Earlier this semester, the Nicholas Center was privileged to welcome back Shawn Dahlke (MBA ’13), Treasurer at SC Johnson, for a discussion on the principles of treasury management. His presentation began with a simple question to students: “What is corporate treasury to you in one word?” However, as Shawn illustrated through his own career, the role of a treasury professional cannot be distilled into a single word.
Treasury as a Dynamic Career Path
Throughout his 20-year career in treasury management, Shawn has tackled a wide range of challenges, underscoring the need for treasury professionals to be curious professionals and continuously learning on the job. From negotiations with foreign central banks and designing hedging programs to streamlining bank relationships and constant crisis management, Shawn further emphasizes there is no room to be “just a cash manager” in treasury. Rather, roles are dynamic and require professionals to think on their feet.
Shawn also notes that there is no “farm system” for treasury – an allusion to minor league baseball – a truth he knows from personal experience. After graduating from UW-Oshkosh, Shawn began his finance career at M&I Bank in Milwaukee, where he traded rates and hedged bank assets. When the financial crisis hit, Shawn sought new opportunities, leaving M&I for his MBA. He had looked at several schools, but the Wisconsin native had “always wanted to be a Badger,” so there was no question to his choice in joining WSB. While there, Shawn leveraged his background in rates trading to develop a hedging program for SC Johnson, his future employer, through a consulting engagement. Following graduation and a short stint with Johnson Controls, Shawn got a call from SC Johnson, who was looking to add some “capital markets firepower” to their treasury team.
Advice for Aspiring Treasury Leaders
When providing career advice to the Nicholas Center MBAs (as was consistent throughout his 90-minute presentation), Shawn emphasized the growing importance of FP&A skillsets for treasury professionals. While treasury analysts are often subject-matter experts in areas such as banking and cash management, they must broaden their capabilities to include FP&A. As Shawn explained: “The more you can do on the business and accounting side will help in driving impactful results for your organization.” He also highlighted the importance of fostering strong professional connections, especially with banking partners, and the ability to communicate new strategies and plans up the management chain.
In his closing remarks, Shawn wanted students to embrace the generosity of professional networks. “You will be shocked at how much people will go out of their way to help you because they appreciate the professional relationship they have with you. Be good to others and they will be good to you,” he said, before extending his own offer of assistance to those in attendance.
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