How did you find out about the Nicholas Center?

I learned about the Nicholas program while researching the Wisconsin MBA. I was aware of the strong reputation of the UW-Madison School of Business because I graduated from high school in Wisconsin. I lived out of state for nearly 10 years but once I decided to pursue the MBA, I gave UW-Madison a close look. That is when I learned about the career specializations and the finance focus offered by the Nicholas Center.

 

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Scott Peck
Nicholas 2007
Hewlett Packard

Why did you choose to come to Wisconsin and the Nicholas program?

My work experience steered me toward the MBA and a corporate finance specialization. I managed projects for several years and my favorite role was creating the business case and financial estimates for each project. These were simple NPV and ROI calculations that helped me realize my strong interest in finance. I developed career goals around this interest and the Nicholas program offered me the best opportunity to gain finance acumen quickly. I was particularly attracted by the second-year consulting projects.

What are your career objectives?

This question is more difficult than it was a year ago. I want to use my finance and communication skills within an international business. I am not restricting myself to positions with the term "financial" in the title, but I will seek a position where finance is critical to decision making and executing strategy.

What have you found most surprising about Madison?

Madison is much more diverse than I expected. I have traveled through more than 40 countries and I've attempted to speak 12 different languages at one time or another. I did not expect to find a strong international community in this small Midwestern city. But the university draws incredible diversity in terms of race, nationalities, languages and view points in both students and faculty. There are loads of ethnic events, community groups and restaurants. I have been well exposed to other cultures and ideas through international students and professors both inside and outside the classroom.

What did you want to do in Madison?

I wanted to meet intelligent and creative people. There are social opportunities all the time. My next door neighbor is earning his PhD in Thai folk stories and I dated a girl who's becoming a rocket scientist. The university attracts amazing people to many different disciplines.

What would you like to have known before coming to Madison?

I didn't know it was such a great sports town. We had an exciting football season, solid basketball, hockey championships for both the men and women's teams. I wish I had purchased tickets the day I was admitted!

What were you looking for in your internship?

I was looking for opportunities to apply the finance theory and methods I learned this year in Nicholas and to gain new insights from finance practitioners. Therefore, I was primarily interested in the quality of the finance department, project and my mentor. Second, I want to work for a company I respect. Last, I was interested in experiencing a different industry because I had spent more than five years working for a single financial services firm in the MIdwest. I got everything I hoped for! I will be working as a financial analyst intern at Hewlett-Packard out west this summer.

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