Meet David Fisher ‘19. David received a BSBA, Finance. He is currently a Senior Compliance Manager, Vice President at Citizens JMP Securities, LLC. To get to know more about David and his post-graduation journey, see the Q&A below:
Q: What did you like most about the program you were in?
A: The ability for the staff to make themselves readily available to discuss not only course related materials but personal matters. I developed a strong relationship with a few staff members that ended up being board members on a startup organization and true friends that I can discuss business and professional related matters years beyond graduation.
Q: In what ways did your education at Questrom prepare you for your current role?
A: Questrom helped prepare me through the focus on technological applications such as Excel, Bloomberg Terminal and Access. It has allowed me to crossover from the stereotypical segmentation of a technological individual and a financial analyst to provide insights and direction to both groups to expedite projects and be able to self-serve problems that arise.
Q: Was there a particularly impactful class, skill you developed, or club you were involved with at Questrom that has shaped your career path?
A: I was involved in the Financial Modeling Club, Capital Management Club and the Finance and Investment Club. Each area provides mentorship, great leads for internship and job opportunities and assisted in providing underlying business valuation techniques and current events knowledge that allowed me to stand out during interviews and networking opportunities.
Q: What is the most rewarding or challenging part of your job? Did anything from your time at Questrom help you prepare for either?
A: The most rewarding part of my job is when the regulators have indicated that we are a leader in the industry. We consistently are trending our results to competitors / peers, and without raising the bar and thinking of ways to serve clients properly while being in compliance, we wouldn’t be in the position today. Questrom instilled the idea of continuous improvement: while you might be a leader or have no exceptions in one period, that should not succumb to the team to rest on its morals and instead continue to look for innovative solutions to consistently be ahead of its peers.
Q: Based on your experience, what are some effective strategies for building and maintaining a professional network?
A: To maintain a professional network, the goal is to treat the individual as a friend. Getting to know somebody on an interpersonal level is crucial, and not just meeting with someone to ask for a job. One must also consistently follow up and develop a rapport of reliability and relatability, being able to stand out but not act pompous or arrogant. Life is a series of relationships and depending on the strings that a particular individual pulls and utilizes can be the difference between a new job opportunity or conversation that creates a new stage in someone’s career. Every chance is a networking opportunity, whether it is informal or not and one should make the most of every opportunity.
Q: Please describe how you’ve stayed engaged with the Questrom community during and/or after your studies. Has the engagement influenced or supported your professional life?
A: I consistently am involved in the Feld Center, the staff and the career advisors. I speak with Joe Saunders and Monica Parker-James on the trends of the students and potential applicants needing an opportunity. I try to assist one Questrom student a month and make myself fully available whether it is resume review, interview prep, industry / job focus among other elements. I enjoy giving back to the Questrom community, and often times come to the atrium to meet with students for coffee and help in anyway possible.
Q: Do you have a fun fact or a unique story from your time at Questrom that you’d like to share?
A: I originally studied at Bucknell University, and transferred to Questrom and BU after my freshman year. When I got my transfer notice and sent in my grades, I was told that if I did not show strong academic rigor and community involvement, I would be kicked from the program. This lit a fire underneath me to continuously work-hard, be involved and make the most of every opportunity. I had the same challenge when graduating from school, applying to over 1,100 unique jobs. While people doubted, it created more drive to prove people wrong, and as graduation neared, I had seven job offers from some of the largest and most regarded organizations in the world. Questrom taught me that getting up from a fall is more important than how one falls, and that you need to embrace adversity and challenge to succeed in the long-term.
Q: What were the key factors that influenced your decision to choose BU and specifically Questrom for your studies? How did these factors align to career goals or outcomes?
A: The student body when coming to campus was my biggest driver to BU and its curriculum. I typically associated college students and solely academic focused, and BU students look to have personal advancement through extracurricular activities, in school internships / jobs among other elements to truly engrain themselves in their industry of focus to become the best candidate post-graduation. Beyond this, the professors and career advisement center were a large draw as there were continuous resources and opportunities to enhance ones skillset. When it came to my career, I continued to use my network through current faculty and BU alumni to create connections for career advancement and advise, and there is always room for growth and personal improvement. I truly believe that without Questrom, I would not have become as successful and influential in my current organizations and career thus far without the group of individuals and curriculum that I was involved with.
