About
The academy provides a practical fund management environment where students develop the habits, judgment, and communication skills expected in investment roles.
What members do
Members take on the responsibilities expected in a fund management environment: industry research, qualitative and quantitative analysis, investment memos, pitch decks, financial models, due diligence, trading oversight, concentration management, and fund performance reporting.
The academy combines director-led instruction with peer feedback, alumni mentorship, and professional market resources including Bloomberg, FactSet, and Capital IQ.
Beyond the fund
01
IMA sponsors members to attend the Invest For Kids conference in Chicago, giving students exposure to leading investors, business leaders, and the broader investment community while supporting nonprofit organizations serving Chicago youth.
02
Members gain international investing exposure through global treks. Recent and planned trips have included Europe, with stops such as Frankfurt, Paris, Zurich, and Vienna, and an upcoming Asia focus with Singapore and Tokyo.
03
The academy builds relationships through recruitment treks, speaker events, alumni conversations, and firm visits across public markets, private markets, banking, trading, research, and asset management.
04
IMA connects members with adjacent Gies resources and student communities including IPO, the Margolis Market Information Lab, and other finance-focused academies.
Firm engagement
IMA programming is designed to help members understand the investment industry from multiple angles. Past speaker and trek exposure has included professionals and firms across Point72, Neuberger Berman, Antares Capital, BlackRock, J.P. Morgan, Magnetar Capital, CME Group, Goldman Sachs, Harris Associates, Gelber Group, Bloomberg, Vista Equity Partners, GTCR, and others.
Members also prepare for external pitch competitions, including national stock pitch and case competitions, as a way to sharpen research, presentation, and defense of investment recommendations.
Testimony
"Students in our Investment Management Academy put themselves in the best positions to compete for top jobs, and they're prepared to excel in those positions from day one."
"I developed critical-thinking skills that now shape the way I view companies and the macro-economic environment as a whole."
"The Investment Management Academy taught me how to better communicate with financial professionals."
