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Students Prepare for Bank Visits with Jargon Cheat Sheet

 NYSE Wall Street Signs

This list of finance vocabulary is a sampling of some of the terms and abbreviations students can expect to hear during conversations at the various site visits to banks in Boston and NYC as part of the Certificate in Finance & Banking program.  Get acquainted with the jargon and concepts to gain more from your experience, including the ability to ask better questions in order to make yourself stand out from the crowd.  Be sure to access the College’s free readership program for the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) and New York Times (NYT) to connect with these terms in a real world context.

Finance Jargon

Asset: Resource with economic value that a corporation owns or controls with the expectation that it will provide a future benefit; Assets are reported on a company’s balance sheet and are bought or created to increase a firm’s value or benefit the firm’s operations.

    • Asset Allocation is an investment strategy that aims to balance risk and reward by apportioning a portfolio’s assets according to an individual’s goals, risk tolerance, and investment horizon. The three main asset classes – equities, fixed-income, and cash and equivalents – have different levels of risk and return.

Book Building: Process by which an underwriter attempts to determine the price at which an initial public offering (IPO) will be offered. An underwriter, normally an investment bank, builds a book by inviting institutional investors (such as fund managers and others) to submit bids for the number of shares and the price(s) they would be willing to pay for them.

Book Value: Referring to an investment, it is the price paid for a security or debt investment. When a company sells stock, the selling price minus the book value is the capital gain or loss from the investment.

Broker: Individual or firm that acts as an intermediary between an investor and a securities exchange; Buy and sell financial instruments on the behalf of a client and charges a fee for doing so.

Bull and Bear Markets:

    • A Bull Market is a market that is on the rise and where the economy is sound. (Tip: A bull charges “up” with horns.)
    • A Bear Market exists in an economy that is receding, where most stocks are declining in value. (Tip: A bear charges “down” with paws.)

Buying Size: Occurs when a trader offers to buy a large volume of shares

Buy-Side/Sell-Side:

    • Buy-Side is the side of the financial market that buys and invests large portions of securities for the purpose of money or fund management; Includes investment managers, pension funds, and hedge funds.
    • Sell-Side is the other side of the financial market, which deals with the creation, promotion, and selling of traded securities to the public; Includes investment banks, advisory firms, and corporations.

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Fenwick Scholar Max Hendrix ’23

student headshot

Max Hendrix ’23, Fenwick Scholar, recently presented on April 25, 2023 to discuss his work on Intricacies of Agency: Rational Choice, Behavioral Economics, and Our Normative Commitments, after a year long research project to explore the image of agency and rationality in economics through a philosophical lens.

He is a Finance & Banking Certificate graduate pursuing a double major in Philosophy and Economics. Following graduation, he plans to pursue a career that will give him the opportunity to combine the critical thinking, writing and communication skills that he has developed in the classroom as a liberal arts student along with his interests in working with markets, investment strategies, and financial institutions.

Congratulations to Max!
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Major in Sociology and Succeed in Business

My name is Kasamba Amiri ’24 and I am a junior at Holy Cross majoring in Sociology pursuing a Certificate in Business Fundamentals. While working towards my Certificate, I have completed a few workshops including Interview Prep, Global Supply Chain Management, and Marketing Communication, & Sales. I have obtained valuable skills and knowledge in these areas, including the Microsoft Excel Tutorial.

With a liberal arts education, we are taught to think about the people behind each facet of a larger functioning body, a skill that proves helpful in developing and maintaining relationships. My relationships with the faculty and staff on campus have helped me understand why I want to pursue a career in business. Working with and meeting alumni through the Ciocca Center has assisted me in networking with professionals as I explore my career options. I was able to connect with Maegan Moriatry ’20 and discuss both the industry and life as a Holy Cross post-graduate! The connections formed through the Ciocca Center have not only helped me prepare for a life in business but for a life as an adult.

My relationships with the faculty and staff on campus have helped me understand why I want to pursue a career in business.

Continue reading “Major in Sociology and Succeed in Business”
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Fullbridge Prepares Students for Internships and Jobs

Female headshot

My name is Maeley Nakamura and I am a freshman at the College of the Holy Cross. I plan to declare economics as my major, and I am also pursuing Certificates in Business Fundamentals and Entrepreneurship through the Ciocca Center for Business, Ethics, and Society.

The Ciocca Center offers students opportunities to successfully incorporate a business education into any Holy Cross major through workshops, events, and clubs. For me, the Ciocca Center presents an incredible opportunity to combine critical business skills and experience, with Holy Cross’ well-rounded liberal arts education, which will help me ethically contribute to society and focus on more than just the bottom line. 

