Graduating senior Jackson Roh shared these insights into what he and other students in the Lubar College’s elite Investment Management Certificate Program (IMCP) did during a spring break study trip to New York and London, and the impact the trip – and the IMCP – have had on him.
As I wrap up my second year with the IMCP, I wouldn’t trade it for anything. The experiences, material, and lessons I have learned from Dr. Spellman and other professors within the Lubar College of Business have set me up for success. The hands-on experience we’ve gotten by managing our portfolios, competing in the ACG Cup, and writing equity research reports (to list a few) have given us exposure to all different types of jobs in the investing field.
A highlight of my experience was our recent trip to New York and London, where we visited 14 different companies including Balyasny Asset Management, Left Lane Capital, Blackrock, and JP Morgan. Some of my favorite visits were those we did in London, as I haven’t had much exposure to international firms. We also took in some more historic sites like the New York Stock Exchange, the United Nations, Buckingham Palace, and London Bridge.
I learned a lot of things from this trip, ranging from all of the different “do’s and don‘ts” from experienced professionals in these investing roles, to gaining an understanding of the different company histories and investment philosophies of the firms we visited. Another topic that we heard a lot about was the continued development/integration of ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) investing within different portfolios. Our hosts also talked about the importance of networking in our industry so it was really great to be able to make connections with people from some of the biggest investment firms.
Since we’ve been back, I’ve been reading through my notes, thinking about all the different things I learned, and finding ways to integrate what I learned through this experience into my plans for the future. One day I’d love to return to Europe and continue my work or earn my MBA.
I am looking forward to finishing up next month and moving to Chicago, where I will be starting a new job as a Wealth Management Associate at Zuckerman Investment Group.