Six alumni serving on the College of Business Finance Advisory Board returned to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln this spring to speak with finance students about career paths, workplace dynamics, mentorship and lifelong learning. Representing a range of financial careers, the alumni panel helped bridge the gap between academic study and professional experience.

“It’s alright if you don’t have a clear career path right now. I had no idea what I wanted to do as an undergraduate,” said Mandy Dowson, ‘98, chief operating officer for Continental Battery Systems, which operates across the U.S. and parts of Canada. “You have to do things you don't like to figure out what things you do like. If you learn from it, even a misstep can help you find your way.”

Dowson, who lives in Denver, started her career by building forecasted financial statements for distressed companies, later developing turnaround strategies and improving private equity positions. She has been a corporate executive for 14 years.

David Lockwood, ‘02, vice president and chief investment officer at Assurity Life Insurance Company in Lincoln, first worked as a secondary marketing analyst and later moved to director of investments in Indianapolis. Working in insurance now for 10 years, he cautioned against long-term career planning.

“Many people believe they need a 20-year plan. It's more about finding the most interesting opportunity and the people you can work with,” Lockwood said. “Career paths are rarely linear. You might be an analyst for three years and feel stuck before a big opportunity arises, or you might stay 20 years and end up leading the department.”

He emphasized that job satisfaction often depends more on workplace relationships than job descriptions.

“In my earlier years, I thought job satisfaction was 80% what you do and 20% who you work with, but I had it backwards," Locked said. " It's 80% who you work with and 20% what you do."

Dowson echoed that people-first perspective, adding that trust and communication make or break a team, even in the most number-driven fields.

“Trust and respect are essential when building relationships and teams so you can challenge each other respectfully and get to the right answers for the business,” Dowson said. “You must be able to have tough conversations and take constructive criticism on a team. It doesn’t matter what the business is or what the numbers say it is, it comes down to the people, the personalities and the trust.”

Shawn Radtke, ‘02, co-founder and partner at Tributary Resources in Greenwood Village, Colorado, agreed with Dowson. A former accounting consultant who worked in equity research, he moved to energy startup companies before founding his own private investment company focused on water.

“The book Radical Candor by Kim Malone Scott addresses honest feedback in performance evaluations and having those difficult conversations that need to happen. A lot of that is built on trust and relationships,” he said.

Mike McHugh, ‘80, managing partner of GMB Mezzanine Capital in Minneapolis, said that same trust is critical in group decision-making. After working in bank lending and transitioning to private equity two decades ago, he credited Daniel Kahneman’s Thinking, Fast and Slow with reshaping his leadership approach.

“To make really good decisions, you need to shift from thinking fast on instinct to thinking slower and more analytically,” McHugh said. “The teams that make the best group decisions are going to outperform.”

The alumni also stressed the importance of mentorship, offering advice on what to look for in a mentor and how to build meaningful relationships.

“It’s important in your career to identify mentors who challenge you. They should be people you trust who have strong ethics and high moral standards and who earn your respect through hard work,” said Kris Grosshans, ’85, managing director at Mizuho Securities USA Inc. in New York who always worked in investment banking. “Even if it's not part of a formal mentorship program, it's essential.”

Kelly Kuester, ’17, works as an associate with AGR Partners, a specialist food and agribusiness investor in Chicago. Starting her career in private equity and capital markets, she emphasized the importance of being proactive when seeking mentors.

“Find the right people to talk to and introduce yourself,” she said. “The more people you meet who are doing what you want to do, the more accessible those paths start to feel.”

Radtke advised students to look for mentors a few steps ahead of them.

“Find someone just one level above you who has drive and potential. Spend time with them, ask good questions and follow in their footsteps,” he said. “As they rise, they may bring you along with them.”

Grosshans also urged students to take ownership of their growth, especially in an era when long-term employment at one company is no longer the norm.

“Don’t stay in a job that bores you or flattens your learning curve,” Grosshans said. “Challenge yourself and take responsibility for your own development. Don’t assume your employer is going to take an interest in your development and don’t rely on human resources. Have a steep learning curve and if that means changing your job, do it. Don’t get stuck.”

The panelists also recommended books and resources to support continued growth outside the classroom.

Grosshans suggested Smartest Guys in the Room, a deep dive into corporate collapse, and Grit by Angela Duckworth about determination and resilience.

“You might not be the best student in the classroom or at work, but with persistence and perseverance, you can grow to outperform others,” he said.

McHugh recommended the Money Stuff e-newsletter by Bloomberg columnist Matt Levine, a former mergers and acquisitions lawyer and investment banker.

“He takes complex, trendy financial topics and explains them in a clear and simple way. He’s also entertaining and funny,” said McHugh.

Richard DeFusco, professor emeritus of finance, noted how students asked great questions and gained insight on the different career paths in finance and the value of building relationships, finding mentors and continuing to learn and grow.

“Having College of Business alumni return to share their journeys resonates with our students,” DeFusco said. “They were once in the same seats, and their generosity in giving back makes a lasting impact.”