I'm currently a business administrations student and my favorite courses are finance and investments ones. My professor did notice my strong interest in those subjects and introduced a finance summer training program to me.
I asked him why I would need such a program, for I am good at finance and investments already. He explained to me that there were certain aspects of the subject my school's academic departments couldn't teach me because in spite of having excellence in accounting and finance theories as well as many applications, the instruction was somewhat disconnected to how things may actually be done 'on the job', and potential employers would want to see those types of skills as well. Call it "insider knowledge" if you will. I really appreciated my professor's taking a personal interest in my development and career success.
After hearing his views, I got interested in the program because it would open me up to a new set of possibilities.
I ended up applying and actually was accepted as a student. I was positively surprised by the accommodations we were offered and the environment seemed to be too beautiful to spend most of the time studying. But I was intent on working hard because that's what I came to do. I was curious about the lectures which were not taught by university professors but by practitioners who had worked for years in finance and investments businesses.
It turned out that my professor had been right and I benefitted immensely. I got to hear about so many different real life cases and about difficult situations and challenges one would face during work and how to best cope with them to succeed that it gave me a new perspective. I even got to practice the applied skills during case studies and simulations with our instructors. At university I never got the chance to do so, because the courses are way too theoretical and the professors do not have the time to bring in new, cutting edge finance materials that is required for a job in high finance.
Because of my professors advice I was able to get a glimpse of the real world of finance and investments. On top of that I was even guided by instructors who were very passionate in teaching and sharing their insider knowledge with us.
My "summer vacation" at the Swiss Finance Academy's finance program has really broadened my horizons regarding finance and investments. I sincerely thank the instructors and staff of Swiss Finance Academy for creating this amazing experience for me and my classmates.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Studying And Having Fun At The Same Time
After graduation I did an internship at a company dealing with hedge funds. I did a decent job and my employer was rather satisfied with my work and with me in general.
However, I didn't want to work as just another employee in the backoffice who works but would never get an opportunity to develop the most desirable skills and to make relevant investment decisions. I wanted to reach higher levels.
That would mean a lot of work, I realized. I'd need to deepen my knowledge about hedge funds, both in theory and in practice. Additionally, I'd have to polish up my soft-skills.
Despite knowing this, I didn't want to spend even more years studying theoretical finance or investments, as that would not necessarily help me shine, and since I had just graduated, more schooling was out of the question, both personally and financially.
I was looking for something rigorous and to-the-point in terms of training. I had read a lot of books in my spare time, related to investments, trading and investment banking, but I needed more real world knowledge. I came across information related to a summer program where they taught the essentials of i-banking valuation, international investing, hegdge funds and wealth management in Switzerland, and did so in only three weeks. The school was called Swiss Finance Academy.
The courses was taught by professionals who had extensive experience in their professions. The instructors knew how to teach based upon what they had experienced themselves.
Besides learning a lot, during the weekends I got to enjoy the landscapes of Switzerland, France and Italy, and take a break from the challenging schedule.
I learned so much in only three weeks. I gained the knowledge; theoretical as well as practical; and many traits of a successful business person.
After this course I was offered a job at the very same hedge fund but in a position that I really desired so much to attain.
However, I didn't want to work as just another employee in the backoffice who works but would never get an opportunity to develop the most desirable skills and to make relevant investment decisions. I wanted to reach higher levels.
That would mean a lot of work, I realized. I'd need to deepen my knowledge about hedge funds, both in theory and in practice. Additionally, I'd have to polish up my soft-skills.
Despite knowing this, I didn't want to spend even more years studying theoretical finance or investments, as that would not necessarily help me shine, and since I had just graduated, more schooling was out of the question, both personally and financially.
I was looking for something rigorous and to-the-point in terms of training. I had read a lot of books in my spare time, related to investments, trading and investment banking, but I needed more real world knowledge. I came across information related to a summer program where they taught the essentials of i-banking valuation, international investing, hegdge funds and wealth management in Switzerland, and did so in only three weeks. The school was called Swiss Finance Academy.
The courses was taught by professionals who had extensive experience in their professions. The instructors knew how to teach based upon what they had experienced themselves.
Besides learning a lot, during the weekends I got to enjoy the landscapes of Switzerland, France and Italy, and take a break from the challenging schedule.
