MBA in Corporate Finance and Investment Banking
Corporate Finance and Investment Banking is the first and only applied program that offers students the unique opportunity to gain practical experience working on corporate finance consulting projects. Our applied program combines the benefits of real-world experience with innovative teaching of financial methods and techniques.
Center of Expertise
Nicholas Center for Corporate Finance and Investment Banking
Established in 1999, the program was endowed in 2003 by a generous gift of $6.4 million from Albert O. Nicholas, chair and chief executive officer of the Milwaukee-based mutual fund firm Nicholas Co., Inc. An anonymous donor contributed an additional $2 million to accelerate development of the program.
Nicholas Center students work in teams on consulting engagements for investment banks, public and private companies and private equity and consulting firms. Projects typically involve an analysis of areas such as working capital management, funding sources, valuation, cost of capital, capital expenditure decisions, acquisition analysis and joint venture and strategic alliances. Projects generally conclude with an on-site presentation to executives from the sponsoring company. Project sponsors include 3M, Deutsche Bank, Kraft, Medtronic, Procter & Gamble, QUALCOMM and UBS.
“The Nicholas Center provides students with the education and contacts to pursue a career in investment banking, consulting and corporate finance. The program is unique due to consulting projects which offer students a professional environment and the opportunity to enhance their understanding of finance through real-world assignments. Finance faculty have built their careers in the private and public sectors at institutions such as Goldman Sachs and U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.”
J. Patrick Hammes, Nicholas Center class of 2007
Associate – Investment Banking, Robert W. Baird & Co.
Quality Placement
The Nicholas Center has maintained a 100 percent internship and full-time employment placement rate at top-notch companies. A sampling of where our graduates have been placed:
| 3M | Liberty Mutual |
| Bear Stearns | McKinsey & Co. |
| Best Buy | Procter & Gamble |
| Ernst & Young LLP | QUALCOMM |
| Intel Corporation | Robert W. Baird |
| Kraft Foods | Standard & Poors |
| KPMG | Target Corporation |
| Lehman Brothers | UBS |
“I consider the most valuable aspect of the program
to be exposure to real business issues and the role of students as consultants. Apart from the theory learned, having to work with short deadlines, identifying individual team players’ strengths, narrowing down the issues to focus on and communicating your ideas effectively and in a timely manner are qualifications needed to be successful as a consultant and/or business professional.”
Jared Rodriguez, Nicholas Center Class of 2004
Associate Consultant, McKinsey & Co.
Advisory Board
The External Board of Advisors provides students with the broadest possible exposure and training in the field of corporate finance. Board members assist in identifying qualified students and desirable skill sets for professionals in the field of corporate finance, provide advice and feedback on curriculum offerings, generate leads for applied projects, participate as classroom guest speakers and facilitate placement of students in summer internships and full-time positions.
| Mary E. Amor Managing Director, Mergers & Acquisitions Citigroup |
Richard H. Fleming Senior VP & CFO USG Corporation |
Melinda Mount CFO Entertainment & Device Division Microsoft |
| Bruce Anfindsen Director, FIRC Emerging Markets UBS Securities LLC |
Phill Gross Managing Director Adage Capital Management |
Judd Nystrom Senior Director of Finance Best Buy |
| Doug Baird Co-Head of Equity Capital Markets Banc of America |
Carl E. Gulbrandsen Managing Director Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF) |
John Oros Executive Chairman Enstar Group Ltd. Managing Director JC Flowers & Co. LLC |
| Julian Baretta Vice President Finance & Accounting Global Pharmaceuticals & Personal Health Procter & Gamble |
Thomas Heath Managing Director Financial Institutions Group UBS |
Paul Shain Senior Vice President CDW Corporation |
| Ben Braun Managing Director, Mergers & Acquisitions Merrill Lynch & Co. |
Robert Hedlund Managing Director Lehman Brothers |
Tom Tefft Vice President, Corporate Controller Medtronic, Inc. |
| Bruce Cohen Principal & Consumer Goods Industry Leader-Global Private Equity Services Kurt Salmon Associates |
Bill Keitel Executive Vice President & CFO QUALCOMM, Inc. |
Dr. Subu Venkataraman Managing Director & CRO Highbridge Capital |
| Gary M. Cole Managing Director Antares International Partners, Inc. |
Peter S. Kies Managing Director, Investment Banking Robert W. Baird and Co. |
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| Donald M. Condon, Jr. Senior Vice President Corporate Planning and Business Development Westlake Chemical Corporation |
Eric J. Larson Senior Managing Director & Co-Head of Equity Research Piper Jaffray |
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| Dennis P. Duerst Director of Benefits Fund Investments 3M |
Michael E. Lehman Executive Vice President/CFO Sun Microsystems Inc. |
“The Nicholas Center provided the perfect segue for me to become more connected with the decisions of the business. I chose the program because I know that with the Center’s support and advice I’m doing everything I can to achieve my goals.”
Rachel Nielson, Nicholas Center, Class of 2006
Contact
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Nicholas Center for Cynthia S. Adams, Director |