Carey students don’t just learn in the classroom. They also participate in experiential learning opportunities around the globe to put theory into practice and gain the real-world industry experience needed to build for what’s next in their careers.

This past spring, Carey student teams participated in two experiential learning opportunities: the iOme Challenge and the CFA Institute Research Challenge – China. Both teams had impressive results.

iOme Challenge
The team of four first-year MBA students and two MS in Finance students won the 2024 iOme Challenge. The iOme Challenge is a prestigious national student competition that tasks participants with analyzing the current state of retirement policy in the United States and proposing viable policy solutions to address the needs of their generation. The iOme Challenge is managed by the Women’s Institute for a Secure Retirement.

Each year, participating teams respond to the annual iOme Challenge question with an essay and public policy proposal. A panel of judges reads their submissions and selects a winner.

The six Carey students—Xenia Afoakwah (MBA), Emmanuel Animashaun (MPH/MBA), Di Han (Finance), Deanna Portero (MPH/MBA), Roy Randen (MBA), and Cira Sun (Finance)—wrote their response paper, “Investing in Our Future: A Transition to Sustainable Retirement Security,” under the mentorship of faculty advisor Phillip Phan.

Their paper addressed how the Social Security Trust Funds has a projected depletion date of 2035, with immediate benefit reductions of 20 percent to seniors when this happens. The team presented policy proposals with recommendations to shift the current “pay as you go” system to an individual savings account.

After the judges’ review, their team was selected for the win and received a monetary prize of $5,000 to split among team members. They were also invited to present their winning work in Washington, D.C. to an audience of non-profit, financial, and business professionals, and will meet with Capitol Hill staff later this year to discuss their paper.

Han: “The rigorous curriculum at Carey provided me with essential analytical skills and a solid foundation in financial principles. Courses in financial econometrics and statistical analysis were particularly invaluable, as they allowed me to contribute significantly to the quantitative aspects of our paper. Additionally, the emphasis on teamwork and collaboration in many of our projects at Carey helped me work effectively within our diverse team, leveraging each member’s strengths to produce a cohesive and well-researched paper.”

Randen: “Our solution touched on social security, retirement policy more generally, and financial technology. Although it can feel intimidating at times to present to an audience full of experts, the more you do it and prepare the better you get. I approached the presentation as an opportunity to engage in an exchange of ideas rather than a defense of our proposal, which made it an enjoyable learning experience.”

CFA Institute Research Challenge – China
Five Master of Science in Finance students represented Carey at this year’s CFA Institute Research Challenge – China. Out of 3,000 students from colleges and universities worldwide, the Carey team of five finance students—Weihong Lin, Zonghao Yang, Yang Liu, Yongyan You, and Rongfu Zhan—advanced to the final round of the competition alongside 15 other teams. The team delivered their final presentation in Beijing and received the “Most Popular Team” award, which is determined by the audience.

The team presented a comprehensive investment strategy for a three billion RMB pension fund focused on sustainable development and addressed the structural challenges posed by China’s aging population. Their strategy included innovative portfolio management techniques to ensure long-term growth and stability.

Zhan: “The education and training at Carey provided a robust foundation crucial for our preparation. Many of Carey’s courses, along with the emphasis on critical thinking and presentation skills, equipped us with the necessary tools to excel in constructing financial models, analyzing data, managing portfolios, and delivering effective presentations. These skills were essential for conducting our research, making informed recommendations, and working seamlessly as a team during the competition.”

You: “I felt immense pride in being a student at Carey. At the start of the competition, the chief product advocate specifically thanked Carey Business School for supporting our nearly 10,000-mile journey to China to participate in the event. For me, it was an incredibly meaningful and impressive experience. The audience included esteemed professionals from the finance industry and HR representatives from major financial firms in China. The live competition was streamed online to thousands of viewers, making it a special and invaluable opportunity to showcase our talents on a global stage.”

Interested in learning more about Carey’s experiential learning opportunities? Visit our Experiential Learning webpage to find more information on how to get involved.