October, 2024
from the Record, Spring 2024
by Alexandra Evans
The ROI of H-SC: Alumni in Finance
Although Hampden-Sydney currently offers no formal finance minor or stand-alone business degree, the College has produced a cadre of leaders who are influencing the financial industry across the globe.
How do we do it? By providing a best-in-class liberal arts curriculum and bolstering that curriculum with unique co-curricular and post-graduation opportunities to equip students with both the hard and soft skills critical for a successful career in finance.
In the case of Andrew Barden ’21, building a life and financial career in Africa was never on his vision board. After a life-changing internship with Africa Fintech Summit (AFTS) as a junior at Hampden-Sydney, he can’t imagine doing anything else. In 2019, Barden connected with Leland Rice ’01—CEO of Dedalus Group and co-founder of AFTS—through fellow Phi Beta Lambda members Raleigh Jernigan ’19 and Alex Zorko ’22. Rice told Barden that if Barden could find a way to get to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where that year’s AFTS was happening, Rice would give him an internship. Long story short, Barden landed in the Ethiopian capital city in the nick of time, and though he physically returned to the Hill five days later, his heart remained in Africa.
Barden has been involved with AFTS ever since, first as a returning intern in 2020 and then as lead organizer and content director following his graduation. He says that the vision of the organization to build a pan-African financial framework that builds national economies and sustainable economic growth is one he is passionate about.
In addition to his responsibilities at AFTS, Barden became CEO of The Kenyan Wall Street in January of this year. The fastest-growing media house in Kenya, The Kenyan Wall Street is committed to providing in-depth financial and business news to sub-Saharan Africa.
“My original plan was to go into investment banking or private equity,” Barden says. “I’ve kind of found myself in a similar role because I’m helping founders get their companies acquired or acquire new companies. But I really found my calling in the media industry. I like that omniscient point of view and making connections between people who can help each other.”
Effective communication skills are critical in any profession. In finance though, where concepts are complex and the stakes are so high, the financiers’ ability to communicate with their audience can make or break a deal.
“One of the best skills I learned at Hampden-Sydney was how to network: how to work with people, how to build connections,” Barden continues. “I was able to do 20 years of networking in a very short amount of time because of the communication skills I began developing as a student at Hampden-Sydney.”
Critical thinking. Problem solving. Communication. Social responsibility. These timeless competencies are at the heart of a Hampden-Sydney liberal arts education and will position finance professionals to survive dynamic market conditions and flourish into the future.
“Understand that you do not have to be the smartest person in the room, but you should know when you must be the most confident. If you fully understand what this means, all else in your career can fall into place.“
Professional advice from Andrew Barden ’21