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Consulting Engagements

Throughout the second year of the MBA each Nicholas student works in rotating teams on 4-5 corporate finance consulting engagements. Each team consists of four MBA students and two undergraduate finance students (selected from the Investment Banking Club) who provide research assistance.

Nicholas projects present a wide variety of complex challenges, such as working capital management, funding sources, valuation, cost of capital, capital expenditure decisions, acquisition analysis, and joint venture and strategic alliances for investment banks, public corporations, private companies, consulting firms, and start-up companies.

Each engagement requires the team to successfully complete the following three steps:

1. Collect data and information to analyze the engagement sponsor’s problem areas

2. Prepare written evaluations of their findings and recommendations to the engagement sponsors

3. Give oral presentations of their written reports. Presentations are typically attended by CEOs, CFOs, Treasurers, and other interested professionals from the sponsoring company.

Fernando Miramontes Nicholas 2006 KPMG Corporate Finance LLC

"... I was impressed when I learned that the projects students worked on were not case studies, but real problems faced by real companies. I am excited to work with executives from big-name companies. I know that working on these projects would give me an advantage upon graduation."

Nicholas Board member Dennis Duerst (3M) Fall 2006 Board of Advisors Meeting

Nicholas Board members Peter Kies (RW Baird) and Joel Nelson (Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation)

Nicholas team with Best Buy group during Spring '07 visit

Best Buy Nicholas Alums Rachel Nilesen, Ben Morales, Mafaz Maharoof, Craig Westman and Gulru Keten