I learned so much in only three weeks. I gained the knowledge; theoretical as well as practical; and many traits of a successful business person.
After this course I was offered a job at the very same hedge fund but in a position that I really desired so much to attain.
Monday, April 26, 2010
I Wanna Be a Pro!
How do you learn to trade like a hedge fund or an investments professional?
If you ask me, I'd probably say, "Not by confining myself to books about finance or to professors who have a lot of knowledge on the subject but unfortunately barely have any practical experience in the field of investing, taking losses, doing international deals or building a business from ground up." There are a few good professors who have excellent corporate experience, but most of it is confined to seasonal consulting, and rarely does it involve having worked as a successful trader at an investment bank, or having built a $10 million dollar company, starting with almost nothing.
Take swimming as an example if you will. A person might learn about the different styles of swimming, its mechanics and models, its physics and biology, from breathing techniques to butterfly bounces, by reading books and watching films. However he would most likely drown if jumps into deep water unless he has had proper coaching and practical training.
The same applies to dealing with investments, money and start-ups. You need coaches and mentors. You need trainers. You need to supplement your theory with the real world sessions inside the swimming pool.
But how are you suppsed to meet such coaches and pros? It's difficult to even get a chance to talk to or meet such people. I attended an ivy league school and can therefore easily call some alumni who work on the Street. They are nice and try to be very helpful. But they wouldn't coach me about the real world, about what they really do, how they make money (really make money), and what I can do to learn to invest or trade. Those skills are hard to get. Most of those I call may themselves be struggling to acquire those skills, quite frankly. And it's not their job to teach others. I am thankful enough I can call them to ask their help with an information interview or other such things.
There are some opportunities, however. Such an opportunity for me was a summer program I took in Switzerland, called Swiss Finance Academy. During the lectures the instructors, who were seasoned executives, traders or investors, shared their practical know-how and insider knowledge which they had gathered through many years of work. I benefitted from thousands of pages of customized materials and models.
The summer program by Swiss Finance Academy was a very insightful and rewarding experience that simply stands out in my professional development as an investor. I now work in a front office job at a major investments firm.
If you ask me, I'd probably say, "Not by confining myself to books about finance or to professors who have a lot of knowledge on the subject but unfortunately barely have any practical experience in the field of investing, taking losses, doing international deals or building a business from ground up." There are a few good professors who have excellent corporate experience, but most of it is confined to seasonal consulting, and rarely does it involve having worked as a successful trader at an investment bank, or having built a $10 million dollar company, starting with almost nothing.
Take swimming as an example if you will. A person might learn about the different styles of swimming, its mechanics and models, its physics and biology, from breathing techniques to butterfly bounces, by reading books and watching films. However he would most likely drown if jumps into deep water unless he has had proper coaching and practical training.
The same applies to dealing with investments, money and start-ups. You need coaches and mentors. You need trainers. You need to supplement your theory with the real world sessions inside the swimming pool.
But how are you suppsed to meet such coaches and pros? It's difficult to even get a chance to talk to or meet such people. I attended an ivy league school and can therefore easily call some alumni who work on the Street. They are nice and try to be very helpful. But they wouldn't coach me about the real world, about what they really do, how they make money (really make money), and what I can do to learn to invest or trade. Those skills are hard to get. Most of those I call may themselves be struggling to acquire those skills, quite frankly. And it's not their job to teach others. I am thankful enough I can call them to ask their help with an information interview or other such things.
There are some opportunities, however. Such an opportunity for me was a summer program I took in Switzerland, called Swiss Finance Academy. During the lectures the instructors, who were seasoned executives, traders or investors, shared their practical know-how and insider knowledge which they had gathered through many years of work. I benefitted from thousands of pages of customized materials and models.
The summer program by Swiss Finance Academy was a very insightful and rewarding experience that simply stands out in my professional development as an investor. I now work in a front office job at a major investments firm.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Learning Upto Sixteen Hours a Day
Sixteen hours a day! That is a ridiculous amount of time, don’t you think? What are those lecturers going to talk about for such a long time? Well I thought the same.
Whenever I combined the words “learning” and “sixteen hours” it would give me the creeps. I couldn’t even stand four hours at my uni without losing focus at times. How was I supposed to survive upto 16 hours attending classes, studying cases, preparing interviews and presentations, and doing homeworks?
