Since its opening in 2008, the Lerner College’s Michael and Rosann Geltzeiler Trading Center has provided thousands of students with firsthand experience that replicates the trading floors of Wall Street. The 2,200 square-foot facility hosts 32 state-of-the-art student workstations and the S&P 500-beating Blue Hen Investment Club, and is a feature of the Lerner Bucket List.
The Geltzeiler Trading Center is also home to the latest industry software, like the Bloomberg Terminal, and this technology has made a key difference in recent University of Delaware graduate Stefano Sengos’ career path. Using the real-world knowledge he gained from the Geltzeiler Trading Center’s Bloomberg Terminals, the finance and economics double major, who hails from Cresskill, New Jersey, has been offered a position with Bloomberg. He’ll begin work this fall.
Read on for a Q&A with Sengos, and learn more about how this one classroom tool has made a big impact on his future.
Q: Why did you choose to major in finance and economics?
A: I came in to the University with a passion for research and learning about different industries, which makes both of my majors a perfect fit. Financial markets are always developing and changing, which is something that really caught my attention.
Q: How did you become involved with Bloomberg at the Lerner College? What has that experience has been like?
A: When I first arrived on campus as a finance/economics major, I was drawn to the Geltzeiler Trading Center. Everything about the room made me really excited to begin my academic career in this field of study. I heard a lot about the company Bloomberg (primarily through the popularity of Michael Bloomberg) and wanted to learn more. Being able to use one of the terminals as a freshman was such a blessing. I credit the Bloomberg Terminal for providing me with most of my knowledge about the financial markets. The platform is very easy to use and has many unique learning features like the Bloomberg Market Concept course, which goes over basic information to get you started searching for companies.
Q: How did your experiences with Bloomberg lead to a job offer from the company?
A: As I started gaining more experience with their main product, the Bloomberg Terminal, I began looking more into the company itself. Everything about the company clicked with me, from its philanthropic activities along with its ability to truly make a difference in the world. Also, I can say that I am using a Bloomberg Terminal at least twice a day so this exposure made it very easy to talk about the company and its products throughout the interview process. I am beyond excited to join the company as it has been a dream of mine since the first day of using the terminal.
Q: What is your position with Bloomberg, and when do you start?
I will be starting in September 2019 as a financial product analyst, which is a rotational program where I will be exposed to both the sales and analytics departments of the company.
Q: What are your goals for the future?
A: I would really love to get an MBA and progress through my career at Bloomberg. I really enjoy their work with equity research and Bloomberg TV, so transitioning to a role in one of these departments would definitely be something I want to work towards. Eventually I would also love to start my own investment firm at some point. Right now I am so excited to be joining a great company in a few months!
If you’re currently working with the Bloomberg Terminal, check out the Bloomberg Functions List on the Lerner College website.