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.
“There are so many classes on the humanities side I never would have taken without a liberal arts course requirement to fulfill,” admits John Neuner ’97, current Hampden-Sydney College trustee and co-CEO of Harris Williams. An economics major from Charleston, West Virginia, Neuner arrived on the Hill in 1993 after Assistant Basketball Coach Drew Catlett recruited him for the Tiger Basketball team. Neuner says if he had gone to another college, he likely wouldn’t have taken the humanities courses he did at Hampden-Sydney.
“I’ll take all the math and econ. Please don’t make me take English and philosophy,” Neuner laughs. “But those courses are what forced me out of my comfort zone, and that’s a good thing. In those courses, I learned how to think and make connections that weren’t necessarily obvious. Instead of just being taught how to do something, Hampden-Sydney students are able to synthesize why they’re doing it.”
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.
A liberal arts background can help students hone their critical thinking and written and interpersonal communication skills. A liberal arts background at a college with a renowned rhetoric program? Now we’re talking.
“When you’re in the Rhetoric Program,” Neuner says, “there’s a feeling of ‘Okay, I just have to get through this, learn it and survive it.’ But then you get into the professional space, and people notice how well-equipped you are to communicate effectively. That moment in my career was when I really understood the impact of my Hampden-Sydney education on my future potential.”
The well-roundedness imbued by a liberal arts education is precisely what opens up limitless career options in the financial field. The financial landscape is dynamic, and graduates bring flexibility and adaptability to finance roles, helping them navigate changing market conditions and evolving industry trends.
“The toughest part is getting a foot in the door,” Neuner admits. “Once you do, you can prove yourself and build that skill set in the years to come. To elevate above analyst into the first rung in investment banking and to move into positions like associate, vice president, director, managing director, etc.—that’s where Hampden-Sydney graduates can really separate themselves and shine. The connective tissue of our liberal arts training sets us up really well to be successful in finance.”
Critical thinking. Problem solving. Communication. Social responsibility. These timeless competencies are at the heart of a Hampden-Sydney liberal arts education, and with a liberal arts foundation, finance professionals are well-positioned to survive dynamic market conditions and flourish into the future.
"Start early. Figure out what coursework you need to take; keep your grades up from the start; understand the cadence of internship cycles, graduate program admissions, and hiring cycles."
Professional advice from John Neuner ’97