For several years I had tried everything to land a job on Wall Street. Everything. Nothing had worked. I had even landed a few interviews and then proceeded to bomb them. I had to try something different. The program seemed interesting.
On the first day I received a ton of information and handouts. I seated myself into one of those rather comfy seats. It was going to be a long day, I thought. I was expecting to hear things and data I already knew from university finance courses.
The instructor was nothing like my university professor. Don't get me wrong - I like most of my university professors - I have learned a lot from them. But they are a bit different. The Swiss Finance Academy instructor was a Wall Street veteran who had driven through scores of countries to do investments research, kicking tires in all sorts of countries. Yes, driven, because that way you learn more -- through war zones, natural disasters, crime riddled areas and countries with bad roads -- examining countries to invest in, capital markets to trade in and M&A deals to explore -- capitalizing upon prior experience doing billion dollar deals for two bulge bracket investment banks.
Lectures were incredibly interesting. In many ways, they were transformational. I learned the relationship between capital markets and common sense, between mergers and models. I acquired know- how, which the instructors had gained during many years on Wall Street, doing some of the most complex and largest deals ever done.
My classmates were from all sorts of backgrounds, but none short of ambition. They were planning to start their own investment boutiques, hedge funds and start-ups. Some already had family businesses.
The time flew. I learned so much that it landed me a job on Wall Street. I felt so connected to my classmates and the Academy during the program that the last day of the program was deeply emotional for everyone. I will never forget it.
You can see my and my classmates' profiles at http://www.swissfinance.com/testimonials.php.
Whenever I combined the words “learning” and “sixteen hours” it would give me the creeps. I couldn’t even stand four hours at my uni without losing focus at times. How was I supposed to survive upto 16 hours attending classes, studying cases, preparing interviews and presentations, and doing homeworks?
For several years I had tried everything to land a job on Wall Street. Everything. Nothing had worked. I had even landed a few interviews and then proceeded to bomb them. I had to try something different. The program seemed interesting.
On the first day I received a ton of information and handouts. I seated myself into one of those rather comfy seats. It was going to be a long day, I thought. I was expecting to hear things and data I already knew from university finance courses.
The instructor was nothing like my university professor. Don't get me wrong - I like most of my university professors - I have learned a lot from them. But they are a bit different. The Swiss Finance Academy instructor was a Wall Street veteran who had driven through scores of countries to do investments research, kicking tires in all sorts of countries. Yes, driven, because that way you learn more -- through war zones, natural disasters, crime riddled areas and countries with bad roads -- examining countries to invest in, capital markets to trade in and M&A deals to explore -- capitalizing upon prior experience doing billion dollar deals for two bulge bracket investment banks.
Lectures were incredibly interesting. In many ways, they were transformational. I learned the relationship between capital markets and common sense, between mergers and models. I acquired know- how, which the instructors had gained during many years on Wall Street, doing some of the most complex and largest deals ever done.
My classmates were from all sorts of backgrounds, but none short of ambition. They were planning to start their own investment boutiques, hedge funds and start-ups. Some already had family businesses.
The time flew. I learned so much that it landed me a job on Wall Street. I felt so connected to my classmates and the Academy during the program that the last day of the program was deeply emotional for everyone. I will never forget it.
You can see my and my classmates' profiles at http://www.swissfinance.com/testimonials.php.
A Former Freelance Writer on Wall Street
You might think that it is almost impossible to grab a job on Wall Street having graduated from a liberal arts college and now working as a freelance writer in New York. I must admit I never thought I'd be able to make it either, for one, I never had the urge to learn anything about finance and investments.
I thought I didn't like analytics. Those thoughts led me to think that I could never make it onto Wall Street. I would be like a wolf in sheep's clothing, pretending to be someone I simply wasn't -- that making a living off of an occasional writing assignment was all I deserved. At the same time, deep down I wanted more than that. A regular place to go for work wouldn't be so bad after all. Pay in finance can be great and people can be smart. I'd get to be with interesting people instead of my lonesome tiny Upper West Side studio.
