The field of wealth management wasn’t always on Leah Naish's radar. A former paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division, she had already built an impressive career at one of the nation’s top technology companies before attending the M.P.S. in Wealth Management at Columbia’s School of Professional Studies (SPS). After working hard to reach the top of the corporate ladder, Naish realized something that would change the trajectory of her life: She had lost the passion that once drove her work.
For Naish, a U.S. Army veteran seeking a new career path, the M.P.S. in Wealth Management program was not just academic knowledge but a launchpad. While at Columbia SPS, Naish found a mentor in program lecturer and alumnus Jason Papier. When Papier's firm, Werba Rubin Papier Wealth Management, had a job opening as a client relationship manager, it was the precise opportunity Naish had been working towards, a testament to the program's professional relevance.
The M.P.S. in Wealth Management is designed to help working professionals deepen their knowledge of the wealth management industry. The program’s extensive network of alumni, faculty, and career professionals is a core asset, enabling students to connect directly with people and companies throughout the wealth management industry.
Discovering Her Call to Serve
Naish was born in China and raised by a single mother, a determined entrepreneur who built a thriving business independently until being diagnosed with cancer while Naish was in high school. For her mother to focus on her care and recovery in China, Naish immigrated to the United States to live with her father. Soon after, the complex realities of how your finances impact your life became uncomfortably clear.
“It doesn’t matter how much money you make; everything can change overnight. You can’t take anything for granted,” Naish says. “My parents worked hard to support the family, but we struggled. We were living below the poverty line. It was a big shift from being upper-middle-class in China. It taught me humility and to always bet on myself.”
Her mother instilled a work ethic that led her to the University of Hawaii, where some of her classmates were active-duty military members. Their stories inspired her to join the Army. In the seven years Naish served, she worked as a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division, was deployed to Afghanistan, and held many other roles. There, she developed a deep sense of service. “When you’re a soldier, you are serving others. You’re taught to look out for the people on your left and right, and that completing the mission is paramount,” Naish says.
From the Front Lines to the Fortune 500
After serving and starting a family, Naish decided to get her MBA. She found success in management at a Fortune 500 tech company but noticed the underlying discontent in her coworkers. “Seeing that made me reflect on my life,” Naish shares. “I make good money, and I have a happy family, so why do I feel so lost?”
Thinking about her coworkers' confining lifestyles, she realized she wanted to help others with their finances, she says. Naish found great joy in serving during her time in the military and realized that she could regain that sense of fulfillment differently: by working to improve other people’s financial lives.
Finding Joy in Financial Advising
A connection with one of her MBA classmates who graduated from the M.P.S. in Wealth Management program at Columbia led Naish to consider her next steps. Naish decided to apply to and was delighted to be accepted into a program with a flexible learning environment, high-caliber faculty, and innovative curriculum.
Naish’s capstone project fostered an invaluable professional connection with Wealth Management lecturer Jason Papier, leading to her joining Papier’s firm, Werba Rubin Papier Wealth Management. Her military and big tech background provided a distinct competitive advantage, equipping her with familiarity with high-ranking organizations and high achievers.
“From a veteran’s perspective, wealth management is such a great place to be because we naturally desire to serve others and enjoy being part of a plan that is bigger than ourselves,” Naish says. “You have to adjust on a whim, and it can feel like you have the perfect plan until you get punched in the teeth. Adaptability is everything.”
Reflecting on her career transition, Naish credits her ability to work hard, stay committed, and accept change. Now, as a client relationship manager at Werba Rubin Papier Wealth Management, Naish is regaining her joy in serving others. Said Naish, “Having the self-awareness to stay true to yourself and be open to change is essential. Alignment with your core values is the most important thing. No amount of money will make you happy if you do not feel balanced.”
About the Program
A 16-month online program with asynchronous instruction, specially designed to accommodate working professionals, Columbia University’s Master of Professional Studies in Wealth Management program is taught by distinguished faculty with deep applied experience in their respective fields. Additionally, it is a CFP Board Registered Program designed to help students meet the educational requirement for CFP® certification.
The fall 2025 application deadline for the M.P.S. in Wealth Management program is June 1. Learn more here.
