October 21, 2026
A New Path to Finance
Investment banking is one of the highest-paying yet increasingly competitive branches of finance, making early access to tailored training programs increasingly necessary.
To address the interest and demands of this expanding field, Hampden-Sydney has established Tigers on Wall Street, a program designed to give students technical knowledge of the industry that complements their liberal arts foundation, a distinction many Hampden-Sydney finance professionals say sets them apart once they break into the field.
Tigers on Wall Street is a collaborative and multi-layered initiative structured to bridge the gap between traditional coursework and real-world experience in the world of investment banking.
The program is a result of coordinated efforts by Roach Professor of Economics and Business Gregory Dempster, the College’s Career Center, Tiger Fund, and the Investment Banking Club, with the generous support of alumni currently working in the field.
“Investment banking is very lucrative but very competitive. This program gets students involved early,” says Dempster. “Because of the sheer number of applicants, people start competing for internships and jobs with investment banking firms as freshmen and sophomores.”
This initiative prepares students for the accelerated industry hiring timelines, a challenge that liberal arts colleges often face.
Alumni such as Hiter Harris ’83, co-founder of Harris Williams, an investment bank headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, and current Harris Williams CEO John Neuner ’97 are facilitating the training.
Harris and Neuner have provided access to top-flight investment banker training materials from Training the Street, a global finance and business training provider.
The program requires significant dedication beyond standard coursework. “Students register for the program and complete a baseline self-assessment to identify areas for growth,” explains Dempster. “Assignments are completed through web-based modules. Those who demonstrate a level of proficiency will earn in-person, on-campus instruction from Training the Street corporate trainers.”
Another aspect of Tigers on Wall Street is Pathways to Finance, a series of mostly virtual lectures by industry professionals including Neuner and Jacob Hubbard ’16, director at Bain Capital, LP, on topics such as capital markets and private credit.
“We hold these lectures on Sunday afternoons, and they’re geared toward all students, but specifically those underclassmen interested in careers in finance,” says Emily Sadler, assistant director of alumni and employer relations for the Career Center.
“So far, we’ve covered the foundational principles of investment banking, networking, and preparing for the hiring cycle. These are great for understanding if the field is a fit for you before getting into the finer nuts and bolts of the topics, which are covered more in Training the Street.”
Interested students can get started by contacting Professor Dempster or reaching out directly to the Career Center.