I wanted a new kind of job and started to research on the internet. I learned there was demand for people who want to learn more about the world, who are curious by nature, who have good grades and who may be willing to learn finance and investments. I was all of the above but needed more business outlook. My liberal arts education was great in many ways but it didn't prepare me for the tough job market in Manhatten. I was looking for a compressed, yet rigorous course that would teach me the essentials of finance and investments and in addition also prepare me to contribute to a good company right away.
I found such a course. It even encouraged people like me who had graduated from liberal arts colleges to apply.
I have benefited far more from the program than I thought I would. During that summer program I learned finance theories and applied skills from seasoned executives, active and former traders and successful entrepreneurs, who had been through countless situations during their professional lives.
With the guidance of the Swiss Finance Academy's summer program I managed to land a job at a top bank. Their program has edged me up in many different areas of my day to day responsibilities and in my profession.
I thought I didn't like analytics. Those thoughts led me to think that I could never make it onto Wall Street. I would be like a wolf in sheep's clothing, pretending to be someone I simply wasn't -- that making a living off of an occasional writing assignment was all I deserved. At the same time, deep down I wanted more than that. A regular place to go for work wouldn't be so bad after all. Pay in finance can be great and people can be smart. I'd get to be with interesting people instead of my lonesome tiny Upper West Side studio.
I wanted a new kind of job and started to research on the internet. I learned there was demand for people who want to learn more about the world, who are curious by nature, who have good grades and who may be willing to learn finance and investments. I was all of the above but needed more business outlook. My liberal arts education was great in many ways but it didn't prepare me for the tough job market in Manhatten. I was looking for a compressed, yet rigorous course that would teach me the essentials of finance and investments and in addition also prepare me to contribute to a good company right away.
I found such a course. It even encouraged people like me who had graduated from liberal arts colleges to apply.
I have benefited far more from the program than I thought I would. During that summer program I learned finance theories and applied skills from seasoned executives, active and former traders and successful entrepreneurs, who had been through countless situations during their professional lives.
With the guidance of the Swiss Finance Academy's summer program I managed to land a job at a top bank. Their program has edged me up in many different areas of my day to day responsibilities and in my profession.
Friday, April 23, 2010
Wall Street Here I Come
Doesn't Wall Street sound like something that is out of our reach? A world made only for the rich and the famous? A world we can enter only if we were gifted mathematicians?
I am none of the above mentioned types but I still made it successfully onto Wall Street.
You probably want to know how I managed to do that. Well, in my case, all I needed was proper guidance and a well designed course with all the relevant areas required to enter, live and survive on Wall Street. Of course I was very eager to study and determined to be successful.
Nevertheless I was still afraid of utterly failing that rigorous finance program I was supposed to attend during the summer, because I didn't know a thing about finance. All those fears were removed after the first few days at the program. I was able to follow the courses and efficiently take part in simulations and case studies.
The instructors not only lectured but actually also practiced what they were lecturing about. They had been in various business and investing situations before and therefore could professionally answer any questions that we students tossed at them. Some students tossed rather tricky questions that were difficult to even understand, and it felt like they did them to test the instructors' depth - but instructors handled them with such skill that it made us all feel that we were learning from the best in the field.
The program provided by the Swiss Finance Academy has given me a deep insight into both theory and practice of finance and investments.
Do you remember things you learned at school back in the day, things you never found to be of any use in life? Swiss Finance Academy material was different - I use it every day and I go back to the basics with it. I took my study materials to my first job on the first day and everyone at the office was so impressed. I use it as a reference material. I would confess that I have slept with it during the program and even recently. I love to learn and I want to be good at what I do. I find use for what I have learned when I perform my everyday work on Wall Street.
I am none of the above mentioned types but I still made it successfully onto Wall Street.
You probably want to know how I managed to do that. Well, in my case, all I needed was proper guidance and a well designed course with all the relevant areas required to enter, live and survive on Wall Street. Of course I was very eager to study and determined to be successful.
Nevertheless I was still afraid of utterly failing that rigorous finance program I was supposed to attend during the summer, because I didn't know a thing about finance. All those fears were removed after the first few days at the program. I was able to follow the courses and efficiently take part in simulations and case studies.
The instructors not only lectured but actually also practiced what they were lecturing about. They had been in various business and investing situations before and therefore could professionally answer any questions that we students tossed at them. Some students tossed rather tricky questions that were difficult to even understand, and it felt like they did them to test the instructors' depth - but instructors handled them with such skill that it made us all feel that we were learning from the best in the field.
