Cornell SC Johnson College of Business’ brand new MBA FinTech Intensive is a cutting-edge program with an innovative studio curriculum. Led by Drew Pascarella, a Cornell Johnson lecturer of finance and managing director of Vista Point Advisors, the FinTech Intensive blends hard science and collaborative projects with startups and institutional players in New York for an in-depth learning experience.
Why Fintech?
The catalyst for Cornell’s Fintech Intensive? A survey of current students, faculty, and alumni identified “fintech and digital marketing as the two areas of learning students were most excited about,” according to the Cornell website. “From student surveys, we learned that those interested in this curriculum wanted to better understand what the future holds, stay ahead of market disruptions, and gain the skills necessary to excel in the ever-changing business environment.”
The FinTech Intensive also comes in response to requests from recruiters. Cornell spoke with financial service firms and fintech startups to determine what they most wanted in new hires. As Pascarella explains in his Medium article, The Vision Behind the Cornell MBA Tech Intensive, “it became clear that Johnson’s focus should include fintech.”
How Is the FinTech Intensive Structured?
Designed for second-year MBA students on Cornell Johnson’s Ithaca campus, the FinTech Intensive will send roughly 50 participants to the Cornell Tech campus in New York City each spring semester. During these final months of their MBA, students can take part in various courses on topics such as fintech business models, blockchains, cryptocurrencies, and crowdfunding. There’s also an opportunity to participate in projects, learn from a roster of esteemed guest speakers, spend time networking with NYC companies, and participate in internships and outside recruitment opportunities—all before graduating.
The intensive’s model was based on Cornell’s already successful Immersion Learning programs. “We crafted a package of classes, stitched them together with the collaborative yarn that is so abundant at Johnson, and set an ambitious goal: Empower each fintech student to make a difference in the industry after just six weeks,” wrote Pascarella. “Our program is new, bold, and unique and was purpose built with the customer in mind.”
To learn more, visit the Cornell SC Johnson website.
