The next generation of public policymakers and public finance practitioners will mingle with current municipal finance pros at a career forum hosted by the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy's Center for Municipal Finance.
During the week of Oct. 14, the CMF will hold lunchtime seminars designed to help interested students get the most out of the big gathering at Stifel's headquarters in downtown Chicago on Oct. 17.
There will be an introductory talk on the municipal market for first-year Harris students on Monday. Tuesday will feature a panel of Harris School alumni and public finance representatives who are relatively new to the industry. Wednesday's seminar will offer coaching for students on how to network at Thursday's main event.
"We get some extraordinarily smart students here, and they're very good at data and analytics — and many of them are accomplished leaders — but one thing that there's less and less of happening at the undergraduate level is [networking]," said Harris School research professor and CMF Director Justin Marlowe. "That's a soft skill that is just not really taught. And there are some unique characteristics of that in the municipal market. We want to make sure students understand that, and that it's a skill that can be practiced."
The event organizers are still accepting industry representatives. Marlowe said they're expecting anywhere from 50 to 100 students who are seeking summer internships or full-time jobs next spring.
Already participating are the city of Chicago's finance team, the Chicago Transit Authority and the Chicago Park District.
"There are venues for [public finance] people to get together, but I think it's a little different when everybody is coming together to invest in the next generation," Marlowe said. "It creates a really great atmosphere, and brings out the best of what the industry is all about."
Master of Public Policy candidate Andre Oviedo Mendoza said Harris School students have learned how to apply economics, data and finance tools to solve real-world challenges.
"We hope the organizations [at the career forum] see that Harris students are deeply committed to driving impact in the public sector through rigorous policy analysis and a genuine passion for public service," said Mendoza, who co-heads the Harris public finance association.
"This field gives you opportunities to ensure that essential public services, from schools to transportation, are funded and managed sustainably and responsibly," Harris MPP candidate and public finance association co-chair Shivani Patel said. "The ability to make a tangible difference through strategic financial decisions makes this career path so fulfilling."
Marlowe noted that Harris students receive training in data analysis, statistics and macroeconomics as well as the political environment.
"In many ways, our students are the perfect fit for the municipal bond market," he said. "With our additional curriculum in municipal finance, they get a specific, tailored introduction to the industry. So when they come out, they're very well prepared. And they take to the quantitative stuff and the analytical stuff very well — I think that's gotten even stronger in the time that I've been here."
The Harris School also enrolls an increasingly diverse group of students who hail from all over the world, according to Marlowe, and they bring a broad range of experiences.
Many of those students are aware of municipal finance, but not sure if it's something they want to pursue.
Previous generations of public finance pros sometimes fell into the industry by chance, but "it's getting harder and harder to land a job that way," Marlowe said. "So our job is making sure that the industry is aware of our students and that they know the unique value that our students bring to the table."