For me, the Ciocca Center presents an incredible opportunity to combine critical business skills and experience, with Holy Cross’ well-rounded liberal arts education, that will help me ethically contribute to society and focus on more than just the bottom line. 

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Five Workshops & One Week: 177 Students Explore Business

Fullbridge team winners

The spring 2023 semester started off with 177 students participating in five concurrent virtual business workshops.  The week of January 18-22 was led by 70 alumni presenters and mentors in the following areas:

    • Fullbridge Professional Edge: This simulated workweek provides exposure to the basics of business and an opportunity to collaborate in teams through active learning culminating in a final presentation.
        • Special congratulations to Team Adidas for the innovative growth idea securing them each the top prize of a $300 Apple gift card! Will Croce ’25, Will Sampson ’24, Ignacio Sanchez ’26 and Thomas Foster ’26 let by cCoach Carmen! 
    • Corporate Finance & Banking: With virtual tours at top banks and overviews of corporate finance, corporate banking, and asset management, 20 students spent two days gaining a comprehensive understanding of the industry.   Opportunities to understand the application process and culture of the industry included a recruiter panel and a virtual networking event.
    • The new Entrepreneurship Fundamentals Workshop was led by Bob Allard ’91 and Michael Yatco ’06 where they discussed the entrepreneur’s mindset with 15 students working through business strategy and innovation..
    • Interview Prep: Personal branding and a core value proposition are key to successful interviewing.  60 students further developed their elevator pitch and practiced interview skills with the Center for Career Development followed by successful career tips from notable alumnae.
    • Marketing Communications & Sales: Alumni led 45 students through the practical exploration of advertising, marketing, sales, and public relations.  Teams competed in the PepsiCo Challenge, each tasked with bringing SodaStream to campus for individual use.

Many of the students participated in more than one opportunity as they worked towards Business Certificate Program completion, including the month-long Excel Tutorial offered during the month of January.
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Colman Benson ’24: Ciocca Center Intern

Student quote from text

My name is Colman Benson ‘24 and I am a junior at Holy Cross majoring in political science with a Certificate in Finance and Banking. Through the Academic Internship Program I am taking the class Policy and Politics: The Midterm Elections, taught by Tim Bishop and Peter Flaherty while I am working for the Ciocca Center for Business, Ethics, and Society to fulfill my internship requirement for the Certificate. Throughout the semester I will be interviewing faculty and alumni to highlight their different career paths in the business world. I will also demonstrate how their liberal arts education and the values of Holy Cross have guided them through their respective business careers.

Towards Certificate completion, I have completed several workshops including Fullbridge,  Interview Prep, Banking Ethics and Corporate Finance and Banking  in addition to the Excel Tutorial.  I have been able to gain fundamental knowledge and useful business skills through my participation in the Ciocca Center workshops. During the Fullbridge Professional Edge Program I worked on a team to study the data and finance metrics of our company along with its competitors to develop a growth strategy throughout a fast-paced simulated work week. We pitched our final project to a panel of mock investors to show how our new product could penetrate the market and provide growth for our company. This workshop was very beneficial as it gave me the opportunity to solve a problem with my teammates and pitch our solution, including how and why our new product would increase our company’s revenue. The Corporate Finance and Banking Workshop has given me an insight into some of the top firms in the industry including Natixis and Wellington, asset management firms. I have been able to grow my connections and foster relationships with Holy Cross alumni that I have met at these firms through the workshop. 

I am very excited to continue expanding my alumni network and to learn more about their experiences in the business world. I believe this will give me a great opportunity to enter the field of finance in the future. 

Check out the following faculty and alumni interviews:
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English & Art History Major Pursues Career in Investor Relations

My name is Audrey (Qianqian) Wang ‘25 and I am a rising sophomore at Holy Cross, majoring in English and Visual Art History with a Certificate in Business Fundamentals. This summer I am an office intern at the Ciocca Center for Business, Ethics, and Society. Some of my responsibilities include digitizing the Center’s files, drafting promotional materials, and identifying statistics to support the College’s celebration of coeducation next academic year.  

Earlier this summer I participated in the Fullbridge Professional Edge Program, a weeklong intensive, virtual program (online due to a COVID-19 surge) designated to pave the way for Holy Cross students to succeed in the demanding business world. Since its founding in 2011, the Fullbridge program has been uniquely positioned to help aspiring individuals at every level bridge the knowledge and skills gap with immersive, affordable training, reaching over 350,000 learners worldwide. Born into a business family in a metropolitan, fast-paced Chinese city and growing up in both Massachusetts and China, I felt the Fullbridge program has empowered me to step out of my comfort zone. I can now confidently analyze the discrepancies between Chinese and American business cultures.

