Wharton Journal

Issue date: 11/3/08 Section: News

Recent chaos in equity markets and the collapse of several of Wall Streets oldest and most respected financial institutions have shaken not only investors to their core, but also legions of MBA candidates who will soon start their job search amidst one of the darkest chapters of Wall Street's history. During this troubled time, who could better elaborate on the credit crisis than Neel Kashkari? Assistant Secretary Kashkari is, first of all, a Wharton alum, and second, the Interim Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Financial Stability and Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for International Economies and Development. What does this mean? He is running the TARP! Who would miss this unique opportunity? Besides Neel Kashkari, there will be plenty of panelists who will help us understand what is happening to the global economy, as well as the spillover to Wall Street. There are several important questions in the minds of Wharton students:

• Which firms, if any, will be hiring this year?
• What roles will they be hiring for?
• Are the glory days of Wall Street over?
• I came to Wharton to secure a role with a top Wall Street firm. How do I position myself in this market, and what should I be aiming for?

Students may not find specific answers to these questions in a Google search or in an accounting textbook, but should find some direction and clarity at this year's student-organized Wharton Finance Conference. Co-chairs Mary-Katherine Brooks, Ianina Lucca, and MattMarsh from the class of 2009 have been working nonstop since assuming their conference- planning responsibilities in February.

This year's conference theme "Finance: Past, Present, and Future" seeks to examine past events that have led to the current crisis, while looking to the new shape Wall Street will assume in the future. Co-chair Mary-Katherine (MK) Brooks explains:

"Back in February, we could sense a strong contraction on Wall Street but no one had any idea how quickly things would disintegrate over the course of our summer internships. We realized in June what a remarkable opportunity we had to address the current crisis and provide a platform for the financial community to share their views on the future of the finance landscape. The only thing I'm sure of at this point is that Wall Street is not 'over.' There are still plenty of opportunities in this environment, although traditional roles are changing in scope. We seek to explore these roles outside of traditional ones of banker and trader through panels such as 'The Changing Role of the CFO' and the increased need for complex hedging instruments through a panel entirely devoted to commodities. We are excited at the seniority of speakers we have been able to assemble as well as the variety of topics that will be covered. I encourage all Wharton students with so much as a lateral interest in Finance to attend, as this conference will provide an unprecedented opportunity to speak to Wharton alums and industry giants and help you find a place for yourself in the financial world."

Co-chair Ianina Lucca added, "The Finance Conference is more than just an educational opportunity. It's also the premier recruiting event for Wharton students who aim to obtain summer internships in within a financial institution (Investment Banking, Sales and Trading, Global Wealth Management, etc.). This year's conference is largely sponsored by Credit Suisse, Citi, and UBS, although many banks will be present during the lunchtime and networking sessions. This is one of the first times that recruiters will encounter Wharton students in a formal setting, and an unparalleled opportunity for Wharton students to get 'face time' with recruiters. Also, during lunch, you´ll have the opportunity to meet senior bankers and get their attention. Some people got their job last year because of the people that they met during lunch! Essentially, if you want to work in finance, you need to attend this event! Recognizing how the Conference played an essential role, we are going so far as to provide transportation to and from New York City for Wharton students."

Matt Marsh added, "MK and I sat at the UBS table at the conference last year, and we both ended up working for UBS this past summer. I have formally accepted my offer with them and am eager to return. The conference was instrumental to both of us receiving our summer offers."

MK chimes in, "Mattis eager to return to banking, but I've come to realize that I had blinders on last year during the recruiting process. Having spent 7 years as a trader in Asia and after my summer role in banking, I'm now actively seeking internal corporate finance roles with banks and various multinational corporations, positions I had never even considered prior to my summer. This is why I pushed to expand the scope of the conference, to show students the variety of opportunities that exist in finance beyond the standard IBD and S&T. We wanted the conference to appeal to all Finance enthusiasts, people who enjoy the quantitative challenges that finance provides but who just aren't interested in strategic advisory or trading, and who haven't been exposed to anything beyond those two areas. We don't aim to provide easy answers, but rather give students a broader road map to opportunities within the world of finance. We welcome all students to attend and look forward to your participation!"

Tickets can be purchased at www.whartonfinanceconference.com.

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