Areas of Interest at SCU and Leavey: Specifically, as a student at Santa Clara University, I am excited about becoming more involved in the areas of finance and investing, specifically through organizations such as the Santa Clara Investment Fund or the Investment Banking Club.
In particular, as a student in the Leavey School of Business, I am most interested in finance-related courses, as well as investment-related opportunities, as well as mentorship opportunities with faculty members who have industry experience. In particular, I am excited about learning more about software as a service investing, given my experience working with private equity and venture capital firms, as well as continuing to develop skills in a high-performing environment.
What are your SCU and Leavey activities/general hobbies: Currently, at Santa Clara University, I am an active participant in the Santa Clara Investment Fund, Investment Banking Club, and Santa Clara Finance Association. These opportunities enable me to continue developing my technical skills in finance while working with fellow classmates who share my passion for the field. I am also an active participant in the Santa Clara Men’s Club Golf and SCU Ski Club, providing me with an excellent outlet outside the classroom.
Outside of my academic pursuits, my interests include golf, with a current handicap of 3.2, skiing, deep sea fishing, San Francisco sports, international travel, and country music. I enjoy participating in activities that keep me physically and competitively active.
What internship/employment opportunities have you taken advantage of at Leavey? Through the Leavey School of Business program, I have been able to secure internships that align well with my interest in finance and investing. My most recent internship was as a Private Equity Summer Analyst at Basis Vectors Capital in New York. I was able to engage in similar company and transaction analysis and assist in the preparation of materials for a $250 million fundraising effort.
In another internship, I worked in private equity and M&A at Oak Tree Industries. I was able to engage in analysis of lower-middle-market potential acquisition targets and trends in EBITDA. I was also able to assist in the valuation process. My prior internship was in venture capital at Recall Capital in Menlo Park. I was able to assist in investor events and gain further insight into this space.
These internships have been invaluable in allowing me to apply what I have learned at LSB in financial accounting, analysis, and valuation.
Favorite Leavey Class and Why? My favorite LSB class so far has been Business Law with Professor Marshall Morts. He’s a partner at Fenwick, which means he brings an incredible amount of real-world experience to class. Learning from someone who’s still working at that level is incredibly valuable.
He’s also one of the smartest guys I know, and the way he’s able to break down complex legal structures, contracts, etc., has been a real eye-opener for me in terms of how I think about business and investing.
It’s given me a much deeper appreciation for the legal side of business, which is huge when it comes to things like M&A or venture investing.
What made you choose to attend Leavey? I selected the Leavey School of Business primarily for its proximity to where business and finance are happening every day. Being in Silicon Valley means you're surrounded by venture capital, private equity, startups, public tech companies, etc., not just studying those things but also seeing how capital is actually being allocated and how companies are actually being built and scaled out. This was incredibly important to me.
However, family has also been a huge part of my life as well. Growing up in the Bay Area, it was incredibly important to me to be able to stay close to family while also having that sense of independence that comes with going to college. Being able to be at LSB means that I'm able to pursue those high-level academic and professional opportunities while also staying close to the people who have been with me throughout my life.
What advice you wish you had while applying to college? I think one piece of advice I would give is that the experience is less about the school you attend and more about what you do once you get there. There are a lot of people who attend their dream schools, but are not necessarily having the time of their life because they are not getting involved on campus.
You’ll have a blast at almost any school and meet fantastic people as long as you are willing to put yourself out there and get involved. College is less about the name of the school and more about what you do once you get there. If you are willing to get out and get involved, you’ll have an amazing experience no matter where you are.