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USC Marshall Launches Financial Services Career Hub

Two gifts from Marshall alumni establish the new program to advance undergraduate career pathways.

09.03.24

Finance students visit Morgan Stanley offices in San Francisco

The Financial Services Career Hub will provide Marshall students key opportunities to advance their career options. (Pictured: Finance students visit Morgan Stanley offices to meet with finance leaders.)
[USC Photo]

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Geoffrey Garrett
- Dean, USC Marshall School of Business
- Robert R. Dockson Dean's Chair in Business Administration
- Professor of Management and Organization
Julia Gardner Plotts
- Peter J. Fluor Family Chair in Teaching Excellence
- Professor of Clinical Finance and Business Economics

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USC Marshall School of Business has established a new Financial Services Career Hub to support top-performing finance undergraduates with career preparation and placement beginning this fall 2024. The hub will curate career services for students, connect graduates with recruitment firms, and further elevate Marshall’s standing as a premier institution for finance education.

Founding the hub was made possible by generous gifts from Tim Coleman MBA ’79 and Sharon Kilmer ’80, MBA ’82. Both Coleman and Kilmer are leaders in financial services and are active mentors, sharing their wisdom and advice with Marshall students. That kind of mentorship within the Trojan Network is just one benefit of the Financial Services Career Hub.

“Specialized career services are vital for our undergraduates interested in pursuing careers in finance,” said Dean Geoffrey Garrett. “Thanks to the vision and generosity of Sharon and Tim, our students will have more and better opportunities for success in the highly competitive worlds of investment banking and alternative investments than ever before.”

Julia Plotts, the Peter J. Fluor Family Chair in Teaching Excellence and a professor of clinical finance and business economics, will direct the Financial Services Career Hub. Well-known to Marshall finance students for her courses and connections, she will work with dedicated staff and an advisory board to build a cohesive strategy focused on tailored counseling and recruitment practices, resulting in top placement within competitive finance roles.

“There is a famous saying on Wall Street, ‘Let your winners run.’ We are long-term investors in our finance students, alumni, and employer partners,” remarked Plotts. “Simply put, our goal is to prepare and connect star talent with coveted positions in the financial and investment banking sectors.”

The Financial Services Career Hub will bridge the gap between student aspirations and employer needs by offering specialized resources and support. Students may receive opportunities in education, preparation, mentorship, and networking, while recruiters may have access to information sessions, panels, resume books, and more.

A Future in Finance
According to a recent study published by the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Institute, one-quarter of college graduates consider finance the top career sector for its prospects, stability, and salary potential.

In line with the growing trend, Marshall students are also gravitating toward the discipline. Undergraduates have made the finance emphasis the school’s most popular specialization, while graduates have advanced their careers in the #1 ranked MS Finance program.

“Investment banks recruit for their rising senior internship class when students are sophomores, but we’ve seen repeatedly how on-cycle private equity and venture capital recruiting — typically post-investment banking recruiting — is happening very early now too,” Plotts explained. “This indicates why the Financial Services Career Hub is not only a milestone for Marshall, but an absolute necessity for our students to stand out during these cycles.”

Simply put, our goal is to prepare and connect star talent with coveted positions in the financial and investment banking sectors.

— Julia Plotts

Peter J. Fluor Family Chair in Teaching Excellence and professor of clinical finance and business economics

Drawing on her long-time involvement with Marshall through Student Investment Fund classes, Kilmer, managing director at TPG Angelo Gordon & Co., emphasized the hub’s significance.

“I’ve watched the Marshall school rise in the rankings over the years and am pleased to support this top-notch business school with resources to further enhance its career services,” Kilmer added. “The hub will help students polish their interviewing skills, expand their knowledge of various industries, and facilitate access to a broad range of business and alumni contacts so students can find a great first job, as well as get support throughout their careers.”

Coleman shares the same sentiment. The importance of getting exposure to financial services early on as well as on-site visits to companies while students are still in college are beneficial to their positioning as top prospects. During his career leading the Restructuring and Special Situations Group at PJT Partners in New York, Coleman’s direct engagement with students on company visits, along with his recognition of their exceptional talent and potential success on Wall Street, highlighted the need to position Marshall as a one-stop hiring partner for top firms.

“We have phenomenal students. So, there’s just an enormous opportunity for the industry and for USC,” Coleman said.

Plotts has been laying the groundwork for the hub since she first joined Marshall in 2002 to boost the number of Marshall students entering investment banking careers. Plotts created training and mentoring programs as a faculty advisor for the student organization Trojan Investing Society while simultaneously engaging students in her finance gateway class, FBE 421 Financial Analysis and Valuation. Over the last 20 years, Plotts has cultivated a powerful network of alumni and invaluable connections for students, setting the foundation for the hub.

“Our students receive tremendous support from our Trojan alumni network in the financial services and our employer partners trust Marshall to refer them to our star performers,” Plotts commented.

The hub will differentiate the undergraduate experience at Marshall from other top business schools, signaling Marshall’s commitment to providing full-service programs that cater to the evolving needs of both the students and the recruiting firms.