Feeding the Hungry and Learning about Finance

Molly Bulman's involvements range from Campus Kitchens to working on political campaigns.  How have these extra curriculars inspired her academically and professionally?

A Taste of Everything

When I was younger, I tried just about everything.   Between playing sports, singing in musicals, and starting an environmental club with my neighborhood friends, I dabbled in every activity a little girl could get her hands on.  As I got older, things didn’t change much.  I love getting involved with projects started by family and friends; I learn as much as I can, do the grunt work where it’s needed, and when appropriate, offer my two cents to generate ideas and improvements.  I love being able to assist others with what they’re passionate about and I enjoy the flexibility to veer in a new direction whenever something new catches my attention.

My IPS very much reflects that “go with the flow” mentality.  I began my years at William & Mary working for the coordinated campaign for President Barack Obama and Senator Mark Warner and later interning for a non-profit grassroots organizing group, the Virginia Organizing Project.  Awestruck by the volunteers I had met who cared more about learning the ins and outs of relevant political policies than petty political tactics, I was inspired to pursue a degree in Public Policy. 

An Extra-Curricular Turned into a Minor

My IPS grew Sophomore year as I gained an interest in Finance while serving as the Finance and Fundraising Chair for the Campus Kitchen at the College (CKWM).  CKWM, a branch initiative of D.C. Central Kitchen, is small but mighty organization which collects local food that would have otherwise been thrown away and transforms it into 150 healthy meals each week for area families who might not be getting the nutrition they need.  If you ask Robert Egger, the project’s founder, about DCCK, he’ll tell you the idea behind the project was to find a sustainable business model that makes sense to investors and to the public. 

In order to best serve CKWM, I added a Finance minor to my IPS.  Accounting and Finance classes gave me a platform to understand our organization’s needs while simultaneously planning for the next semester, year, and beyond.  As I moved up the ranks in CKWM to my current job as Student Coordinator, I found that Egger’s philosophy and what I’d learned in my Business classes defined every decision I made.  The beauty of an organization like CKWM is that it’s smart.  You take a resource in excess and deliver it to an area lacking in that resource.  People respond to that sort of logic.  And more, I’ve found an endless number of individuals and community partners that want to get involved. 

Kicking the IPS into High Gear

One of my most worthwhile Mason experiences was the Training the Street financial modeling seminar that the Finance Academy organizes.   Training the Street is an instructor-led course which introduces financial modeling and corporate valuation techniques over two consecutive Saturdays.  The seminar introduces theoretical concepts but also exposes students to technical methods for valuation (which includes an extensive vocabulary of Excel shortcuts and add-ins).  I was immediately able to apply the valuation methods  - as well as some more-stylistic Excel modeling - to my internship this summer at a private equity firm called Solera Capital. 

Founded by a William & Mary alumnus, Solera Capital commits itself to values of diversity, mentorship, and social responsibility with investments ranging from an organic food company to an affordable-luxury clothing line.  Functioning at times like a venture capital firm and at times like an operating company, Solera chairs all boards and committees of their companies, taking on an undefined number of roles to assist, enthuse, and motivate their business partners.  This hands-on approach was both inspiring and contagious throughout my summer months at the New York office.  It also fulfilled my constant need for new projects, as there would always be an up-and-coming investment to research or a new situation to work through with an existing company.

This experience kicked my IPS into high gear as I returned for Senior year with an understanding that there were professions for people like me, always bouncing from one job to the next.  Like the principals and associates at Solera, I could write my own rules and would not have to compromise in a job that might stunt my ever-changing interests.

Finding a Perfect Match for the Future

My cross-discipline IPS provides me with some leeway for the future.  I plan to spend much of the upcoming months investigating both public and private organizations and their governing philosophies.  Matching my personal values to a community or a firm’s core principles will be an exciting investigation.  I could envision myself anywhere from financial analyzing for a venture capitalist firm to planning and zoning for an urban city.  The best part about adopting this mentality is that I can adapt as frequently as the world around me changes.