The Opportunity Fund Project is now two years old. We have already hit a number of milestones that have served to justify my initial belief that there was more UConn could do to foster a broader and more diverse cohort of future investors. Seeing a huge swath of white space within the business school community for engaging students, I set out with a simple premise. Create a multidisciplinary and immersive program to engage more younger, female, and diverse students in real world investing by providing technical training, developing their soft skills, and raising their finance career awareness. The objective was to build a community of like-minded students who would push and support each other in their quest for knowledge, experience, and confidence. If I was right, then we could create something very special.
We are excited to share that we have altered the paradigm at UConn by engaging students earlier, drawing in more of them, and connecting with those who previously weren’t aware, or able to participate in the energizing activity known as experiential learning. We are thriving today because of the enthusiasm of our students who embrace our unique immersive approach which is preparing them to thrive within the world of investing.
We recognized from the beginning that we needed to take a different approach to properly develop the next generation of Husky investors. By focusing on three pillars—developing their technical capabilities, enhancing their soft skills, and broadening their career awareness—we are positioning them for success. Having trained them with industry proven tools, supporting them with mentors, and allowing them to gain hands-on experience, our students emerge confident, capable, and with a newfound conviction that they belong in this arena. But this is only part of the story. The real impact of OFP is seen in the individuals who have walked through our doors and left with an enhanced sense of purpose and direction, alongside an inherent belief in themselves that this is all possible.
Finance is a very competitive field and one that requires a level of dedication and determination. This drive is best harnessed when one feels there is a place for them. Many talented students face barriers—not due to a lack of ability, but because of a perceived expectation of not attending the right school, lack of industry knowledge, or limited access to mentorship and professional networks. Without these critical resources, entering and advancing into a career in finance can seem daunting. This can be a very intimidating space and so our objective is clear, we have to demystify what makes up the world of finance. By doing this we will enable more of our students to succeed on Wall Street and redefine how best to achieve such a lofty goal. To make this happen we are reshaping the approach to educating college students to achieve entry into this arena. Our intent is to create an empowering association with every OFP member. This happens when we imbue our students with the knowledge, skills, desire, and confidence to successfully pursue their career dreams.
All of these words sound nice, but where’s the proof that it is connecting with the students and making a real difference in their lives? To address that I can list all the great firms the OFP students are working at this summer, and I will certainly share this later. But that doesn’t really answer the question to the degree that I think is appropriate. I would want an independent authority. I would demand an unbiased set of data to corroborate that in fact OFP program members are getting a leg up over other students and being boosted to achieve things that were out of reach of our students prior to the establishment of the Opportunity Fund Project.
The proof point that I think best represents the inroads made possible for the members of this program is Girls Who Invest, a super prestigious program, run on the Wharton campus. Over the ten years since it was founded, it has developed a stellar reputation for identifying and training exceptional talent that today is permeating the investment industry. Program graduates are well represented in countless top tier firms and GWI now has an alumni network that is incredibly supportive and increasingly valuable.
Given all this, one would imagine it’s not easy to get in and that is exactly the case. This summer over 6,000 students applied from across the country, all trying to secure a coveted seat in their classroom. The constraint is they only have capacity for 215 rising juniors and so some very tough decisions need to be made. In fact, it is tougher to get into Girls Who Invest than Harvard.
Since GWI came on the scene, UConn has struggled to make inroads into the on-campus program, UNTIL NOW! Without OFP members, UConn’s track record placing our students into GWI was dismal. Over a nine-year period since the program began, the school had a grand total of 27 students apply but only 1 student was invited to come to Wharton. This had us on the outside looking in, with an acceptance rate of less than 4%.
This year, however, the entire situation was turned upside down, because we had 6 OFP students who were eligible to apply, and did so. And I can proudly say 4 got in! That translates to a 66% acceptance rate, or twenty times the program average. And if that wasn’t enough confirmation of the power of The Opportunity Fund Project program to advance our members by immersing them in such a challenging program, I have more to share. This year, we had the highest UConn admission total ever, exceeding all prior years combined. Today, we are now in the top quartile of all universities that have students in the GWI program. Certainly, independent validation of what we have created in just two short years.
We have created a truly impactful program that is preparing our students to succeed in the real world. Despite how difficult it is to be noticed by employers and gain a foot in the door, this summer OFP members have begun their internships, ensconced in terrific organizations, and getting an up-close look at what finance is truly like in the real world.
They are now scattered across the country, gaining invaluable experience working at these great organizations.
PGIM Private Capital
Connecticut Wealth Management
Beach Point Capital Management
Morgan Stanley
Liberty Mutual Investments
Loomis Sayles
GIC, the Sovereign Wealth Fund of Singapore
Bradley Foster & Sargent
HIMCO
PWC
Cigna Health
Henkel
New England Asset Management
Rosenblatt Securities
Moody’s
Franklin Templeton
Kline Hill Partners
Webster Bank
Gamco Investors
Boeing
Travelers
SS & C
iCapital
Securkart
I could not be prouder of how far we have come but I recognize there is so much more to do, and rest assured, we are focusing on achieving even more in the coming year.
Great read- you have created a unique and impactful program with impressive results just after 2 years with upwards of almost 100 students who grabbed this brass ring of an opportunity and will now go farther with an amazing toolkit to travel with.