UPDATE | Alumni News

Lehman Brothers Looks to
Wisconsin for Top Graduates

Jeff Weiss, a managing director of global finance for Lehman Brothers in New York, running their global finance business, is part of a growing base of professionals reaching out to the School of Business, its students and alumni.

Weiss, BS ’83, is a UW-Madison economics major and finance student. He renewed his long-time connection with the business school through his recruiting efforts on behalf of Lehman Brothers. “Lehman is a major hirer of undergraduate and MBA students, and I’ve found that the best students from Wisconsin are as strong as any from schools on the East Coast,” said Weiss. “Lehman has the ability to differentiate itself as a firm by recruiting at Wisconsin—it really gives us a leg up in the industry.”

Weiss credited the school’s Business Career Center for putting him in touch with students seeking a full-time position at Lehman. Weiss said he was blown away by the quality of the candidates he interviewed. “I liked them all. It was a reminder to me that if I had been competing against them 20 years ago, I wouldn’t be where I am now.”

Weiss is working hard to build an alumni network for the UW-Madison graduates within Lehman Brothers and the thousands throughout the East Coast. “This is a very competitive industry. It’s important for Wisconsin alumni to bring students into the fold early, helping them build interviewing and networking skills. It will make them even more competitive,” he said.

Weiss’ role as a corporate partner with the School of Business doesn’t end with recruiting and mentoring; he also serves on the school’s Dean’s Advisory Board. “It’s a great opportunity to come back to Madison and a good experience overall,” said Weiss. “I like the idea of giving back, and it’s very positive for students, too, because it gives them real-world exposure.”

Weiss’ relationship with the school began while he was majoring in economics. “I liked the options and variety of classes presented at the business school,” he said. “I was fortunate to have a number of great finance professors who helped prepare me for summer internships that I had at J.P. Morgan and Lehman Brothers.”

Following graduation, Weiss worked at Lehman as a corporate bond trader, working in sectors including telecommunications, power and financial institutions. By 1991, he was running the U.S. new issue business, handling all new bond issues. Global responsibility soon followed, and in 1999, Weiss was heading the debt capital business, organizing and executing all new-issue business worldwide. Four years later, he was co-leading the global finance business, which includes all the firm’s debt and equity underwriting business globally.

Today, in his role as managing director of global finance, Weiss plays a crucial role in the bank, serving on the firm’s management committee and investment banking executive committees. Weiss plans to continue to be involved with the School of Business: “I’m open to participating in whatever way the school feels they can use me best.”

—Rebecca Smith