JJ Liter graduated from the Wisconsin School of Business with an MBA in Corporate Finance and Investment Banking alongside a certificate in Data Analytics in 2021, and today he works as a Manager in Project Finance at American Family Insurance. A recent conversation with JJ reveals how his MBA shaped his career, what motivates him in the field of finance, and how he continues to leverage the skills he built at WSB.
What fuels your passion for finance?
“I enjoy helping business leaders quantify which decisions will be most accretive to the firm. I honestly find it most fun when I start with a limited technical understanding and act as the liaison between the business and the numbers”.
What inspired you to pursue your MBA?
“Getting my MBA was on my roadmap since leaving undergrad. I took the GMAT during my senior year of college and always knew I wanted to return for a finance degree. My dad was a major influence in this decision.”
Prior to his MBA, JJ began his professional career at Epic Systems in Madison, working in project management. This early experience provided him with valuable exposure to large-scale organizational work before he began his graduate school studies.
Describe your experience since graduating from WSB.
“After my MBA, I started at American Family Insurance in an MBA rotational program. I was hired out of the program and spent two years working as a Strategist for Business Development and Ventures. Since then, I’ve been working in an enterprise finance function dedicated to project finance.”
JJ has utilized skills in data analytics and modeling, as well as continuing to develop his abilities in ad hoc analysis. He has also gained experience in annual planning and cost-benefit analysis while working at American Family Insurance, and he has been able to apply these skills in a variety of different settings. Additionally, JJ was able to build up his abilities in strategic pricing in an internship role between his first and second years in the UW MBA program.
How have you leveraged your MBA degree in your current role?
“I currently work as a manager for a project finance team. In this role, I perform cost-benefit analysis modeling for the business areas I support. I developed these skills during my first semester in MBA school, through modeling, finance, and accounting classes.”
JJ also noted that Brad Chandler’s modeling classes were incredibly valuable, and mentioned the importance of putting together a financial model that is flexible and dynamic, whether it be used for budgeting, valuing a company, cost-benefit analysis or any other purpose.
JJ also brought up the importance of being able to communicate your findings with others. He mentioned that he participated in case competitions during his time in the MBA program, bringing up that they were well worth it and that he was able to learn a lot from the experiences. These competitions allowed him opportunities to work through concepts from modeling, finance, and accounting classes in realistic settings, as well as the chance to present his work upon completion.
What is your favorite part of your job?
“Lately, I’ve enjoyed working to improve our long-range budgeting across divisions. There are still many ways in which we could mature as an organization.”
How do you spend your time when you’re not working?
“Usually, you can find me chasing my two-year-old or playing basketball in the local men’s leagues.”
JJ’s work in project finance reflects a strong foundation in financial structure and decision support, built through early coursework at UW-Madison and strengthened through hands-on experience. Today, he continues to apply these skills in ways that support American Family Insurance in both its present and future endeavors. Follow JJ along on his career journey on LinkedIn HERE!
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