To kick off the semester, UW’s Corporate Finance & Investment Banking MBA students headed to Milwaukee, WI, for a dynamic two-day career trek on September 18th and 19th. During this trip, we experienced unique perspectives into each company’s culture, along with an in-depth look at their financial processes, operational hurdles, and paths to success. Our journey was full of rich learning and memorable encounters at Molson Coors, Deloitte, Baird, and Komatsu; below are the highlights that made it truly exceptional.
Day One: Beverage Industry Innovation
As evening fell, we departed from Madison to Milwaukee to begin our company visits starting with Molson Coors. We were warmly greeted by Vice President of Integrated Business Planning Solomon Tesfai, along with several fellow UW alumni: Director of Commercial Analytics Erin Schmidt, Vice President of Advanced Analytics Brad Schwartz, Vice President of FP&A Greg Tierney, and Chief People and Culture Officer Dave Osswald. The conversations included the vision of Molson Coors’s commitment to its core beer business, as well as expanding its portfolio into adjacent categories, including non-alcoholic beverages—with a clear-eyed view of both opportunity and growth. From IT and finance to operations and sales, the organization is embracing advanced analytics and automation to streamline processes. This transformation is reinforced by a strong, value driven culture, guided by the core values that shape and foster a workplace where collaboration and innovation thrive. It was extremely valuable to hear from senior leaders as they tackled real-world financial challenges and developed innovative solutions for a constantly changing beverage landscape. The Molson Coors team graciously hosted a networking reception at their corporate on-site pub. Later that evening, we finished off the night with a lively dinner at Mo’s Irish Pub, a local favorite in the heart of downtown Milwaukee.
Day Two: Insights From Four Industry Powerhouses
As dawn broke the next morning, we set out for our next stop to Rehlko, where Senior Talent Acquisition Recruiter, Nicole Frezza and Badger alums, Controller of Power Systems, Andrew Rindt and Senior Accounting Manager, Arek Schmocker, introduced us to the inner workings of global energy solutions that millions rely on daily. We also learned about the strategic execution behind the recent corporate rebrand (from Kohler Energy) to Rehlko, as repositioning as an independent energy solutions leader. It was insightful to learn how focused financial planning of Rehlko’s cash management and disciplined strategic leadership led to its operational success.
Next on the agenda was a visit to Deloitte. We are grateful to fellow Badger Alum, Tax Consultant II, Chris Berry, who coordinated the visit and connected us with the team, making the experience possible. During our time on site, Campus Recruiting Specialist Laura Philbin led the Deloitte presentation and offered valuable insight into how Deloitte is approaching talent engagement and future opportunities across tax, audit and consulting.
Our group traveled to Baird next where we met with Managing Director of Technology & Services Rob Kaderavek; Director of Industrials Jen Roeper, Associate of Technology & Services Arjun Singh; and Associate of Private Wealth Management Nick Wong. Our discussions with Baird highlighted the firm’s sophisticated methods for structuring complex transactions, providing practical takeaways for those pursuing careers in investment banking. The Private Wealth Management team demonstrated how tailored portfolio construction and capital-allocation strategies work together to meet clients’ long term financial goals. Together, the sessions gave us insights into the technical skills and client-focused mindset needed across both investment banking and wealth management.
For the final stop of our journey, we visited Komatsu for a guided facility tour, seeing first hand how critical industrial components are engineered and built on site. We were hosted by Executive Administrative Assistant Vicki Green; EVP & Chief Financial Officer Michael McClanahan; VP & Treasurer Patti Effertz; Finance Director Byron Smith; and Badger alum, VP & Controller Julie Ott, who offered valuable perspectives on how Komatsu’s finance team partners with operations to manage their global supply chain structure. Every story shared from Komatsu reflected a clear focus on innovation, sustainability, and community. Their market foresight, adaptability and authentic career paths were inspiring.
Final Thoughts
To reflect upon the Milwaukee career trek, we are grateful for the opportunity to meet and engage with enthusiastic leaders in their respective industries. Every company visit sharpened our financial acumen, strengthened our teamwork, and fueled the curiosity and bold thinking we will carry into our careers as the next generation of finance leaders.
To conclude, I would like to take the time to express gratitude to our Nicholas Center Assistant Director Andrea Sorenson and Director Barb Bolens who both set up this very successful career trip, as well as the wonderful and brilliant minded leaders who took the time to give us all an insightful education view into their careers in the financial sector. All of us returned to Madison that evening, ready to tackle the rest of the semester with renewed energy. The visit proved transformative, widening our perspectives and opening new possibilities for our academic and professional paths in finance.
Categories: