Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation’s Colorado Investment Services Coalition brought over 25 financial-planning employers to the University of Colorado Denver Business School on Wednesday, October 15. Following previous meetings with representatives from firms like TIAA-CREF, Charles Schwab and Fidelity, the Coalition partnered with the Business School’s Business Career Connections (BCC) to introduce recruiters to the Business School’s sought-after talent pool.
Prior to the traditional career fair, a panel discussion with five executives from these investment management companies highlighted their career paths and industry outlook. Over 75 students and alumni attended the panel and career fair.
Charles Schwab’s Vice President, Jennifer Fedora; Vice President of Retirement Investment Solutions at Fidelity Investments, Brent Clark; Senior Vice President of Internal Audit at Oppenheimer Funds, Kate Ives; Director of Participant Services at TIAA-CREF, Molly Samson; and Vice President of Retail Investment Services at T. Rowe Price , Elissa Washburn spoke about their companies, their personal climb up the corporate ladder, and their perspectives on the outlook of the investment services industry.
The panel discussion provided wonderful insight into this growing industry. Beyond the guidance of “Never burn bridges” and “Networking is hugely important” came other great nuggets of advice. Each panelist started at entry level positions, typically in the call center, and stressed the same basic fact: many of their new hires know very little about finance. Clark pointed out, “Around half the folks we hire are liberal arts majors.” Samson continued that thought with, “It’s not always about the degree you have, it’s what you’re passionate about.”
Each panelist was eager to share with the CU Denver students and alumni how quickly the industry is growing. Each organization plans to add hundreds of employees in the Denver area over the next couple of years. A recruiter from TIAA-CREF was impressed, “I enjoyed the beautiful setting, the energy from the students and alumni – one alum told me she was so grateful you have looped them in for opportunities like tonight.”
Following the discussion, the panelists, representatives from their firms, and representatives from Great West Financial, IPS Strategic Capital, and Janus Capital Group met with interested students during a mini career fair.
At the end of the evening, a recruiter from Schwab commented, “I was impressed with the event as well as the quality of individuals I had the opportunity to connect with. I look forward to many additional partnership opportunities.”
For more information about Business Career Connections and its services, please visit the BCC webpage.
