When Cal State Fullerton finance student Amandi Alles ’26 graduates next spring, she will bring with her extensive applied experience and personal and professional growth through the student-managed investment portfolio program Titan Capital Management and the Women’s Leadership Program. The international student from Sri Lanka has also experienced the broadened horizons of exploring our interconnected world through the diversity of the Cal State Fullerton campus.
“Arriving at CSUF from Sri Lanka marked a significant shift of adapting to new customs, values and independence. It was a humbling challenge, but an exhilarating one. I pushed boundaries and seized opportunities,” she says. “CSUF has fueled my desires to stay active, learn voraciously and grow into a capable professional. I recognize education as a privilege and cherish the chance to study abroad, where the doors open wider than they would at home.”
Preparing for a Finance Career Through Cal State Fullerton’s Applied Portfolio Programs
For Alles, the experience of managing real-world equity portfolios began in August 2024 in the Student Managed Investment Fund, the feeder program to the more advanced investment fund Titan Capital Management, which she joined in January 2025. Currently, she is portfolio manager for fixed income.
Along with so many other students and graduates of the past decade, Alles recognizes the transformative impact that Titan Capital Management has had on her trajectory. “I’ve been challenged and supported immensely, especially by the dedicated faculty who have guided my every step of the way,” she says. “My coursework provided financial theory, but TCM was my masterclass in practice, shaping my skills and awakening my passion for portfolio management. That realization set me firmly on the path to a career in asset management.”
Next step for Alles is preparing for the Chartered Financial Analyst Level I exam, looking ahead to full CFA designation. She also plans to be part of the Cal State Fullerton CFA Institute Research Challenge Team, which is seeking to become local champions for the seventh consecutive year this coming winter.
“Making decisions based on market movements and translating economic theories into action is a personal passion. So is driving returns for portfolios and fueling my ambitions to join a top-tier company. TCM has given me the real-world experience to pursue those dreams with confidence,” she says.
The Power of the Women’s Leadership Program
In September, Alles addressed the College of Business and Economics Dean’s Advisory Board, sharing the impact the Women’s Leadership Program has had on her personal confidence. After completing the 2024-2025 cohort, Alles has returned as an ambassador for the present academic year, guiding others through the growth and development this program offers.
“The monthly seminars featuring powerful, accomplished women leaders have been a wealth of inspiration, with each session filled with their advice and stories of overcoming adversity in the workplace,” she says. “The one-on-one coaching sessions have taught me how to push myself out of my comfort zone. My coach’s mantra is ‘learn how to be comfortable with being uncomfortable,’ which has become a guide for every challenge I’ve faced. I continued to say ‘yes’ to almost every opportunity that has come my way ever since, despite fears of not being knowledgeable or ready enough.”
Other Titan Involvement
From serving on the Giles-O’Malley Center for Leadership Operations Board to interning at Benefit Financial Services Group, Alles’ college experience has been multifaceted and varied, taking full advantage of the experiential learning and career resources available to Business Titans.
“Choosing a single standout program from my undergraduate life is tough as every program taught me something vital and contributed to my growth,” she says. “If I had to, however, I’d choose my internship, purely due to the sheer volume of learning, the belief others placed in me, the mentorship and guidance I received, and the self-discovery it sparked.”
Congratulations to Amandi Alles ’26 for her growth-oriented and impactful Business Titan experience. We can’t wait to learn of her many future accomplishments!
