We are now a few weeks into the semester and strong teamwork is rampant in the Spring 2025 Applied Investment Analysis class. It seems that many other classes and majors demand some form of teamwork, whether it is for a group project or perhaps a lab assignment. However, students who are part of the HERco team face no ordinary expectations for teamwork, for they are placed into teams for a 7-week long intensive investment research project.
Back in the Fall, our cohort of students in the Building Blocks class did research about empowerment skills, with teamwork being recognized as one of the most important ones. Research on teamwork revealed that teamwork leads to learning, improves efficiency and productivity, cultivates strong work relationships, and can bring an expanded sense of accomplishment. With all these benefits, who wouldn’t want to work as part of a team? However, it is not always that easy, as sometimes groupwork can come with stress and partners who do not pull their weight. Team building, as I see it, is an art. To form a strong team that can produce all the benefits listed above, it needs a strong and capable leader. With his decades of experience working in investing teams, Professor Steve Wilson recognizes this and has selected students to lead their respective sectors. The responsibility of these sector leaders is to make sure deadlines are met and the research process is moving smoothly. After all, in a few short weeks our groups will be presenting our research to a panel of judges who will scrutinize our work and dig deep into our investment theses. A strong team that has trust in each other is necessary for this task, and anything less will not be suitable.
As a co-leader for the consumer sector, I have found that opportunities to broaden my experience in leadership are extremely valuable. As a sophomore, it can be challenging to find ways to be a leader without feeling like you are overstepping your bounds. In many of my classes, there is always someone who is older, someone who has taken that extra class that, on paper, deems them as “more qualified” to lead the group. However, that invisible but ever-present hierarchy does not exist in the Applied Investment Analysis class. Every single person in this class underwent the same training and has the knowledge to pick apart a company along with their financial statements, their metrics, and future outlook. In more recent times, groups have had to split up work and accelerate their research to be ready to present their stock pitch. In my group, we divided up reading 10-k filings, completing a peer analysis report, and researching expert opinions on our company. Strong communication outside of class and cooperative teamwork has made this a seamless process that has propelled our understanding of our company. Without practicing teamwork, this project would be made ten times more challenging. It is not always easy to work with others, with busy schedules and lives outside of the classroom sometimes getting in the way. However, when you treat teamwork not as a secondary component, but rather as one of the most crucial parts of this class, the workload is easier, and you become more efficient.
I am grateful for the opportunity to work with other women who are ambitious and curious about finance. This class has given me the opportunity to lead without feeling like I am crossing an imaginary line that is present in many other classes. If you are eager to build your teamwork skills and hold a position within a team that is both valued and important, the Opportunity Fund Project is for you.
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