2008 Headlines
Johnson School Launches Alternative Investments Club
New club draws 200 members from MBA programs, alumni & faculty
March 24, 2008 | Ithaca, NY | For an MBA student, breaking into private equity is often about who you know and making the right connections at the right time. The Johnson School at Cornell University has recently launched a new alternative investments club that aims to connect the Johnson School community with practitioners in private equity. Gaining 200 members in its first few months, the Club is the first to bring together student members from all four of Cornell's MBA programs, as well as alumni and faculty.
The Alternative Investments Club was started by Executive MBA student Elie Azar (MBA '09) who works as a manager at Ernst & Young's Transaction Advisory Services group. Azar comments, "The club aims to provide a forum for Johnson School students and alumni to enhance their understanding of the alternative investments universe and provide effective networking opportunities to meet industry players." The club will address issues that pertain to private equity, hedge funds, fund of funds, venture capital, structured products and real estate investment vehicles.
At the inaugural event, students worked with Professor David BenDaniel's Private Equity Society to host a luncheon in February at the Cornell Club in New York City. The event featured three keynote speakers, John Vester, principal at Ernst & Young, who presented, "The Secret of Success for Private Equity: How do Private Equity Investors Create Value?"; Stephan Thollot, partner, at Ernst & Young, who discussed "Valuation and Financial Aspects of SFAS 157 (Fair Value Measurements); and Joseph Bartlett, of counsel at Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal LP who offered his insight into legal aspects and issues of SFAS 157. A total of 90 participants attended the event, equally divided among practitioners and students.
According to David BenDaniel, the Don and Margi Berens Professor of Entrepreneurship at the Johnson School, "the Alternative Investments Club and the Private Equity Society are a mechanism to build a Johnson School presence among the New York City-based private equity community. Through both of these organizations we hope to facilitate networking and educational opportunities for our students, alumni and professionals working in private equity."
