Anyone looking to get ahead in the world of business should definitely check out the Finance Banking and Investment Society. With its expansive membership, variety of events and network of connections, this club offers members an experience above and beyond the classroom.
As a primarily career-oriented club, FBIS provides members with a wealth of hands-on experience in the fields they plan on pursuing. The group regularly hosts events with big-name firms such as Goldman Sachs, UBS, Citi and JP Morgan in order to shed light on types of jobs available there.
“Every opportunity for a student to learn about an industry…lets them understand what’s going on there,” said FBIS President Girish Sankar, “and that’s the most important thing for an undergrad.”
Such opportunism may explain why the club’s membership has soared to over 100 dues-paying members this semester, with hundreds more on the listserv. Not only does FBIS link these members with potential employers, but it also puts on interactive social events as well.
“We’re giving [members] opportunities to have fun with finance,” said Dr. Elinda Kiss, who is the group’s advisor. “We’ve had stock competitions, team quizzes and barbeques outside in the courtyard.”
FBIS also serves to broaden members’ horizons, presenting them with potential careers they may never have even considered before. With such a strong focus on private firms, Kiss urges students not to rule out opportunities outside of the private sector.
“Everyone here is all about Wall Street, but not everyone is going to work on Wall Street,” she said. “We’re just ten miles from downtown D.C., so we’re an active place for the government to recruit too.”
But what if you’re not a finance major? Not to fear. Although this is the most popular major in the club, FBIS welcomes all majors, including those outside of the Robert H. Smith School of Business.
The club meets at 6 p.m. on Wednesdays in VMH 1335 for all those interested in taking their understanding of finance beyond the typical classroom experience. With the abundance of opportunities FBIS provides, President Sankar is certainly right to call it “a game-changer.”