Immersion Round Up #5 - Managerial Finance (MFI)

Today on the blog: First-year student Song Kim shares her experience in the Managerial Finance Immersion (MFI)

I have always had a passion for finance and have been intrigued by the role that financial analysts play in the corporate world. Thus, upon graduation from my undergraduate studies, I joined a finance rotational program within a global automotive manufacturing firm. While my time as a financial analyst afforded me an excellent opportunity to see how the company managed its risk through the turbulent economy, I felt that I needed to pursue an MBA in order to further develop and expand my understanding of corporate finance, financial management and financial markets.

One of the many reasons I came to the Johnson School was because of my interest in the Managerial Finance Immersion (MFI). The immersion, which began this semester, has thus far provided the necessary tools I need in order to gain additional financial analysis and decision making skills. We started out the immersion through a week-long course in Corporate Financial Policy where we focused on corporate financing decisions and the interaction between financing and investing decisions. During the 4-day MFI Trek that immediately followed, we visited the offices of Merck, Air Products & Chemicals, American Express, JPMorgan Chase and IBM. Through the trek, we not only had a unique opportunity to meet and listen to the CFO, Treasurer, and other senior financial officer’s personal insights on the firm and the economy but it was also a great time to bond with fellow MFI classmates.

We are now just wrapping up a half-semester course in Financial Statement Analysis. The comprehensive team project for this course was a terrific way to apply what we learned in class to an actual equity valuation of a company. Additionally, the weekly MFI practicum, led by Steve Calk (who has worked in Investment Banking as well as held Investor Relations and M&A advisor roles in various sectors), has also been exceptional as it connects all the finance concepts we learn in our classes through real-life examples and case studies. Many of the sessions and case studies are facilitated by guest speakers. One of my favorite practicum sessions thus far has been with Jon Moeller, CFO of Proctor & Gamble, where we discussed the financial analysis and decisions behind the 2008 Folgers divestiture to Smucker’s.

We will be starting our second half-semester classes in a week – Valuation Principles and Corporate Governance – and I look forward to both these courses!

- Song Kim
MBA Class of 2011