Members of a campus club for finance majors recognize that networking is essential for careers in business.
The Financial Management Association brings speakers from prominent financial institutions to its weekly meetings and provides opportunities for community service.
Finance and accounting sophomore Justin Rodriguez said making connections was emphasized when he began attending the W.P. Carey School of Business last year.
“As a freshman, you’re just bombarded with people telling you to meet people, meet other students, meet professionals,” he said.
Rodriguez, who is now the director of recruitment for FMA, joined the ASU chapter of the club in an effort to begin networking.
Speakers have been from different areas of finance, including investment banking, corporate finance and financial services.
This year’s speakers have included the executive director of J.P. Morgan Private Banking, the former CEO of Pepsi and the vice president at the San Francisco department of Goldman Sachs.
Different speakers have drawn different members to the club.
Finance and computer information systems sophomore Andrew Loo, the club’s director of public relations, said speakers from Intel made him decide to join.
“I’m a tech geek, so Intel coming really attracted me,” he said.
After listening to a representative from Intel at a club meeting, Loo was able to tour Intel’s Ocotillo Campus in Chandler, the future site of semiconductor plant Fab 42, in what he described as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
He said other members have been given similar opportunities. While some speakers leave shortly after giving their talks, many stay to talk to club members and occasionally come along to their post-speech socials.
Club president Sara Karamani, a finance and business sustainability senior, said the club’s 134 members build relationships with both the speakers and other members during these socials, which typically take place at nearby restaurants.
“We offer something you won’t get in a normal classroom,” she said. “You get to learn, socialize and meet new people.”
The ASU chapter of FMA will travel to the national organization’s Finance Leaders’ Conference in Chicago March 15 and 16, giving members an opportunity to interact with business professionals and other FMA student members from around the country.
Conference attendees will be given an opportunity to tour the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and the Chicago Mercantile Exchange group.
ASU’s chapter also provides its members with community service opportunities.
“I think it’s important to give back,” Karamani said.
Members have helped with several charity races including the upcoming Run for Ryan House, an institution that provides care to children with painful diseases. The club has helped decorate the city of Tempe for Halloween.
The club also holds semester-long investment competitions, at the chapter and national levels, which members can choose to participate in. They’re given $100,000 in virtual money to “invest” in various stocks.
Those who choose the most successful virtual investments can win prizes.
The club strives to bring the feel of the professional world to its members, said treasurer Jessica Kim, a marketing and management junior who began attending FMA meetings her freshman year.
“After coming right out of high school, the level of professionalism here has been amazing,” she said.
Reach the reporter at julia.shumway@asu.edu or follow @JMShumway on Twitter.
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