For students in the Lubar College’s Investment Management Certificate Program (IMCP), Spring Break offered something far beyond a typical week away from campus. Through a carefully curated international finance experience led by “Coach” Kevin Spellman, David O. Nicholas Director of Investment Management and Professor of Practice in Finance, students gained rare access to some of the world’s leading financial institutions in New York City and London.
The trip included a behind-the-scenes visit to the New York Stock Exchange, where students toured the trading floor, met with a market specialist, and heard insights from longtime broker and financial media commentator Kenny Polcari. They also met with professionals from firms spanning the investment landscape, including Baird, Balyasny Asset Management, BMO Capital Markets, Capital Group, Citigroup, Credit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank, Constitutional Lending, GEM Group, Province, and T. Rowe Price. Discussions covered equity research, sales, and trading, quantitative investing, hedge funds, macro research, commodities and derivatives, restructuring, alternative investments, and institutional trading.
In London, students continued their immersion with visits to BlackRock, Bloomberg, Citibank, JPMorgan, Munich Re, M&G, and PIMCO,. Sessions explored topics ranging from exchange-traded funds and private markets to fixed income investing, investment banking, insurance operations, ETFs, equity investment, and global risk management. Students also toured Bloomberg’s European headquarters and learned how technology is reshaping modern finance.
“Our goal is to help students connect classroom concepts to the real-world decisions being made every day by investment professionals,” Spellman said. “When students sit across the table from portfolio managers, traders, analysts, and executives, finance becomes tangible in a way no textbook can replicate.”
Spellman said the experience also helps students envision future career paths. “These visits give students a firsthand look at the breadth of opportunities available in the industry,” he said. “Just as importantly, they allow students to build confidence, ask thoughtful questions, and begin developing the professional networks that can shape their careers.”