• Title: Professor of Practice in Finance
  • Teaching: Asset Valuation and Governance, Corporate Finance, Financial Planning
  • Education: BA, Biochemistry, Mount Holyoke College
    MBA, Finance, The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania
    Post graduate fellowship to The Stockholm School of Economics

ABOUT ME

I’m Catherine Kennedy, a newer Professor of Practice in Finance at Virginia Tech.  This is my second year at VT and I am enjoying teaching and the energy that comes from interacting with students about to embark on their careers.  I’ve had a varied career in the financial industry and love bringing that experience to students.  I’ve had a few different pivots in my career and the lessons about charting a path, following your deep interests and capitalizing on unexpected opportunities to create a life that is fulfilling are of deep interest to the students.

I originally worked in the STEM field and realized after a few years of scientific research, I saw the light (for me) and realized that finance and the stock market could be endlessly fascinating.  Not knowing much about subject but enthusiastic, I moved to Philadelphia to attend business school.  After Wharton, I accepted a fellowship to the Stockholm School of Economics to learn more about international business and experience living abroad.

Upon returning to the U.S., I spend the next decade working in NYC, working at Bank of America, Lehman Brothers and Morgan Stanley.  My focus was primarily debt capital markets – raising capital globally for mostly Fortune 500 companies.

I became interested in how assets were priced and decided to move to the “Buy Side” where I had to put my money where my mouth was and risk capital by buying securities for a mutual fund company.  My main focus was technology and telecommunications.  I also was part of a team that looked at the future of industries and how emerging technology would change company’s business models.

In order to balance work/life demands and raise a daughter, I became a private investor for a decade.  During that time, I was also Chairman of the Board of a Catholic pension fund.  During that period, I became quite interested in person finance – how people handled their money, the behavior dynamics and why people weren’t better off despite the abundance of financial advice.  Ultimately, I became a wealth advisor for several years.

As I was deciding on retiring back to being a private investor, a good friend from Wall St. days (Professor of Practice - Mike Kender) suggested I talk to Virginia Tech about bringing my experience to the classroom.

Virginia Tech is truly a unique place.  I find my colleagues in the Finance Department fascinating, and the students are curious, hardworking and optimistic.

A new teaching method that I recently incorporated was for students in my 2 Financial Planning courses to produce a podcast about a financial topic.  This gives them a chance to shine as they communicate a financial concept articulately, succinctly and persuasively in a medium that very much appeals to their generation.

I serve as Chairs of the Awards & Scholarship Committees for Pamplin and the Finance Department.  We recognize students that have made outstanding contributions as well as fund students with financial needs so they can continue their education at VT.  I frequently serve as a Finance Representative at VT Open Houses.  I enjoy meeting potential students and their parents.  Finally, I am an enthusiastic spectator and supporter of Hokie Sporting events (football, basketball and tennis).

WORDS OF ADVICE

This is truly such a fascinating field and there is so much good work you can do as a leader in finance.  My advice is to jump in and participate, not only in class but in the wonderful student organizations that give you a great experience.  

No doubt AI is going to have a big impact on every industry, including finance.  Learn about it.  I plan to do an AI certification myself this summer.

FAVORITE QUOTE

I’ll borrow from William Butler Yeats,

“Education is not the filling of a pail but the lighting of a fire.”

I think VT students are ready to make their mark on the world and I believe it will be something to see.