Rick Zhou

I'm a second year at Harvard studying Economics, as well as a dual-degree student at the Berklee College of Music, where I'm studying for a Masters in Vocals and Music Business. 

I was born and raised in Auckland, New Zealand, in a village called Titirangi. My parents have always been small business owners, and their passion and ambition pushed me to drive towards my own interests. When I was 13, I was given a unique opportunity to attend Eton College, in the UK, on a music scholarship. It was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up. So, I packed my bags and moved by myself to attend a school very literally on the other side of the world. Now, today, I’m proud to say that I’ve made the most of my experiences and am still chasing my passions and my dreams at Harvard.

I am currently an Analyst at Lakeside Succession, a Search Fund in Boston. I spend much of my time target sourcing within specific industries, such as MSPs, Health clinics, and Real Estate Development. We focus on succession opportunities with consistent growth and $1-$7M in annual pre-tax operating profits. I also operate on due diligence when greater opportunities present themselves, diving into financial statements with potential partner firms. I liaise consistently with my principal, a Baker Scholar MBA graduate from HBS, ensuring that we stay aligned on goals and criteria

I also previously worked as a Strategy Consulting Intern at the New Zealand Parliament, where I produced data-backed reports for ministers on the Justice Select Committee. We were specifically focused on our COVID-19 response, performing quantitative and statistical analysis with large datasets using health and tax records. 
Through this experience, I learned how to produce quality work under pressure, often having to turn around a report within a few hours’ notice. Working alongside MPs and their teams, I also honed my interpersonal and teamwork skills in this severe environment. I later began working directly with the Chairperson of the Committee, eventually being asked to write passages for “Doing Business in New Zealand,” a bilingual collaboration with the China Chamber of Commerce in New Zealand (CCCNZ) and three of New Zealand’s largest law firms.

I am a second-year student at Harvard University, where I'm studying Economics with a focus on statistics and data science. I am also a dual-degree student in the Harvard-Berklee dual degree program, studying for a Master's in Vocals and Music Business (with a secondary focus in Music Production). I am on a 3.8 GPA (post F ‘21), with A’s in intermediate microeconomics, data science, personal finance, and innovation in science and engineering. 

Previously, I attended Eton College in the UK, where I studied Mathematics, Economics, and History with a Music Scholarship. I achieved all A*s as grades (4.0 GPA or greater equivalent).