The program provided by the Swiss Finance Academy has given me a deep insight into both theory and practice of finance and investments.
Do you remember things you learned at school back in the day, things you never found to be of any use in life? Swiss Finance Academy material was different - I use it every day and I go back to the basics with it. I took my study materials to my first job on the first day and everyone at the office was so impressed. I use it as a reference material. I would confess that I have slept with it during the program and even recently. I love to learn and I want to be good at what I do. I find use for what I have learned when I perform my everyday work on Wall Street.
Poker, Risks and a New Goal
I used to be a semi interested business administrations student who loved and still loves to play poker, because of the risk that the game bears. You could consider me as some sort of a risk seeker, if you wanted to.
During my four semesters of business administration studies I have come across subjects like finance and investments before. And to tell you the truth, I found them most boring.
Whenever someone asked me what I would want to do after graduating I'd find myself unable to answer them that question. With business administrations I could basically work anywhere, whether it was a job in accounting, human resources, marketing or logistics just to name a few of my possibilities. Nevertheless, nothing of all that did interest me until, my helicopter parent of a mother signed me up for a summer program and to make it even worse, a program about finance and investments but today I truly must thank her for doing so.
Once I entered the program I realized that the topics of finance and investments were presented in a totally different way than they were in university.
It was strikingly interesting how similar the business of venture capitals were to my beloved poker! The risk is rather high and you don't know but only can assume which trend will set through. Just like poker where you never can know which cards your opponent holds.
After only three weeks of the Swiss Finance Academy's summer program I knew what I wanted to do after graduation. A question I couldn't answer after a whole two years of studying.
Additionally the instructors could always back the things they told us up with experiences they had made during their work on Wall Street.
Getting to know the world of finance not only from books but also from real life cases, brought by practitioners, who had insider knowledge was so interesting that I am now aiming for a profession dealing with venture capitals.
During my four semesters of business administration studies I have come across subjects like finance and investments before. And to tell you the truth, I found them most boring.
Whenever someone asked me what I would want to do after graduating I'd find myself unable to answer them that question. With business administrations I could basically work anywhere, whether it was a job in accounting, human resources, marketing or logistics just to name a few of my possibilities. Nevertheless, nothing of all that did interest me until, my helicopter parent of a mother signed me up for a summer program and to make it even worse, a program about finance and investments but today I truly must thank her for doing so.
Once I entered the program I realized that the topics of finance and investments were presented in a totally different way than they were in university.
It was strikingly interesting how similar the business of venture capitals were to my beloved poker! The risk is rather high and you don't know but only can assume which trend will set through. Just like poker where you never can know which cards your opponent holds.
After only three weeks of the Swiss Finance Academy's summer program I knew what I wanted to do after graduation. A question I couldn't answer after a whole two years of studying.
Additionally the instructors could always back the things they told us up with experiences they had made during their work on Wall Street.
Getting to know the world of finance not only from books but also from real life cases, brought by practitioners, who had insider knowledge was so interesting that I am now aiming for a profession dealing with venture capitals.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
No More Theories, Please!
Are you also bored of listening to theories and the same case studies over and over again? Do you want to hear about new, fresh finance cases and insider knowledge of successful practitioners?
I am bored of old, dusty case studies of finance and investments which the universities make use of over and over again to teach us.
However, I was introduced to a summer program about finance and investments, which stressed that it's being held by practitioners. This was the opportunity I was looking for all along. I would be able to hear about their experiences and exciting cases and situations they came across during their every day work.
On the first day at the summer program I already knew I wouldn't be disappointed. The program covered more than I had ever had hoped. It introduced capital markets, corporate finance, venture capital, hedge funds and much more to us. The instructors were seasoned executives or successful entrepreneurs who had done transactions in many countries; therefore they possessed of a lot of practical know-how and were, on top of this, very passionate about teaching and mentoring us.
My three weeks at that program were so much different from university that I can't even explain. I did not sit there listening passively but instead I actively took part in case-studies, trading simulations and organizational behavior games.
I have been able to take the lessons from Swiss Finance Academy and apply that to a successful job search and a career in business.
I am bored of old, dusty case studies of finance and investments which the universities make use of over and over again to teach us.
