Geopolitical Crisis: When the Front Page Converges with the Business Page

Gideon Rose, Daniel Drezner, President Anthony P. Monaco, Vali Nasr, Bhaskar Chakravorti. View more event photos

In the last days of a month that saw the death of Libya's ousted leader, the first post-revolution elections in Tunisia, and a deepening crisis in the Eurozone, over 125 members of the Tufts Financial Network gathered on October 25 at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York for the first in a series of events presented in collaboration with the Fletcher School's Institute for Business in the Global Context. The topic of the evening: Geopolitical Crisis: When the Front Page Converges with the Business Page. An enthusiastic audience wanted to know, "What does this near-term political volatility mean for business in the long-run?"

In a lively conversation that extended well into the evening over cocktails, Fletcher professors Vali Nasr and Daniel Drezner, joined by Gideon Rose, Editor of Foreign Affairs, and moderated by Dean Bhaskar Chakravorti, Executive Director of the Institute for Business in the Global Context, took the audience on a journey that touched on the epicenters of global systemic, financial, and political risk. The panelists debated the increasing correlation of financial and political risk worldwide, and shared their vision of how events may unfold in the near future.

Continued on Events Page

Wall Street Crash Course 2011

President Anthony Monaco and Jeff Moslow, A86 at the Wall Street Crash Course dinner. View more event photos

The second annual Wall Street Crash Course on campus Sept. 16-17 gave aspiring bulls and bears an up-close look at the ins and outs of the finance industry. The event drew 180 undergraduates for learning, discussions and networking with 30 Tufts alumni from the world of finance.

"The Wall Street Crash Course was truly remarkable, with more than double the students from the previous year," said Jay Joshi, A12, president of the student-run Tufts Financial Group, which co-hosted the event with the Tufts Financial Network and the Office of Career Services.

"The addition of an advanced session allowed even experienced students to learn something new," Joshi said, "while the number of impressive alumni who took the time to connect with students speaks volumes about Tufts and the people associated with the university."

William Huang, A12, majoring in international relations, said he took away a great deal from the event. "It opened my eyes to many different areas of finance from hedge funds to boutique investment banks," he said. "I liked the small table luncheons because I got a chance to learn more about the recruitment process in major investment banks."

Eileen Aptman, J90, chief investment officer at Belfer Management LLC, participated as a member of the Tufts Financial Network. "My day at the Crash Course showed me just how well prepared Tufts students are for a future in finance," she said. "They are extremely capable and bright, and welcomed a bit of guidance as to how best to position themselves for obtaining finance jobs or internships. I'm glad I could share my insights."

The idea for the Wall Street Crash Course came from Jeff Moslow, A86, a partner at Goldman Sachs and a member of the advisory committee of the Tufts Financial Network. This daylong workshop is designed to educate students on various finance career options and help them better prepare for the job interview process.

This year's event opened with a welcome dinner on Sept. 16 in the Coolidge Room of Ballou Hall that was addressed by President Anthony Monaco, A&S Dean Joanne Berger-Sweeney, and Trustee Chairman James Stern, E72, A07P. A full day of programming followed on Sept. 17 at the Perry and Marty Granoff Music Center.

With break-out groups and networking sessions, the Wall Street Crash Course offered students real-world, practical advice as well as personal connections with successful Tufts alumni in financial service careers.