MEGAN MAKINI ’18 MSF

US Transportations Equity Research Associate - Deutsche Bank

How did Villanova’s MSF program prepare you for your career?

The rigorous curriculum and the knowledge gained from our courses is such an advantage when it comes to our careers. You notice that you’re able to engage in discussions on a deeper level than your average peer. Not to mention the breadth of the courses that the program offers allows you to branch out your network to peers that you wouldn’t usually interact with (i.e. if you’re in asset management, you’re able to hold a discussion with a quant or data scientist). 

Are there specific instructors/courses that had a critical impact?

Gerard Olson, Phd, professor, Finance & Real Estate comes to mind. Any student that goes through the program knows that the first semester is a dive into a dense amount of material, which is challenging academically and mentally. Dr. Olson was the smiling reminder that there was a light at the end of the tunnel, no challenge too hard to overcome, and that all the (figurative) blood, sweat, and tears would build the bedrock for your future success.

How did your experience as part of a student cohort add value to your growth as a finance professional?

Being in a cohort-style program, you learn how to operate within a tight knit group. You learn to collaborate, you learn to sympathize, compromise, and ultimately build relationships with those around you. It’s a valuable experience because once you enter the workforce, more often than not, you’ll be operating in some fashion of a team and the trajectory of your career is dependent upon relationships.

What your favorite experience during the program?

My favorite experience while in Villanova’s MSF program was orientation day. No one knew each other, we all came from different schools/states, but we all wore the same eager smiles and wanted nothing more than to get to know each other. You can imagine that those were the exact same smiles we wore on graduation day.