G. Kevin Spellman, David O. Nicholas Director of Investment Management and Professor of Practice in Finance, is laser focused on providing his students in the highly-regarded Investment Management Certificate Program with a wide range of hands-on learning experiences.
Throughout the academic year, that means utilizing top flight investment analytical tools, working on significant projects that mirror those of analysts, and actively managing millions of dollars in real-money portfolios.
Spring break is no exception, marking the program’s annual trip to New York and London to meet with investment executives across all facets of the industry – buy-side, sell-side, banks, hedge funds, venture funds, and bond managers among them.
To give students a well-rounded experience, Spellman says he crafts the agenda across categories such as data science, quantitative investment analysis, investment strategy, and research, and includes all asset classes.
“Meeting with these highly successful professionals – in their environment and in the careers our students aspire to across several disciplines of investments and finance – is an invaluable learning and one-of-a-kind opportunity,” says Spellman.
This year’s trip included visits with top analysts, strategists, research directors, and other executives at Balyasny Asset Management, Capital Group (with $2.5 trillion in assets under management), Morgan Stanley, Mizuho Group, Oaktree Capital, Cantor Fitzgerald, Piper Sandler, LSEG, Province, and Left Lane Capital. Spellman taps into his extensive connections to get on the schedules of top financiers with whom the students have private meetings.
A trip to the Big Apple wouldn’t have been complete without a visit to the New York Stock Exchange, where the group scored a private tour of where the “action” happens on the trading floor and a chance to ring the opening bell.
A final stop before heading to London was a tour of the United Nations, where students were fortunate to get a “photo op” in the Security Council Chamber while the council was on a break from their working session.
In London, the group attended meetings with BlackRock, PIMCO, M&G, AXA Alts, Macquarie Bank, JP Morgan, and MSCI.
Andrew May, who earned his finance degree last May and is completing the elite investment management program this semester, called the trip the “absolute highlight” of the program.
“Having the opportunity to meet money managers and explore the financial hubs of the world is an incredible experience that I am truly grateful to receive,” he says.
Moreover, May attributes the deep knowledge he’s gained, his exposure to investment professionals throughout the program, and the professional network he has developed with giving him the confidence to start his career in the investment industry. He’ll soon be joining the investment operations team at Black Maple Capital Partners.