MF19 姚瑶：从数学到金融科技，一个非典型北大学子的探索之路
From Math to MF-FinTech:
A Journey of Exploration for
an Unconventional PKU Graduate
关于
作者
姚瑶
MF19新生
金融科技方向
本科院校：
北京大学金融数学系
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关于我
来自北大数院的“非典型学生”
姚瑶，本科来自北京大学数学科学学院，同时也攻读了国发院的经济学双学位。在很多人眼里我也许是个比较特别的人，性子有点像男生，讲话做事大大咧咧的，业余时间则是个ACG (动画、漫画、游戏) 文化爱好者。对我这样的“非典型学生”而言，数年以来在金融领域的探索是一条漫长而曲折的道路：我父亲是从事金融行业的，因此我从小就对行业有一些简单了解，有一颗金融的种子在内心萌芽，而本人又非常喜欢数学，就很自然地在研究生阶段选择了在数学和金融两方面有所交叉的金融科技方向。与高金的相识与结缘也源于某些奇妙的巧合。过去的二十余年时间存在太多的可能性，对于如今与SAIF并肩而行这一选择，现在的我仍感到很荣幸。
我的本科
知行合一，以行求知
提起数学，大家总是会联想到学霸和刷题这种词，实际上也有点道理。北大数院给我们安排了大量扎实的基础课程，而我们这帮年轻学生从来不缺少对学习的热情与斗志。前两年的我过得甚至有点像书呆子。然而与早早开始研究工作的基础数学不同，仅仅拥有丰富的知识量对立志从事金融工作的同学来说是远远不够的。除了理论知识外，对于应用场景的探索同样重要。事情总有好坏两面，我们在掌握更多理论的同时，也丢失了很多接触真实市场的机会。
17年末的时候我出于好奇报名参加了高金的一次金融峰会，本意只是为了锻炼实操能力，却得到了许多意想不到的体验与收获。我们采用机器学习的模式对企业提供的真实用户信用信息进行处理与分析，并导出一个关于违约可能性的预测结果。在这个合作过程中我逐渐理解了实际问题的许多不完美性：数据的大规模错漏与缺失、模型理论与实际表现的不匹配等等，都是在课本上不曾接触到的。会场上同龄人的风采也让我惊讶，他们条理清晰、思路新颖，表现出极强的应用能力。而最重要的是，从参会企业的发言中我看到了新兴技术在整个金融行业的广泛前景。
这次峰会在后来很长的一段时间里都带给了我许多反思，我与高金方面进行了数次交流，了解到当时他们即将开设金融科技硕士的计划，也真正接触了Fintech这一前沿概念。可能对我来说，走进高金是一个自然而然的过程。与其说是双向选择，我与高金更像是一种适配，她带给我全新的视野，而我会用未来的时间尽力去实现她的愿景。
我与高金
不可思议的碰撞与挑战
在拿到预录取至今的一年多时间里，高金也带给了我非常多不可思议的东西。除了那些大家都引以为豪的国际化、职业化与业界资源以外，让我印象更深的是高金对于每一位学生细致入微的关注。MF项目的各位老师与教授都非常乐意抽出时间与我交流，甚至提供一些学业与实习方面的帮助。我们也得到了来自职业发展中心的数次一对一指导，以及全面的个人能力评估报告。正式入学以后，我们都在努力融入这个课业压力有些大的环境。这里从来不缺少机遇与挑战，每天都有各种学术讲座、企业宣讲与交流活动在围绕着我们。在不断丰富阅历的同时，我们也总是需要去频繁地思考适合自己的发展方向，思考在每一个节点应该做出什么样的选择。未来的两年对所有人来说都是关键的两年，而让我感到幸运的是有一群充满野心与求知欲的小伙伴会与我一起走这条路。我也坚信，只有适当的压力才能促使我们不断思考、突破自我，成为更优秀的自己。
从金融科技探险家到行业领头人
如果要我形容自己的话，我可能更乐意用“探险家”这个词。就像移动支付改变了消费一样，我相信技术会在不远的将来为金融行业带来大变革，而金融又能进一步对整个社会产生巨大的影响力。近些年热烈讨论的人工智能、大数据、机器学习这些前沿都可能成为传统业务的突破口，但距离它们创造出稳定的应用价值还有很长一段路要走，而我希望有一天有能力成为打头阵的人，去更加了解中国和世界市场，将更多的理论与现实需求连接起来。这也是我选择金融科技方向的初衷。来到高金后，我听到了许多相似的声音，很期待日后能与他们进行更多的探讨交流。
英文译文
Translation
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From Math to MF-FinTech:
A Journey of Exploration for an Unconventional PKU Graduate
Let’s listen to her story of becoming part of SAIF MF-FinTech track, navigating a new horizon and facing more challenges….
