In the digital age of disruption, graduates need to have more than a job offer to launch their careers successfully; they need the right mindset and market-demanded skills to be effective in the ever-changing expectations of occupations.
Thanks to the College of Business’ partnership with growing fintech firm Halo Investing, students in the Master of Science in finance program will soon take part in a pilot program best characterized as a “co-op for the digital age.” In a year’s time, while earning their M.S. degree in finance, they will have the exceptional opportunity to complete a six-month paid internship with Halo, with the potential for full-time employment when they graduate.
Reflecting on this partnership and the new co-op model, Dean Balaji Rajagopalan notes, “The rapid changes in industry driven by technologies will continue to challenge us to stay on the cutting edge of the developments to prepare the workforce of tomorrow. This partnership exemplifies our commitment to strengthen the culture of innovation by experimenting with a new model of co-op. While students will have an edge by working for a top fintech firm, our faculty will also benefit from engaging with industry that will likely result in curricular innovation and, possibly, research ideas.”
For Halo’s co-founder, Jason Barsema, ’07, he started with the goal of creating a company that prioritized impact over profit. As part of its mission, Halo gives financial advisors access to solutions that used to be exclusive to the ultra-wealthy. By creating an all-in-one platform for building protective investment solutions, Halo’s award-winning products give clients a new way to find and manage outcome-based investments including structured notes, buffered ETFs, annuities and other niche investment vehicles.
“Through Halo, we want to provide NIU students a great education and a once-in-a-lifetime learning opportunity with one of the Top 10 fintech companies in the United States,” he says. “They will be able to learn from some of the best in the industry.”
While Barsema’s vision may be radical and innovative, his belief in NIU students’ potential has a long history. His parents are distinguished donors in the university with two campus buildings even bearing his last name. His family’s faith in Huskie grit and core values continue to shine brightly in the next generation of Barsemas.
Barsema first began working with NIU’s Hiring Huskies program in 2016 after co-founding Halo. Over the years, he began working with Department of Finance Chair Gina Nicolosi to handpick students who aspire to work in fintech or related areas. In the past few years, several Huskie graduates became full-time Halo employees after successful internship experiences.
“NIU’s College of Business has a long-standing tradition of integrating workplace skills and scenarios into the Barsema classrooms,” Nicolosi says. “We believe that this enhanced model of the standard internship model is a fantastic way to highlight this commitment and to provide our students with the skills and experience they need to be successful in the workforce.”
Nicolosi has seen firsthand what this partnership and program has meant to master’s degree program students.
“This partnership will create a co-op model in which NIU finance students can hone in-demand fintech skills while Halo Investing can essentially conduct an extended interview, thus improving hiring efficiency,” she says. “For NIU students, this program will provide the opportunity to gain valuable experience in the fintech industry. They will work on real-world projects, learn from professionals and build their networks.”
For Halo Investing, this program provides the opportunity to identify and hire top talent. They can get to know and observe students over the course of six months, allowing them to make more informed hiring decisions and ensure that they hire the best possible candidates.
In addition to the internship, the Halo track with the M.S. degree in finance program allows students to take an accelerated course in Python programming, a high-level, general-use programming language used for financial analysis. They will also experience managing the Student Managed Portfolio through a course which manages donor funds for profit, as well as several other hands-on courses.
The college’s partnership with Halo directly aligns with the College of Business’s strategic priorities of furthering its students applied experiential education and internship experiences. The result has been phenomenal. Just ask the students who have realized their dreams through working for Halo.
Sean Gerent, ’18, is a proud graduate of the College of Business and remembers his time on campus and an exceptional experience.
“The building and resources were top-tier, and the student community and professors were world-class,” Gerent says. “NIU played a crucial role in preparing me for the interview process with Halo Investing, equipping me with the skills and mindset to excel in a fast-paced startup environment.”
He added that the education he received at NIU provided him with the knowledge and tools needed to tackle complex challenges in a dynamic industry like finance thanks to the
world-class professors who helped him develop a deep understanding of financial markets and investment strategies.
“My experiences and skills prepared me when the opportunity to interview at Halo Investing arose,” he says. “(The team at Halo was) welcoming but incredibly bold and driven, fearless in approaching any problems and always looking forward.”
Gerent was thrilled to become the ninth employee of Halo in May 2018 as an operations analyst. Today, after five years in this role, he is still impressed by the mission of the company.
“At Halo, we push the limits daily and foster an amazing work culture that promotes ownership and entrepreneurial spirit, allowing you to create a true impact,” he says. “Every day, we work toward our common goal of creating a world-class tech platform that not only empowers investors but also helps to protect the world’s investments.”
Derrick Lippner, ’22, is Halo’s newest hire from summer 2022, and his experience has been one of seamless, hands-on learning.
“My internship experience at Halo filled in the missing pieces, solidifying my preference for a career in the fintech industry,” he said. “Halo has a big entrepreneurial feel to it, and I enjoy the opportunity of playing a role in shaping the future of finance. I believe taking the Halo track has been a valuable kick-start to my career.”
