Notre Dame juniors Emily Feczko (FIN/Theo ’18) and Marina Simoes Hrosz (FIN/ACMS ’18) were among 60 women selected this summer to attend the prestigious Girls Who Invest (GWI) Summer Intensive Program. Designed to educate and involve young women in the asset management industry, the 10-week program consists of two parts: four weeks of coursework at the University of Pennsylvania and six weeks of a paid internship at an asset management firm.
The first part of the program prepares rising sophomores and juniors to enter the asset management industry by educating them across all asset classes, from fixed income to hedge funds to real estate. Students are taught by top business school professors and women leaders in the asset management industry.
“We were immersed in every area of finance,” said Feczko. “Basic accounting principles, financial statement analysis, investment decision criteria, bond and stock valuation and more.
“The daily speakers are top professionals in the industry, and it was incredible to learn about their knowledge and experience with impact investing, private equity, hedge funds and other finance areas.”
Additionally, she appreciated the collaborative environment. “Instead of competing with each other, we are encouraged to better leverage each one of our strengths by working together. It was an incredible experience.”
Participants also sharpened their interviewing and presentation skills, while building relationships with industry leaders — connections that undoubtedly will help prepare them in pursuing careers.
“The idea behind the classes we're taking is to be able to go on to our internships and know how to value assets and manage portfolios, as well as get a better idea of the industry and what is expected of us as young professionals,” Hrosz said. “I know by the end of the summer, I’ll have incredibly strong bonds with most if not all of these women, as well as the professionals we’ve met.”
Students who completed the intensive educational training portion of the program were hired for six-week paid internships at a leading asset management firm immediately following training. Feczko secured a spot at Morgan Stanley Wealth Management in New York City as a summer associate with the custom solutions and outsourced CIO team. Hrosz worked as a summer analyst in the Global ETFs Department of Franklin Templeton Investment in San Mateo, California.
Both women believe the Girls Who Invest experience will serve as a foundation for future success. “I want to continue to absorb as many technical skills as possible that can set me apart analytically in the workplace,” Feczko said. “I also want to continue forming relationships with the great people I have the chance to meet. Going forward, I want to better discern my specific career path, especially utilizing the experiences I gain from my internship.”