December
December is an extremely exciting month for MFRM students as we get to settle into our industry projects and forget about schoolwork for a bit. While having no break between exams and the start of the internship can be exhausting, returning to a normal work schedule after a grueling studying period is a break in and of itself.
The projects can be in almost any sector within finance including insurers, banks, consulting firms, start-ups, and pension funds. Through the month of December my MFRM partner and I had the opportunity to settle into our rewarding project with CPPIB (CPP Investments) and learn about the world of Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) investing. Seeing how one of the world’s leading asset managers is tackling the issue of sustainable investing from the inside was a truly formative experience for me and has had major impacts on what roles I will be pursuing upon graduation.
Rotman Events
Rotman has notable guests come to speak to students and faculty throughout the year, and December 2019 was no exception. This month many Rotman students had the opportunity to hear Stephen Schwarzman, CEO and co-founder of The Blackstone Group, speak about his career from founding Blackstone to brining the organization to its current positions as one of the largest private equity firms in the world.
Exploring Toronto
Having a fairly reliable schedule during the MFRM Industry Project allows you to get out and explore more of the city. Much of the city of Toronto changes throughout the winter and becomes very festive. Nathan Phillips Square is a skating rink throughout the winter, there are various Christmas Craft Fairs around the city and the Distillery District turns into the Christmas Market.
Holidays
The December holidays offer many of us a much-needed break from the hectic schedule of the MFRM program, Christmas and Boxing day being the first real days off since Thanksgiving. I was lucky enough to be able to return home for the week to spend some time with family and friends.
December was an extremely exciting month for MFRM students to gain hands on experience in various fields with some of their target companies. December is also probably the calmest month throughout the duration of the program, so it is a great time to relax and explore the city of Toronto.
The Master of Financial Risk Management is a full time program designed to prepare ambitious young professionals for careers in risk management and finance.