Rite of Autumn

November 17, 2008

I was in NYC just over a week ago with Coach Dave Urick and a dozen juniors and seniors on the men's lacrosse team. The purpose of the visit was to introduce them to various alums who work in the now-battered finance sector. Similar visits and interaction have been occurring with the lacrosse undergrads for the past twenty years. These days, the alums who hosted us are former lacrosse athletes who once experienced the very mentoring they are now providing.

The young men cleaned up well and traveled to the Big Apple on their own nickel. Touring the trading floors of several of the leading Wall Street firms, they listened to our hosts who shared their own experiences and their insights on the employment picture in the industry.

Christian Trunz '07 shared his experience with his former teammates

Much of what these talented athletes heard from their lacrosse predecessors was intuitive, e.g., the strengths they bring to their future careers: leadership, teamwork, and perseverance. They also learned about the working environment in the financial industry which approximates the atmosphere of an athletic locker room perhaps more closely than any other professional pursuit.

Interestingly, they also came away with a somewhat counter-intuitive suggestion, viz., that now is not a bad time to find entry-level employment on Wall Street. As the major investment houses and trading firms retrench, the cutbacks are affecting those already employed and not so much the hiring programs for those looking to enter the field.

We learned one other important fact: despite the gloomy outlook in the financial markets, the Hoya spirit is alive and well on Wall Street.

Elevator Up! Former attackman Dan Brennan '92 (right) welcomed the Hoyas to Morgan Stanley

Jim Kenny '90 hosted coach and company at Credit Suisse First Boston

PJM - View From The Hilltop

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