The majority of my cohort were also first-year students exploring business. On the first day of the program, I was immediately fascinated by the face-paced yet highly interactive learning environment made possible by experienced coaches and passionate participants. We built relationships through daily virtual webinars, Zoom office hours, and breakout room discussions. Additionally, it was a great opportunity to make new friends on campus who share the same passion. 

We developed skills like data analysis, business IQ, design thinking, emotional intelligence, real-world problem solving, idea flow, and situational awareness which all matter to organizational excellence, test decisions made under pressure, and correlate with outstanding performance.

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Fenwick Scholar Awarded to Certificate in Finance & Banking Student

Fenwick Scholar Max Hendrix 23

Fenwick Scholar:  Max Hendrix ’23

Studies: Philosophy,  Economics, Certificate in Finance & Banking

Advisors: Prof. Karsten Stueber, Philosophy &  Prof. Kolleen Rask, Economics

Project: Max will undertake a philosophical analysis of human agency under rational choice theory – the theory in mainstream economics that human beings are fundamentally rational and use this rationality to recognize and pursue goals that align with their own self-interest.  Rational choice theory can be useful for its powerful predictive abilities, but contemporary work in both behavioral economics and social psychology have recently begun to critique these assumptions and question the limits of this theory.  Max would like to approach the question from a philosopher’s perspective, particularly those philosophers who emphasize the intrinsically social nature of humans.  Of interest, for example, is Adam Smith’s often overlooked belief that empathy if a fundamental part of our human agency.

Congratulations to Max Hendrix ’23,  a double major in philosophy and economics pursuing a Certificate in Finance & Banking, for receiving the Fenwick Scholar.   This award is the highest academic award that the College bestows. With advisors, the Fenwick Scholar designs a program of independent research or a project that will complete their undergraduate education in the most challenging, creative, and meaningful way.
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Business Social on the Hoval Celebration

Students with Professor

There is a growing number of students on the hill pursuing business. This year the Ciocca Center awarded 82 Certificates, up from 64 last spring.  To celebrate this milestone, and the retirement of Prof. David Chu, the campus community was invited to the inaugural Business Social on the Hoval held on Monday, May 2 from 1-3pm.

Business Certificate Program graduates were invited to pick up their hard copy certificates and graduation pins.  Underclassmen interested in learning more about the program were encouraged to chat with Ciocca Center staff for more information and to register for a Business Certificate Program.

Faculty and students took this opportunity to meet up with other Business Certificate Program students, recharge before finals and say goodbye to Prof. Chu before retirement at the end of the academic year.

Everyone enjoyed delicious food truck fare with Mrs. Moriconi’s Ice Cream and Say Cheese!  A number of students lined up to get their professional headshots taken, and others mixed with peer Business Certificate Program students under the tents.  It was a celebratory afternoon and we look forward to doing it again next spring!
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Open Letter to Business Certificate Program Graduates

Dear Business Certificate Program graduates, 

Congratulations! After years of workshops, tutorials, internships, coursework, and job shadowing experiences, we are proud to name you as a graduate of the Ciocca Center for Business, Ethics, and Society at the College of the Holy Cross.  

As a graduate, you are among a select group of students who will be receiving a Certificate in Business Fundamentals, Certificate in Entrepreneurship, and/or Certificate in Finance & Banking. 

While others were vacationing, you had decided to immerse yourself in business, expose yourself to new concepts, build transferable skill sets, and network with successful alumni in the field. This dedication has made all the difference.  Your liberal arts education from Holy Cross has equipped you with the skills to communicate effectively, problem solve, and think critically – the soft skills you can’t learn on the job. To complement this, your business certificate will be a differentiator in the job market and has provided you with competitive technical skills. Take this opportunity to appreciate all that you have accomplished. 

The journey from Holy Cross is a shared experience – past, present and future. Much like the time you spent with alumni professionals, our hope is to one day welcome you back to campus to speak with current students.  Your story will be one others can relate to because you have chosen to achieve both your academic interests and unique career goals. We are extremely proud of you and your pursuits, and wish you the best as you embark on your next journey!

Please be sure to stop in Stein 129E to pick up your hard copy certificate, graduation pin and say farewell.  

Congratulations again on this tremendous achievement and please stay in touch,

Prof. David Chu, Cassie Gevry, Prof. Ja-Naé Duane & Kathy Kinnarney
Ciocca Center for Business, Ethics, and Society Continue reading “Open Letter to Business Certificate Program Graduates”