FWA Graduate School Partnership: Finance Training Program

In Fall 2024, the Financial Women’s Association (FWA) Graduate School Partnerships Committee, with support from BMO Capital Markets Equity Through Education Program, sponsored a finance training program for over 175 Baruch College Zicklin School of Business graduate students. As part of the curriculum, students attended a financial markets overview lecture by KLD Training and completed courses in applied Excel and corporate valuation with Training the Street.


The Graduate School Partnerships Committee is proud to help fulfill the FWA’s mission to contribute to our communities and prepare the next generation of professionals through this multi-year initiative. As the financial services industry continues to go through technological and regulatory changes, the Committee hopes these young professionals will gain an edge as they enter the financial services industry with the additional technical skills and financial knowledge acquired from the training program.

 

In the excerpts below, a few participants share how the course helped their corporate valuation knowledge and express their gratitude to the FWA and BMO Capital Markets. Click here to view the complete Participants Testimonial booklet.

 

For more information about the FWA Graduate School Partnership, please contact committee chair Christine Li-Auyeung.

"Attending the Financial Services as a Business training was a transformative experience that provided me with a clearer understanding of how the financial services industry is structured and the diverse opportunities it offers. The training helped me see finance not just as a career path but as a dynamic and multifaceted field where I can leverage my skills and interests to grow. A highlight of the training was hearing from Karyn Dobin Giampaolo, an accomplished woman in finance. Her insights and experience were incredibly inspiring, particularly as someone who values representation and the importance of seeing women excel in leadership roles. Her story reinforced my belief that with dedication and the right opportunities, I can advance in a field that thrives on innovation and collaboration. Overall, the training served as a strong foundation in shaping my career goals. It not only deepened my knowledge of financial services but also helped me identify areas where I can contribute and grow. It reinforced my commitment to pursuing roles that align with my skills and passions while continuing to learn and develop as a finance professional."


Yecenia Ines
(MBA’26)

"The Excel course helped me gain a better understanding of what scenarios to use the shortcuts I learned in Excel for. Not only do I know how to be more efficient and productive in Excel, but I know the appropriate times to use the shortcuts and functions I learned. This is not something I was able to learn in my undergraduate degree since I was Pre-Medicine, and always felt Excel was impossible to learn. Now I’m feeling confident and practice with Excel every day. Thank you!"


Larissa Gould
(MBA’27)

"I appreciate the BMO equity through education program. The Training the Street courses were invaluable as I continue to strengthen my technical skills in Excel. This past semester, I was a team captain for the Neuberger Berman ESG Case competition. I applied several of the things I learned in the Training the Street courses, particularly the Corporate Valuation course, to build a case for why Neuberger Berman should invest in a company. I was able to develop a sensitivity analysis in excel to pair with our DCF valuation. These skills will continue to be valuable throughout my career, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to have developed them through this program."


Katey Cox
(MBA’26)

"The Training the Street Applied Excel Workshop has been a key step in advancing my career in finance by sharpening my Excel skills and improving my efficiency in data analysis. I learned advanced techniques, and leveraging shortcuts to organize and analyze large datasets more effectively. The session also covered best practices for building professional templates and models, which enhanced my ability to present insights. These skills have increased the accuracy and speed of my analyses and boosted my confidence in tackling complex financial Excel tasks. By building a stronger technical foundation, this training has prepared me to take on greater responsibilities and contribute more effectively to my career in finance."


Rachel Slesnick
(MS’26)

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