FMA 2017-2018 Magazine

LEADERSHIP SUMMIT
Inaugural FMA Leadership Summit featured guest
panelists, awards luncheon and alumni involvement
Jennie Powers
It was a homecoming weekend, of
sorts, for Harbert College’s Financial
Management Association alumni.
Nearly half of the program’s 48 alums
descended upon The Plains to attend
FMA’s first annual Financial Leadership
Summit – a two-day event that included
the group’s first advisory board meeting,
an alumni luncheon, an executive panel
of distinguished industry leaders, an
investment banking focused information
session, an evening alumni networking
event and a Saturday morning tailgate on
the Lowder Hall Lawn.
“It was great to have our alums back for
the weekend,” said Tracy Richard, finance
instructor and FMA Director since its
inception four years ago. “We established
the Summit in order to increase exposure
for our finance students and to create an
annual event that will bring our finance
alums, supporters, and students together.”
Throughout the year, FMA members have
the opportunity to hear first-hand career
advice from industry professionals, meet
with financial executives and gain insight
on the training necessary for a successful
career in finance. Members also receive
career coaching, resume guidance and
mock interview opportunities.
Jimmy Brewster, a sophomore FMA
member from Atlanta, noted that
providing students with “the proper
framework and guidance” is an integral
part of FMA’s mission. “When a student
comes into the business school and is
willing to put forth the effort to achieve a
successful career in finance, FMA provides
the tools and opportunities that will help
them succeed. The organization provides
not only a framework for success, but also
the mentorship and support.”
The Summit kicked off on Friday with
the group’s first advisory board meeting.
According to Tracy Richard, “Our board
will be a critical source of support for
us and will play an important role in
identifying and addressing students’ needs.”
Current students, alums and industry
executives then gathered for a luncheon,
where the organizations’ first three
student presidents were honored. Later
that afternoon, all HCOB students were
invited to an open panel featuring three
finance alumni and prominent industry
executives: Raymond J. Harbert, CEO of
Harbert Management Corporation, Paul
Jacobson, Chief Financial Officer
of Delta Air Lines, and Steven Aldridge,
an investment banking executive at
Cantor Fitzgerald.
“We’re trying to expose the students that
are interested in a career in finance to
various segments of the financial services
industry from private equity to corporate
finance and to highlight successful and
engaged alumni who can tell that story
best,” Richard said.
“We plan to establish the Summit
as a continuing source of education,
engagement and fellowship for students
seeking a career in finance,” said FMA
President Jordan Carr. “None of this would
be possible without the support of the
Finance Department, the Harbert College
of Business, and our sponsors and alumni.”
The finishing touch for FMA’s inaugural
Summit? Visitors were treated to an
Auburn victory over Georgia.
FMA 2018 MAGAZINE 23