Madeline Gaugler

Multifaceted Approach Open to All Students

The Institute for Global Investing is committed to making an education in investment management accessible to the greater Notre Dame community. Personally, the Institute played a key role in rounding out my undergraduate curriculum. I chose to pursue a major in Accounting, but I have always been interested in the finance industry as well. Through experiences provided by the Institute, I was able to make connections between the two interdependent fields and apply my knowledge of financial statements to investing concepts. Much of the Institute’s programming is open to all students regardless of major, creating a unique culture of inclusiveness rather than competition. NDIGI also places emphasis on promoting women in the finance industry.

Opportunity for Practical Application

The Institute has piloted courses, speaker series, and initiatives that bring practical application to the undergraduate education. Through the International Portfolio Management Practicum course, my classmates and I were able to bridge the gap between the classroom and the investing industry in practice. Traveling to London for the course kept us cognizant of the implications associated with the worldwide economy and real-world applications. While working directly with prestigious investment managers and learning from their expertise, we received feedback on our projects from our professors as well as members of the Notre Dame Investment Office. These were rare and incredibly meaningful opportunities to have in an undergraduate course.

Culture Focused on Giving Back

Above all, the Institute provides a platform for students to develop invaluable relationships. Ranging from established leaders in the finance industry to recent alumni, no connection is wasted and no question is left unanswered. Everyone I have had the opportunity to speak with has gone above and beyond to demonstrate their willingness to help. Upperclassmen consistently return the favor by offering advice to underclassmen, and the cycle continues. The humility, generosity, and sheer talent of the people involved in the Institute for Global Investing are the reason it is so effective.