18th Annual DoG Street to Wall Street Event Showcases William & Mary’s Finance Community
William & Mary’s Raymond A. Mason School of Business recently hosted the 18th annual From DoG Street to Wall Street event, co-sponsored by the Boehly Center for Excellence in Finance, the Howard J. Busbee Finance Academy, and The Office of Career Development & Professional Engagement.
The in-person event took place September 5-6, 2024, spanning multiple locations with students attending various networking sessions and panels across Phi Beta Kappa and Miller Hall.
“Our goal with events like From DoG Street to Wall Street is to bridge the gap between education and industry, providing students with unparalleled access to insights and mentorship from leaders in finance,” said Todd Mooradian, Dean of the Mason School. “This event exemplifies William & Mary’s commitment to student development, fostering both technical acumen and the broad, ethical perspective that is vital in today’s financial landscape.”
The program kicked off with a keynote address by Dan Draper, a 1991 William & Mary graduate and current CEO of S&P Dow Jones Indices. Draper, a seasoned leader in the finance industry, shared insights from his extensive career. His speech set the stage for the rest of the event, which featured sessions covering a diverse range of finance-related topics, including early career success, private equity, hedge funds, corporate banking, consulting, and more.
The two-day event welcomed over 400 students—the largest to date—from all majors and academic years, providing them with an opportunity to explore a wide variety of roles in the finance sector, while connecting with accomplished William & Mary alumni and professionals in the industry.
“From DoG Street to Wall Street is an invaluable opportunity to network with William & Mary alumni and learn about the numerous career paths within finance,” said Kendyl George, ’26. “I love that the event takes place early in the fall semester because it allows underclassmen to gain immediate exposure to the business school and begin to understand some of the real-world applications of business. The timing also aligns well with internship and full-time recruiting for upperclassmen interested in pursuing a role in finance.”
The Joint Impact of Student Leadership and Alumni Excellence
At the heart of From DoG Street to Wall Street was the Howard J. Busbee Finance Academy, a student-run organization dedicated to preparing students for careers in finance. Co-presidents Charlie Unice and Amy Hogg played pivotal roles in organizing the event.
A significant highlight of the event was the presentation of the Howard J. Busbee Alumni Award, an honor traditionally given to William & Mary alumni who have made notable contributions to the finance industry and the school’s student body. This year’s award presented a historic moment as for the first time, a non-alumna, Alice Davison, was recognized.
Davison has been a longstanding contributor to the Finance Academy, dedicating many hours to mentoring students and supporting the Mason School’s mission. Her recognition highlighted the impact that dedicated community members have on William & Mary students regardless of their alumni status.
“From the outset of her involvement with the Boehly Center, Alice has been a remarkable source of energy and inspiration. Her enthusiasm and commitment to our students have made a profound impact. Although Alice may not be an ‘official alumnus,’ to us, she is an essential and cherished member of the William & Mary family,” said Julie Agnew, Executive Faculty Director of Boehly Center for Excellence in Finance and Richard C. Kraemer Term Professor of Business.
Kathleen Powell, Chief Career Officer and Associate Vice President for Advancement, echoed this sentiment, stating, “Alice has been a champion for our students and William & Mary. From the Women’s Stock Pitch Competition to bringing Forte to the table, she has a vision and strategy on how to support students. It has been a pleasure to work with Alice and to see the impact she has had on students. She is so deserving of this award. It speaks to her dedication to students and their career readiness.”
Preparing for Bright Futures in Business
From DoG Street to Wall Street offers students the chance to gain practical insights into the world of finance. Through networking sessions and panel discussions, students connected with over 69 esteemed professionals from various areas of finance and gained a deeper understanding of the many career options available beyond the typical focus on investment banking.
Greg Shenkman ’03, a trader at Shenkman Capital Management and a previous Busbee award recipient, remarked on how the event has evolved over the years. “When I was a student, I felt that most of my peers majoring in Finance thought it only meant investment banking at JPMorgan. It’s like saying, “I want to play football,” but only knowing what the quarterback does. I’ve felt the purpose of this event is to highlight all the different options there are on Wall Street to see what’s interesting, what fits certain personalities, and to learn what skillsets will be needed in different roles,” he said. “It seemed that there were more freshmen and sophomores than in previous years, which is great to see because it gets them thinking about finance before they even start in the business school.”
Networking, a key focus over the two days, was emphasized by alumni panelists who encouraged students to leverage the connections they made during, and in between, the sessions. “The first thing this helps students is to build a network that they will hopefully make use of throughout their careers,” said Shenkman.
The conversations on career preparation were impactful with panelists sharing tips on navigating the finance industry, honing professional skills, and finding the right career fit. Draper, noted during the “Leadership & Business” podcast which he recorded following the event, “I think it's interesting that it was a finance-focused evening. I think the specificity, career development, looking at new trends in the finance industry.”
He added, “But I did like one of the questions toward the end that asked about this intersection of where business is moving, but the impact on broader society. I took it in the direction of ethics. I love it because that's what I think William & Mary does so well is the practicality of business, but also with the liberal arts, I think, background and foundation, where we are thinking about success and companies, for-profit companies need to make profits, but it's also thinking about bigger impact on society. I think it's that big thinking, and the students who come to William & Mary who excel at that.”
Students also benefited from practical advice from other panelists. Jessica Burt ’02, Managing Director at BlackRock, highlighted the importance of being proactive.
“Ask as many questions to alumni as possible. This is the opportunity to learn more and not worry about being judged by individuals as every alumnus wants to help and wants students to be successful. Alumni want to provide guidance around how to manage your career in your early days so that you can find ways to accelerate your career growth,” she said.
A Legacy of Support
From DoG Street to Wall Street has become a cornerstone event for the Mason School and William & Mary’s finance community, and this year’s gathering continued that tradition. It not only provided students with real-world insights into finance, but also fostered a strong culture of giving back among alumni.
“A highlight of this year’s DoG Street to Wall Street was when I had the opportunity to meet my alumni mentor match, Alex Kocher, in-person for the first time. Mr. Kocher and I were introduced via the Alumni Mentor Match Program in the Spring and engaged in multiple Zoom calls throughout the semester. Mr. Kocher is the Director at Global Endowment Management in Charlotte, NC, and from our conversations, I gained a deeper understanding of the Asset & Wealth Management industry. I will be interning with PNC Bank this upcoming Summer as an Asset Management Group intern, due largely in part to Mr. Kocher’s mentorship. It felt very full circle to attend the D2W Asset, Wealth, and Portfolio Management Panel that Mr. Kocher was a panelist on because he shared insights that built on our previous conversations and detailed the ongoing trends in the industry,” George explained.
Shenkman also noted the importance of building these connections from an alumnus standpoint, saying, “I hope that I plant the seed of giving back to your alma mater, to come back and help out the next generation. If I can do that for a few students each year, and all the other panelists do the same, there will come a day when there are more panelists than students. Finance students should recognize the power of compounding interest here.”
As the Mason School’s finance program continues to grow, From DoG Street to Wall Street remains a vital platform for preparing students to launch successful careers in finance. Through event like this, the university continues to demonstrate its commitment to student development, networking, and career readiness for all of its students.
“From DoG Street to Wall Street has not only helped me prepare for my future career but also embodies the supportive William & Mary alumni network that is committed to helping students discover and succeed in their chosen paths,” George concluded.