However, I was introduced to a summer program about finance and investments, which stressed that it's being held by practitioners. This was the opportunity I was looking for all along. I would be able to hear about their experiences and exciting cases and situations they came across during their every day work.
On the first day at the summer program I already knew I wouldn't be disappointed. The program covered more than I had ever had hoped. It introduced capital markets, corporate finance, venture capital, hedge funds and much more to us. The instructors were seasoned executives or successful entrepreneurs who had done transactions in many countries; therefore they possessed of a lot of practical know-how and were, on top of this, very passionate about teaching and mentoring us.
My three weeks at that program were so much different from university that I can't even explain. I did not sit there listening passively but instead I actively took part in case-studies, trading simulations and organizational behavior games.
I have been able to take the lessons from Swiss Finance Academy and apply that to a successful job search and a career in business.
Primary Fear: Interviews!!!
Well, I used to get very nervous whenever I had an appointment for a job interview. Last year I totally busted my interview at an investment bank.
I couldn't handle their questions at all, was too nervous to even touch the glass of water they offered me, out of fear that I would spill it all over my suit, which itself seemed to suffocate me.
After this crushing experience I was reluctant to try to get any other kind of interview. I felt sort of phobic of the whole experience, was insecure about my knowledge on the topics related to investments and finance, as well as about myself. I have always been a shy kid who didn't dare to say a thing in class and who broke sweat if professor asked him about a question in the class.
Knowing all this about myself I was quite sure I would never become successful in business. I felt I just lacked what it took to be a tough businessman -- such as know-how on finance and investments, on presenting myself professionally and speaking up in public or before others with a clear and confident voice.
Just during that time a friend of mine suggested this finance program to me. He said it worked wonders on him and might be the solution to my troubles related to job search and a good career I would like to have after school.
I followed his suggestion. It turned out to be a very good one. I was not only able to refresh and deepen my knowledge about finance with instructors who were all very experienced, because they had been working successfully for years in their professions. I also was able to polish up my presentation skills. The program prepared me for the job market and job search, through Wall Street interview training and resume review sessions which were conducted by finance professionals.
I am confident now, not at all like the little me I used to be. Even my family and friends noticed the change in my attitude. Today I have presence of a person who knows what he wants and to achieve in his career and who knows what he's talking about when it comes to work.
I am very glad to have collected incredibly valuable and unforgettable experiences at the Swiss Finance Academy's summer program.
I couldn't handle their questions at all, was too nervous to even touch the glass of water they offered me, out of fear that I would spill it all over my suit, which itself seemed to suffocate me.
After this crushing experience I was reluctant to try to get any other kind of interview. I felt sort of phobic of the whole experience, was insecure about my knowledge on the topics related to investments and finance, as well as about myself. I have always been a shy kid who didn't dare to say a thing in class and who broke sweat if professor asked him about a question in the class.
Knowing all this about myself I was quite sure I would never become successful in business. I felt I just lacked what it took to be a tough businessman -- such as know-how on finance and investments, on presenting myself professionally and speaking up in public or before others with a clear and confident voice.
Just during that time a friend of mine suggested this finance program to me. He said it worked wonders on him and might be the solution to my troubles related to job search and a good career I would like to have after school.
I followed his suggestion. It turned out to be a very good one. I was not only able to refresh and deepen my knowledge about finance with instructors who were all very experienced, because they had been working successfully for years in their professions. I also was able to polish up my presentation skills. The program prepared me for the job market and job search, through Wall Street interview training and resume review sessions which were conducted by finance professionals.
I am confident now, not at all like the little me I used to be. Even my family and friends noticed the change in my attitude. Today I have presence of a person who knows what he wants and to achieve in his career and who knows what he's talking about when it comes to work.
I am very glad to have collected incredibly valuable and unforgettable experiences at the Swiss Finance Academy's summer program.
Realizing My Dream
I hear a lot of people say that you could make a lot of money, if only you had the right idea. I had such an idea. I wanted to launch my own technology startup. But unfortunately, I had no clue how to go about doing it.
So there I was with my idea and no clue how to realize it. It was holding me back from obtaining my piece of the American dream.
I stumbled upon a brochure that introduced a program about finance, investment banking and -- most interesting thing to me -- ENTREPRENEURSHIP!
