2022 Best & Brightest Business Major: Bridget Momper, University of Dayton

Bridget Momper

University of Dayton School of Business Administration

“I am a proud Ohioan, massive Roger Federer fan, and Flyer Enterprises’ most loyal customer.”

Fun fact about yourself: I lost my sense of smell back in 2018 and have never gotten it back – blessing and a curse!

Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio

High School: Saint Ursula Academy

Major: Finance and International Business Management (emphasis on Global Markets)

Minor: NA

Favorite Business Course: FIN 493, Seminar in Equity Investments

Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles During College:

Davis Center for Portfolio Management – Senior Manager ’21-’22, Associate Manager ’20-’21, Equity Research Analyst ’18-‘20

Kudla Dynamic Allocation Fund – Fixed Income Analyst ’19-‘22

Alpha Kappa Psi – President of Pledge Class, Head of Recruitment ‘19

Blackstone Future Women Leaders Program

Jefferies Inspiring Women for Finance

University Honors Program, Dean’s List

Where have you interned during your college career?

Jefferies – New York City – Fixed Income Sales & Trading (rotated through a variety of trading desks, including the following: High Yield, Leveraged Loans, Capital Markets, Rates, Distressed, Municipals, Investment Grade, Emerging Markets, Foreign Exchange, Securitized Markets)

Fifth Third Bank – Cincinnati – Wealth & Asset Management (rotated through Wealth Planning, Private Bank, Trust Officer, Portfolio Management, and Wealth Management Advisor)

Where will you be working after graduation? Jefferies – New York City – Investment Grade Sales Trader

Who is your favorite professor? Professor Kapusta – I have worked very closely with Professor Kapusta over the past couple years through my involvement on the Management Team for the Davis Center. He has challenged me to think more critically and thoroughly, while also instilling a confidence in my capability.

What is the biggest lesson you gained from studying business? The greatest lesson I have learned from business is that you will never have all the answers. As cliché as that may sound, I believe there is always more to learn – which is a huge reason as to why I chose finance as my major. The industry is vast and challenging. No matter how many years you spend working in the field, there is always more to learn and the market is constantly teaching you that.

What has surprised you most about majoring in business? I’ve been most surprised by the team aspect of business. Of course, this may have seemed apparent from the beginning but until you take courses like the Managing the Enterprise capstone, it is easy to overlook the many different facets of a business. Every person serves a special and unique purpose and it’s crucial that they work smoothly in conjunction with one another. There are endless opportunities within business and although you may confine yourself to one area of business, it is highly likely that you could work one day with those in other majors from your own.

Looking back over your experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently in business school and why? Looking back, I wish I would have taken more time to fully understand accounting. It is very easy to study for a test and then allow yourself to forget the material as soon as you have completed the class. Accounting is an incredibly beneficial aspect of business to understand – no matter what major you are. It will pay off in the long run to work hard in that class!

Which academic, extracurricular or personal achievement are you most proud of? Becoming the Senior Manager of the Davis Center for Portfolio Management is a feat that I never thought was possible. When I initially toured UD, my guide brought us into the Davis Center. I was so intimidated that I wanted nothing more than to immediately walk back out. At the same time, I knew it was a program that I would be surrounded by bright, talented, and challenging individuals. Fast forward and I was fortunate enough to become an intern my freshman year. The Senior Managers of the Center throughout my time here at UD were individuals who I greatly looked up to and thought I could only dream of being. Quite honestly, they (and the other members) have made me into who I am today and I am forever grateful to them and the program. That being said, there had never been a girl on Management during my time here at UD. From my time as an intern, I had always wished for an older girl on Management to look up and relate to. I was extremely fortunate that my colleagues had faith in my capabilities and put me in the position to become the first female Senior Manager since 2007. I hope that I can be an example to all the younger females that finance is not meant to simply be a male-dominated field. It is an ever-changing industry and if you put in the work, you can be wildly successful. Our student managers over the course of the past 22 years have put in the work and as a result, we are proud to say that the Davis Center for Portfolio Management is officially the largest student-run fund in the nation.

Which classmate do you most admire? I wish I could give a giant list of classmates I admire! There are so many that have impacted who I am today. That being said, Jack Ward has been an incredibly influential person to me here at UD. His drive since freshman year pushed me to work harder in every aspect – whether that be classes, pitches, networking, applications and the like. Although we are great friends, he has never been easy on me, always asking questions and challenging my line of thinking. Our friendly competition has made me a better person and I’m so grateful to UD for introducing me to so many amazing people.

Who would you most want to thank for your success? I owe my dad everything. He is the person who taught me what hard work looks like. When I didn’t believe in myself, he always had faith in me. He has taught me to keep my head down, ask questions, and be there for my teammates (or in this case, analysts). I suppose it is him that I have to thank for my passion in finance!

What are the top two items on your professional bucket list? Being that I have only just begun my professional career, it is hard to know exactly what’s to come. I would love to switch to the buy—side some day and work at a hedge fund. Then again, I may fall in love with trading and never want to leave. It would be a dream to someday work for the most admired business executive, Stephen Schwarzman. Blackstone is a firm that I would be incredibly lucky to work at some day. Wherever I am, I hope that I am growing as a professional and overall individual.

What are your hobbies? In my free time, I enjoy trying new coffee shops, running, and looking at interior design layouts. Hopefully this spring, I’ll begin working on improving my golf game and beginning to learn Spanish with my lighter workload!

What made Bridget such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2022?

“Bridget exemplifies service leadership with her dedication to the Davis Center for Portfolio Management.  She was one of the leaders of the team that won the CFA Research Challenge in Ohio and under her tenure as the Senior Manager, the first woman since 2007, the Flyer Investments Fund has become the largest student-managed portfolio in the U.S. with assets under management of $64.6 million as of Dec. 31.”

Daniel Kapusta
Director, Davis Center for Portfolio Management

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