In this episode, Ben talks with David Hawthorne, Director of the Financial Markets Institute at Michigan State University, about how FMI identifies top talent early and builds the technical, professional, and interpersonal skills needed to succeed in competitive Wall Street recruiting.

Episode 45 | March 30, 2026

When Cornell senior Ben Gleman was rejected from eight finance clubs, he built his own. In this episode, Ben shares how he founded Banking at Cornell, developed its two-tier membership model, and partnered with Adventis to prepare students for top roles on Wall Street.

Episode 33 | November 17, 2025

Ben Dowell sits down with Dalton Kahl from the University of South Carolina to discuss the Freshman Finance Academy, a selective program helping first-year students build the technical, networking, and leadership skills needed to thrive in competitive finance recruiting.

Episode 32 | November 10, 2025

When Iowa State football player Ty Claiborne lost a stock pitch competition, he turned that moment into the spark that launched the Ivy Investment Banking Initiative.

Episode 31 | November 3, 2025

Miami of Ohio student Michael Rose reflects on his decision to leave accounting for investment banking. Guided by mentors, club experiences, and Adventis’s Financial Modeling Certification® Program, Michael shares valuable lessons on finding the right career fit, building technical skills, and approaching internships with professionalism.

Episode 25 | August 18, 2025