I applied and was eventually accepted. Still, I was quite afraid that I would not be able to successfully complete the program, because, for one, I had never done anything related to the business field. I knew nothing about all that stuff. I just had the idea, passion, some funding from my parents and desire to work really hard.
My fears proved unnecessary.
The program was designed in such ways that even I, a non business person could follow everything. The lectures were very useful for the launch of my technology startup. I learned from the experiences of successful entrepreneurs who had seen the many complications related to starting a new business, such as related to finance, legal, marketing and operational matters. I also gained the appropriate attitude and soft skills all successful businessmen should possess.
The program prepared me for and guided me to the profession I now hold. I am my own boss with my own business. Still with a lot of problems and challenges to solve non stop every day, but I feel I am much better prepared to cope with them. I couldn't be more thankful for the Swiss Finance Academy's help in realizing my dream.
So there I was with my idea and no clue how to realize it. It was holding me back from obtaining my piece of the American dream.
I stumbled upon a brochure that introduced a program about finance, investment banking and -- most interesting thing to me -- ENTREPRENEURSHIP!
I applied and was eventually accepted. Still, I was quite afraid that I would not be able to successfully complete the program, because, for one, I had never done anything related to the business field. I knew nothing about all that stuff. I just had the idea, passion, some funding from my parents and desire to work really hard.
My fears proved unnecessary.
The program was designed in such ways that even I, a non business person could follow everything. The lectures were very useful for the launch of my technology startup. I learned from the experiences of successful entrepreneurs who had seen the many complications related to starting a new business, such as related to finance, legal, marketing and operational matters. I also gained the appropriate attitude and soft skills all successful businessmen should possess.
The program prepared me for and guided me to the profession I now hold. I am my own boss with my own business. Still with a lot of problems and challenges to solve non stop every day, but I feel I am much better prepared to cope with them. I couldn't be more thankful for the Swiss Finance Academy's help in realizing my dream.
Trading My Paint Brushes For a Career in Finance
I was a liberal arts student majoring in studio art who was near her graduation. The closer that graduation day came; the more I got worried about my future. What would I do after graduation? How would I make a living with just a set of paint brushes and canvases? I was starting to think that I was about to enter the world of unprofitable arts, live broke for ever and I definitely didn't want to do that.
I conducted some research on professions that interested me and that were also lucrative. And on the top were careers related to international finance and investments, especially related to acqiusitions and trading of fine arts. I learned this was related to aspects of wealth management. I was excited, but at the same time, worried and confused -- I had not developed the skills necessary to break into investments or wealth management industry geared towards rich people, such as art collectors. How am I, a liberal arts student immersed into Picasso and Van Gogh, supposed to enter a profession resembling investment banking? The world of Mathematics and business seemed to be on the other side of tightly shut doors, which additionally were protected by bulletproof glass from me.
But then I stumbled across an advertisement about a program that promised to guide me through the world of Wall Street. I actually gave that program a try and it not only kept what it promised but went far beyond that.
During that summer program I learned a lot, both in theory as well as in practice from very experienced and skilled instructors who all had encountered countless different situations during their professions as investment bankers or CEOs of substantial and respected businesses, trading houses, investments firms, etc. What impressed me the most was that they had transaction experience in many other countries and thus they had a global perspective on financial markets and business strategies. I was also able to follow them, even though I came from a painter's studio. Today I know that nothing is impossible if you are committed and serious about your goals.
With the guidance of Swiss Finance Academy's summer program I managed to land a job on Wall Street. Their program has helped me realize my dream of becoming a junior investment banker.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
End of My Days as a Couch Potato
My family has its own business and one day I'm going to be my mother's sucessor. Now you might think: "How convenient for him. His life is pretty much set already without having to stir a finger." Or, you might think: "What a lucky guy. He'll get paid for bossing people around and doing nothing in particular."
To be quite frank, I admit, thought so as well. Neither I had any interest in business or finance, nor I thought I needed to learn anything new to take over my mother's business successfully and run it to the sky in profits. You know the American dream realized but with no sweat - make lots of money with just an idea and no huge effort or time invested learning new skills. Delegate everything. Be on the beach. That's what I believed in. At least that's what I thought I would do with my life. I had paid my dues by getting nearly straight "A"s at an Ivy League college.