About the author:
Yao Yao
SAIF MF-FinTech Track 2019
Graduated from t Math and Applied Math at Peking University
[About me] “An unconventional graduate” of the School of Mathematical Science at Peking University
I am Yao Yao, holding a Bachelor’s Degree from the School of Mathematical Sciences at Peking University and another Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from the National School of Development at Peking University. I might seem somewhat special to many, given my boyish temper and casual speech. During my spare time, I am a big fan of ACG (animation, comics and games) culture. For an unconventional student like me, years of exploration in the financial field has been a long and tortuous road ever since finance came to my sight. My acquaintance and connection with SAIF also originated from some wonderful coincidence. There have been too many possibilities in the past two decades and I feel so honored to be part of SAIF.
[My undergraduate years] The unity of knowing and action learning
Mathematics is often associated with some stereotypes, such as “smart ass” and “numerous exercises”. It’s somewhat true. The School arranged a large number of sounds foundation courses for the young students, who never lacked the enthusiasm and will for learning. I was a bit like a nerd in the first two years. However, different from fundamental mathematics that starts with early research, a wealth of knowledge is insufficient to the students who are determined to work in the financial sector. In addition to theories, application scenarios are equally important. Every coin has two sides. While we worked hard to capture more theories, we also lose a lot of opportunities to approach the real world.
At the end of 2017, out of curiosity, I signed up for a financial summit at SAIF, eager to improve my practical abilities. However, it ended up with unexpected experiences and gains. We used the machine learning model to process and analyze the credit profiles of real-world users provided by a company and derived a forecast of default probability. During the joint effort, I realized that there are so many imperfections in practical problems, such as massive errors and omissions in data and mismatch between a theoretical model and actual results, which were far beyond the coverage of textbooks. The performance of my peers at the event also surprised me, who were well organized, innovative and highly pragmatic. And most importantly, from the presentations of participating companies, I saw the enormous prospects of emerging technologies across the financial sector.
This summit kept me reflecting. I also approached SAIF several times, understood=d that SAIF was ready to launch its SAIF MF-FinTech Program and truly embraced the frontier territory of FinTech. For me, joining SAIF is a spontaneous process. Rather than a two-way choice, the chemistry between SAIF and me is more like a fit. SAIF brings me a new vision and I will try my best to realize SAIF’s vision in the future.
[SAIF and I] Incredible collision and challenges
Over the past year since I received the pre-offer, SAIF has brought me a lot of incredible things. In addition to its internationalization, professionalism and industry resources that everyone is proud of, what impressed me more is that SAIF pays close attention to every student. The faculty and staff of SAIF MF Program are happy to take the time to communicate with me and provide some academic and internship advices and supports. We have also received several one-on-one coaching from the Career Development Center (CDC), completed with a comprehensive personal assessment report. After the enrollment, we are all trying to embrace this stressful environment. There are always opportunities and challenges and we are surrounded by academic lectures, corporate presentations and discussions day in day out. While constantly enriching our experience, we also frequently think about the optimal direction and how to make choices at each node. The next two years are crucial to every one of us and I am fortunate that a group of ambitious and intellectually motivated peers will navigate this path hand in hand with me. I also believe that an appropriate amount of pressure will drive us to think, break through and become better us.
[About future] From a FinTech explorer to an industry leader
I would rather call me an "explorer". Just as mobile payment has revolutionized consumer behaviors, I believe that technology will bring significant changes to the financial sector in the foreseeable future, which will in turn impose enormous impacts on the society. The forefront of artificial intelligence, big data and machine learning that have been heatedly discussed in recent years may lead to breakthroughs for traditional businesses. However, there is still a long way to go before they create stable value and applications. I hope that one day, I would have the ability to become one of the pioneers, further explore the markets in China and in the world market and link more theories to real-world demands. This is also the original intention of my choice of SAIF MF-FinTech. At SAIF, I have heard many similar voices and look forward to more discussions and interaction with them in the future.
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