Husky Growth Fund members in Chicago during their November 2014 visit to the financial district. The Fund, with more than $200,000 in managed assets held by the St. Cloud State Foundation, offers students a real-world opportunity to research, analyze, set investment policy and track financial assets as they prepare for careers in the finance and banking industries.
Herberger Business School students participating in the Husky Growth Fund co-curricular program traveled to Chicago in November 2014 where they were hosted by multiple industry leaders in the financial sector, Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and the Chicago Board Options Exchange.
Their first visit was to William Blair & Company, a global investment and asset management firm where the students met with leaders from across the firm, including account management and investment management strategists, gaining valuable insights from analysts on bond trading strategies and identifying and evaluating equities.
At the Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), the students were one of the last groups allowed to tour the once great trading floor. The often pictured floors of the CBOE, which used to hold 3,000-4,000 screaming traders packed shoulder to shoulder, were now empty, now having only about 500 people in the entire building.
The next stop was at UBS Financial Services where the Husky Fund students were treated to a tour of the entire department from Deborah Wheeler, executive director for the Midwest. In the executive board room on the 60th floor, Wheeler led a discussion on careers in the financial services industry and offered insights into its culture.
At Harris Associates, the students were offered a glimpse into the wealth management industry. Daniel Nicholas, a client portfolio manager with more than 20 years of experience, facilitated a sales presentation in which the students assumed the role of portfolio manager. Afterwards the students discussed internship opportunities which are being made available to Herberger Business School students that participate as members of the Husky Growth Fund.
This was new ground for the Herberger Business School as historically, these internships are only available to students of highly recognized universities like University of Chicago or Stanford.
The Chicago visit was paid for by the student participants, contributions from local businesses and gifts from donors to the Herberger Business School program fund.
