning and connection. “We teach them about McIntire careers in finance, and they get to speak to fourth-year students and alumni,” she says. “It’s been really rewarding to help carry that on.”
For Mariel, the event is about reshaping perceptions and opening doors: “One thing I really wanted to impart to them is that they can pursue finance, consulting, accounting, and still keep their ethics at the forefront of what they do.”
That belief reflects how she sees the industry as a whole. “We can have a profoundly positive impact on the world,” she says, pointing to ways business can intersect with philanthropy, community engagement, and socially responsible work. It is a message she feels strongly about sharing, especially with younger students who are still figuring out their next steps.
After graduation, Mariel will move to New York City to begin her role as an analyst at SMBC, returning to a firm where she interned last summer. She is especially excited to make the transition alongside classmates. “A lot of my McIntire classmates will be in the same boat as me,” she says. “We’re all starting together.”
