Brock Finance and Investment Group's portfolio manager Sean Bouwers shares his thoughts on BFIG's real world connections, his favourite prof, why everyone should go on an exchange and how he balances it all.
Every year, BFIG runs its annual Brock Finance and Investment Group Stock Competition. As a past winner of the stock competition and as an executive on BFIG, you have some perspective on the value of the challenge. Why should students take part in the Stock Competition?
As the competition is in the spring, it’s a great way to put modeling techniques and valuation knowledge learned in the club to the test in front of industry leaders. Last year, we had two financial planners, an investment banker, a Brock professor and the previous president of BFIG as judges, and this year we hope to get even more industry people involved.
Aside from the invaluable networking and personal brand development, it’s about showing the industry that you really are interested in finance outside the classroom.
How is your Goodman degree taking you from campus to career path?
I find a lot of my professors at Brock have strong industry experience, whether that is within international business, finance, marketing, or HR, and that’s something I place a high value on. Not only is my degree preparing me for the academic know-how side of the job, but also for the practical, “street smart” side too. This has made the transition so far pretty smooth: I have some insight on different career paths and what each job would expect and yield, paired with the academic confidence to be successful.
Who has been your most influential professor or mentor at Goodman?
I would have to say Professor Makken is my most influential mentor at Brock.
Although I haven’t had him as a professor yet, we regularly sit down at Starbucks (his infamous ‘second office’ for students) to debate and discuss global economics, politics, career choices, research work, and just to catch up. I was introduced to him in my first year through BFIG, and he has definitely added value to my Goodman experience. He truly is a professor for the students.
In addition to BFIG and your coursework, you are also working part-time with De Lage Landen. How do you manage to balance all your activities?
Time management!!
It’s a new phrase for me this year, as I used to be procrastinator extraordinaire. Between the work, clubs, competitions, and a full time schedule, I have had to become very proactive in how I approach things and actually writing out a calendar has really helped with visually seeing upcoming due dates.
As a financial analyst, I am required to give a certain level of weekly commitment to work, especially during month ends, so I really have to tackle assignments and readings as they come in. Unfortunately it means some late nights in the Tower; however, it is through these extra-curricular activities that I have met some awesome, like-minded people.
What should every student do at least once during their time at Goodman?
Go on a Goodman Exchange.
I went to the Netherlands for the fall term of 2013 and it has truly changed my global perspective and opened up so many more doors (Example: in my De Lage Landen interview, the CFO actually immigrated from the town I studied in). It forces you out of your comfort zone and makes you so much more globally aware. I am still in almost daily contact with most of my exchange friends, and the experience has opened up potential careers in both Europe and Asia. The cost is very reasonable – even closer to the same if you already rent in St. Catharines, and as a finance guy I would have to say it is a one-time investment in yourself that will pay dividends for life!
