An interview with Rich Lavner, President of the Drexel Finance Association (DFA).
1. What are the goals of the Drexel Finance Association and can you tell me how the organization got started?
Wall Street has received a facelift since the DFA’s inception in 2006 and thus the organization has needed to adapt accordingly. In the beginning, the DFA was focused on establishing a “pipeline” that would enable current students to interact with the dozen or so Drexel alumni interspersed between the bulge-bracket firms. Just as the DFA was starting to get its legs in 2007-2008, Armageddon happened effectively leading to the demise of several of the organization’s target companies. While a global, frenzied panic sent shockwaves to-and-from Wall Street in late 2008, the DFA quietly reorganized itself in response to the unstable investment environment. This is when the DFA implemented the mission that it strives to achieve today, which is to enable networking between students and professionals in the finance industry—typically Drexel University alumni. Through engaging panel discussions and recruiting events, the DFA continues to introduce students to the wide gamut of possibilities that the finance profession has to offer.
2. What type of events does the DFA run during the year?
As I alluded to earlier, the DFA likes to operate out of two event formats, either panel discussion or recruiting event. Each event is meticulously planned to maximize speaker-student interaction, whether it is by networking reception or Q&A session—The last thing we want is for students to feel like they are at another class. Our past successes include, among many others, the annual Tools of the Trade networking series, which features a different trading firm each year with speakers who offer a quantitative view of the industry. Additionally, in April 2009, the DFA hosted its Wall Street 2020 event on the premise of “How will ‘the Street’ look a decade from now?” To discuss the topic, the DFA assembled a diverse panel that included the Executive Vice President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, the Chief Financial Officer of a New York hedge fund, and two distinguished members of the faculty. Of course, the DFA also holds numerous smaller scale events throughout the year covering topics such as personal and/or corporate finance.
3. Rich, can you tell me about yourself?
My name is Rich Lavner and I am a junior at Drexel University (LeBow College of Business) majoring in finance. I have been an Executive Board member of the DFA for the past 3 years, serving as the organization’s President since May 2009. Outside of school, I have interned for a leading international trading and financial services firm for the last year* working primarily in sell-side equity research. In that time I have really found my niche by assisting the analysts on my team and I hope to pursue a career in this field upon graduation. On behalf of the DFA, I would like to say we are excited to join the other prestigious schools and organizations that currently make up the Bulls & Bears Press.
*Six months full-time as part of Drexel’s co-op program and six months part-time while attending classes
4. What types of jobs do most of the DFA members receive and at what firms?
I think the type of job our members gravitate towards depends on the individual. We have a healthy number of DFA alumni working in trading, investments, and financial services at companies such as BlackRock, Goldman Sachs (Equities and Private Wealth Management), Citigroup, JPMorgan, The Vanguard Group, and Susquehanna International Group (SIG), among others. On the other hand, some of members prefer corporate finance positions for which top employers include Comcast, GlaxoSmithKline, Johnson & Johnson, etc. However, like I said before, the passion and motivation of the individual will ultimately determine what type of position and at what firm he/she ends up working. From an organizational standpoint, the DFA is concerned with educating its members about the numerous career options finance has to offer and most importantly, networking, networking, networking!
5. How does the DFA help students get jobs? Are there any tactics that you would recommend to other organizations?
I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge the wonderful staff in LeBow’s Undergraduate Career Services office. Without their help, the DFA would not be the powerhouse organization that it is today. I strongly suggest that any collegiate finance organization utilize either Career Services or Alumni Relations, especially when planning events. By working closely with these offices, the DFA is able to better understand what firms are hiring and which alumni are willing to participate in campus events. Having this knowledge ahead of time allows the DFA to organize information sessions in as little as a few weeks or schedule large events as far as six months in advance—either way it is a seamless operation.
6. Where can students go to get more information about the DFA or to reach out to you?
The best places for all things DFA are:
- www.lebowticker.com/dfa On this website you will find detailed recaps of all DFA events as well as the organization’s quarterly newsletter, The Conference Call.
- You can also find the DFA on Facebook. Just type “Drexel Finance Association” into the search bar and we’ll be there. Our 400+ members receive event invitations and potential job leads on a regular basis.
- For any general inquiries feel free to email us at DUfinance@gmail.com
