Gateways to World Markets: A transformative learning adventure

There's no better place to experience innovation in the world of business than in New York City. Imagine being on the trading floor and watching the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) when a company goes public or going behind the scenes at Boll & Branch to understand how their products are made and promoted. This summer, a group of Wilbur O. and Ann Powers College of Businessfinance and marketing students met with over 100 business leaders as part of the "Gateways to World Markets" course and experienced many unique opportunities such as these. Throughout the industry trip, students enhanced their global awareness, saw how trends affected businesses, learned about the importance of relationships across companies and markets and gained insights into their future careers in finance and marketing.

"One of the benefits of this experiential learning trip was the opportunity for students to see the complex concepts in finance and marketing that they learn in class in an authentic environment. Experiences like this trip are invaluable."

Day 1: Ernst & Young, Cerberus Technology Solutions (Cerberus Capital Management) and MetLife

Ernst & Young: Students learned about the EY brand and the role EY plays in helping companies navigate the complexities of financial management and strategic growth. While there, students learned from Clemson business alumni about their career journeys and got advice on how to prepare for the hiring process.

Cerberus Technology Solutions: Students met with the President and Vice President of Cerberus where the President explained how technology-driven financial solutions advance asset management and investment strategies. Students also heard from General Raymond '84, who discussed his role and the importance of leadership.

MetLife: During a panel discussion, students heard from the CFO, Head of Life Investment Management, and the CMO at MetLife, who spoke with students about their careers. Students then divided into groups to meet with finance and marketing teams at MetLife. At the end of the day, students met in small groups with business professionals from Macy's, Capital One and Sterling Capital.

Day 2:

Finance Students: JP Morgan, Russell Investments and Bank of America

Day 2:
Finance Students: JP Morgan, Russell Investments and Bank of America
JP Morgan: Finance students began the day at "Morning Call," followed by a discussion with J.P. Morgan executives. They learned about trends affecting investments, various services offered by JP Morgan, from asset management to financial trading, and the impact of these services on global markets.

Russell Investments: Multiple executives spoke with students about how investment management is leveraged to build and preserve wealth.

Bank of America: Students participated in a panel discussion with several Clemson alumni, focusing on different areas and technology solutions in banking. Students discovered how innovative technologies are reshaping banking services and enhancing customer experiences.

Marketing Students: Boll & Branch, Amazon and GFT

Boll & Branch: Marketing students traveled to Summit, NJ, to visit Boll & Branch. While there, they met with Co-Founders Scott and Missy Tannen and the entire marketing and production teams to explore the world of consumer products and promotion. The Tannens spoke with students about the inspiration behind their company, gave them a behind-the-scenes tour and even had the Boll & Branch marketing team explain their recent Met Gala collaboration with fashion designer Prabal Gurung.

Amazon: Next, they learned about advertising for Amazon, focusing on how digital apps and e-commerce platforms are revolutionizing retail and consumer behavior.

GFT: Following Amazon, students got a closer look into app development and external and internal marketing strategies across industries and the IT job market.

Day 3:

Madison Square Garden and Cisco (all students)

Madison Square Garden: At Madison Square Garden, students watched the Rangers practice for their playoff game and learned how the ice would be converted to a basketball court for the Knicks' playoff game. The MSG team discussed partnerships and focused brand sponsors and the cost of different sponsorships and contracts.

Cisco: At Cisco, students learned about verticals and the network solutions Cisco provides. They also discussed a recent merger and got insights on growth strategies.

Finance Students: BlackRock and Capital One

Capital One and BlackRock: Students learned about different opportunities in financial markets. More importantly, they received great mentoring and job advice and made incredible contacts that will help them as they begin looking for internships and jobs.

Marketing Students: Hearst Television

Hearst Television: At Hearst, the President of the company met the students, followed by a panel discussion led by the Senior Vice President of Human Resources and panel members who provided career advice and answered students' questions about careers, the job process, and their roles at Hearst.

"This trip has made me realize how fortunate I am to attend the Wilbur O. and Ann Powers College of Business. Many of the experiences this week were once-in-a-lifetime, and I am immensely grateful to Dr. Raymond and Dean York for making them possible. The Powers College of Business has excelled in guiding me toward my future career path. It's truly inspiring to see former Clemson graduates thriving in the professional world, and I hope to one day be in their position, giving back to the school that has already given me so much."

Day 4:

Finance Students: NYSE, Drive Wealth Goldman Sachs, Marcus & Millichap

NYSE: The fourth day began with the opening bell of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), where students observed the fast-paced environment of financial trading . Mo Sparks, a Clemson alum, took finance students on the trading floor to see firsthand what drives market movements and the role of traders at the NYSE.

Drive Wealth: Students learned about fractional trading and futures trading trends. They were introduced to cutting-edge financial trading technologies and explored the rise of digital trading platforms.

Goldman Sachs: Finance students met with a managing partner and Vice President, where they learned more about investment banking and asset management and how strategic investments and financial advisory services help shape global economic landscapes.

Marcus & Millichap: Students got a glimpse into real estate trading during their visit to Marcus & Millichap. Students learned about the nuances of commercial real estate, the transactions and the approaches used to maximize investment returns.

Marketing Students: NYSE, Wunderkind, Goldman Sachs, Havas Advertising/Viiv Healthcare

NYSE: After watching the opening bell, marketing students met with the social media manager for the NYSE and learned a lot about the different activities involved on a daily basis.

Wunderkind: At Wunderkind, students focused on consumer insights, obtaining customer data, digital marketing and consumer engagement while learning how data helps tailor personalized marketing strategies.

Goldman Sachs: Marketing students met with a managing partner and the Director of Marketing for Goldman Sachs and learned about the increased importance of marketing in the financial sector.

Havas (now Jacques) Advertising: The advertising team and their client, ViiV Healthcare, took the students through the creation of an actual ad campaign from idea to production. Students explored the challenges and strategies involved in pharmaceutical marketing, including the importance of partnerships, insights and feedback from the target market, and effective communication.

The day ended with a networking reception where students met with over 100 executives and business professionals comprised of many Clemson alumni in the New York area. Students had one-on-one conversations, got valuable mentoring and job advice, and learned the significance of the Clemson Family first-hand.

Mary Anne Raymond, Thomas F. Chapman '65 Distinguished Professor of Leadership and professor of marketing, organizes this trip for students each year and says the impact is transformative. "The Gateways to World Markets program provides students a unique learning opportunity where they experience first-hand the many facets and challenges in both finance and marketing in the work environment. They also get a broad perspective of many potential opportunities with national, multi-national, and global companies, as well as entrepreneurial start-ups across a variety of industries. Not only do they see what they've learned in the classroom implemented, they meet executives and business professionals who truly want to help our students succeed."

For questions about the trip or future class participation, please reach out to Mary Anne Raymond, Ph.D.