But one day my parents got pretty annoyed with me, that after having graduated I only sat in front of the TV or computer playing video games, and the only discussion that interested me was a very long holiday I wanted to take a long holiday across Europe financed by my parents. They told me that my life wouldn't work out this way, that they would not let me handle the family business unless I acquired skills at a summer program for finance and business. Some sort of rigorous boot camp in investments.
All I thought then was: "Thanks a lot for ruining my summer with some boring crap!"
Well, as you can imagine, I applied, and thanks to my good college record, got accepted, and the fateful day arrived when I had to actually show up at the summer program called Swiss Finance Academy. I met a woman on the first day who was in the same shoes as I was. She was helping her parents manage a business in Asia. But unlike me she was determined and serious about fully taking over family business at some point in the future.
Others were as ambitious as she was. Seeing how determined and capable all the others were, I got exceptionally motivated myself. Today I can tell you that I had the wrong mindset prior to attending the Academy. I learned so many practical things about managing and leading one's own business from people who were very successful themselves and who actually knew what they were talking about. Unlike some of the traditional university professors who spend most of their time talking theory and textbooks, but hardly ever encounter any real life investment banking or investing situations, the Academy instructors lived their life doing deals and building businesses all year long. My curriculum was based upon proprietary cases and included customized training methods, modules and simulations.
Nowadays I am able to attend meetings with my mother and actually understand what they are talking about. My mother tells me that the difference between how I think now and how I used to, is day and night. There is no need for me to put on a facade or to pretend anymore that I understand, because I actually do, and sometimes better than most. I am able to take part in the discussions and contribute ideas on how to improve my mother's business. I love it that she appreciates it.
Spending my summer at Swiss Finance Academy's summer program has given me an invaluable experience which was a crucial turning point for my life. If it wasn't for that program I'd still be sitting in front of my TV and playing video games right now. Now I am building an international multi-million dollar business.
To be quite frank, I admit, thought so as well. Neither I had any interest in business or finance, nor I thought I needed to learn anything new to take over my mother's business successfully and run it to the sky in profits. You know the American dream realized but with no sweat - make lots of money with just an idea and no huge effort or time invested learning new skills. Delegate everything. Be on the beach. That's what I believed in. At least that's what I thought I would do with my life. I had paid my dues by getting nearly straight "A"s at an Ivy League college.
But one day my parents got pretty annoyed with me, that after having graduated I only sat in front of the TV or computer playing video games, and the only discussion that interested me was a very long holiday I wanted to take a long holiday across Europe financed by my parents. They told me that my life wouldn't work out this way, that they would not let me handle the family business unless I acquired skills at a summer program for finance and business. Some sort of rigorous boot camp in investments.
All I thought then was: "Thanks a lot for ruining my summer with some boring crap!"
Well, as you can imagine, I applied, and thanks to my good college record, got accepted, and the fateful day arrived when I had to actually show up at the summer program called Swiss Finance Academy. I met a woman on the first day who was in the same shoes as I was. She was helping her parents manage a business in Asia. But unlike me she was determined and serious about fully taking over family business at some point in the future.
Others were as ambitious as she was. Seeing how determined and capable all the others were, I got exceptionally motivated myself. Today I can tell you that I had the wrong mindset prior to attending the Academy. I learned so many practical things about managing and leading one's own business from people who were very successful themselves and who actually knew what they were talking about. Unlike some of the traditional university professors who spend most of their time talking theory and textbooks, but hardly ever encounter any real life investment banking or investing situations, the Academy instructors lived their life doing deals and building businesses all year long. My curriculum was based upon proprietary cases and included customized training methods, modules and simulations.
Nowadays I am able to attend meetings with my mother and actually understand what they are talking about. My mother tells me that the difference between how I think now and how I used to, is day and night. There is no need for me to put on a facade or to pretend anymore that I understand, because I actually do, and sometimes better than most. I am able to take part in the discussions and contribute ideas on how to improve my mother's business. I love it that she appreciates it.
Spending my summer at Swiss Finance Academy's summer program has given me an invaluable experience which was a crucial turning point for my life. If it wasn't for that program I'd still be sitting in front of my TV and playing video games right now. Now I am building an international multi-million dollar business.
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