Channeling That Animal Spirit

Posted February 9th, 2011 by Charlotte Draper No Comments »

There are many reasons behind my decision to major in finance as an undergraduate business student. I can primarily attribute this to two parents who have been involved in the industry for a number of years. My dad worked in IT for Shearson Lehman and Credit Suisse, and my mother was an over-the-counter trader with Morgan Stanley and then Lehman Brothers. The atmosphere of a trading desk at a major Wall Street firm was overwhelming at a young age, but for some reason the high-energy, high-risk setting became something I wanted to be a part of.

Fast forward a number of years and much has changed from the freewheeling and overindulgent lifestyle I had a peek at when I was younger. The free tickets to sporting events, the lush Christmas parties for employees kids, and the general care-free mentality of those working on the Street have all but disappeared over the last decade. Two bubbles that burst, new federal regulations and a distrust of Wall Street, by both the American people and our elected officials, sure has taken its toll.

That said, I never thought to myself four years ago that after I graduate I’d easily network my way into a grossly overpaid, cushy job at some big bank somewhere. The same individuals who had inadvertently inspired me to go down this path were the same ones who told me “things will never be like they used to.” I can’t thank my parents enough for supporting me and giving me all the advice they have given. Aside from advice, they’ve put me in touch with some awesome contacts, and I hope to repay them somehow, someday. Thanks, guys.

Although most of my job search has focused on positions related to U.S. and global markets, I am very interested in the world of venture capital. I have been researching alternative ways to finance new companies and startups, particularly through crowdfunding, and it influenced me to take a “New Venture Creation” course at Stetson. This week, I had the pleasure of attending the Florida Venture Forum in Hollywood, Fla., as part of a small delegation from my school. I met with investment bankers, venture capitalists, entrepreneurs and a slew of other interesting people and learned more about this fascinating industry and how it works.

When you get down to basics, finance is about making money grow. Watching numbers grow is only so interesting, but watching a dynamic company grow in a market that might not have even existed a year ago —with your decisions highly impacting this growth—is certainly not boring. That’s why I enjoy venture capital. Granted, in my previous blogs you can see my general dismay about the difficulty of landing a job in the finance industry, so I won’t even begin to talk about the prospects of becoming a venture capitalist after I graduate in May. It ain’t gonna happen. It’s definitely my long-term goal though, and will be something to keep in mind as I enter the workforce and look for positions that may be able to fortify a good VC background.

Long story short, although I do want to work in sales and trading, I’m not sure it would be a lifetime choice. One of my professors has said that when we’re young, we have an “animal spirit” that we will not have for long (eventually getting married, having kids, a mortgage, etc.). I wish I knew how to channel this spirit most efficiently, but I know what interests me and I know what’s realistic. I feel it could be channeled properly into sales and trading, and I will continue to pursue any and every opportunity that becomes available, and thankfully I’ve had a few.

Venture capital will come some day, but youve got to crawl before you walk, as they say.

JY Teachers