Dan Lee 05', Investment Banking Analyst, Cochran, Caronia & Co.
1. Briefly, what is it that you do?
I work at a boutique investment bank. While this means we are smaller than the bulge bracket firms, it also means we have a higher degree of expertise in a particular field. In our case, that field is insurance. As an analyst, I am responsible for a wide range of quantitative and qualitative tasks, all aimed at supporting the senior professionals and their execution of transactions. At a bank like ours those transactions include mergers and acquisitions, private placements, initial public offerings, follow-on offerings of a wide range of securities, and share repurchases.
The day to day task load of an analyst includes creating presentations for pitches to boards of directors, preparing transaction and trading multiple analyses, compiling company profiles and assisting with the modeling of a companies financial data.
2. What, if any, obstacles did you face trying to get your first job in
this field?
GPA can always be an obstacle in finance. So many firms weed out candidates based on that number alone. While I do not agree with the practice as a sole determining factor, it is wise to be aware that it is happening and to be creative in packaging yourself for success in the job search.
3. What advice would you give to students interested in working in your field?
Contact as many people as possible, visit as many people as possible, and always keep everyone you speak to updated on your job progress, you never know where your opportunities will come from. Bother people. Investment bankers are busy people and you need to keep yourself in front of them in order to get their attention.
With special regard to investment banking, everyone you talk to should be well aware of you passion for the profession. You can have all the credentials in the world, but you will get passed over if you do not convey your passion and desire for investment banking.
4. What are some of the activities you were involved in while at SLU?
I served in Thelmo, was the Vice President of the Class of 2005, gave tours for Admissions, ran a mentoring program and I was the President of Phi Sigma Kappa.
5. How can students best prepare themselves while at SLU?
Get involved, stay involved, show initiative, be social, have fun, and pay attention to detail.
6. In retrospect, is there anything you would have done differently
with regard to your career?
I don’t regret a thing.
7. What are your future plans?
Advance through the ranks in investment banking and start my own company.
8. Are you willing to talk with students interested in a career in your field? If so, how may they best contact you?
I am willing to talk to anyone, just email me and we can set up a time to talk. dlee@cochran-caronia.com
Additional Alumni Profiles:
John Marino, '83 : Vice President for Marketing, Actelion Pharmaceuticals, South San Francisco, CA
Dawn Montanye, '89 : Manager of Conservation Economics, World Wildlife Fund Northern Great Plains Program, Bozeman, Montana
Amanda Valenta '04 : Senior Audit Associate, McGladrey & Pullen, LLP
Moira Collins '84 : Senior Vice President, Product Development, Gartner, Inc.
Bruce E. Seely '75: Professor History and Department Chair, Department of Social Sciences, Michigan Technological University
Mark Tavern '94: Director, A&R Administration at the
RCA Music Group, a unit of SONY BMG Music Entertainment and home of the J, Arista and RCA record labels.
Anthony (Tony) Ross '75, M'78: Vice President for Student
Affairs California State University, Los Angeles
George Ashline '89: Associate Professor of Mathematics, Saint Michael's College, Colchester, VT
Alissa Bibb '03, Program Officer: American Councils for International Education
Rick Persons, '83, Senior Television Producer, PGA TOUR Productions
Ronald T. Burkman, M.D., '65 Chair, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Ken
Dowling ‘84, Executive Vice President, Grey Worldwide
Advertising
David Dusek ’93, Senior Managing Editor
of golfonline.com
Noelle Laing ‘03, Senior Consulting Associate
at Cambridge Associates
Dan Lee 05', Investment Banking Analyst, Cochran,
Caronia & Co.
Armand A. Rapetti ’73, President, CEO:
JBS & Associates, Lakeland, FL
Ken Polk & '91, Major Accounts District
Manager: Automatic Data Processing, Williamsville, NY
Wendy Davidson Freihammer & #8217;94,
Financial Advisor: American Express Financial Advisors, Cambridge, MA
Mayela C. (Calabria) Harris '87, Family
Therapist (Social Worker): Hospice of Wake County, Raleigh, NC
Peter J. Dalton '94, Affiliate Support
Manager: Habitat for Humanity International
