Learn from leading names in finance: Cambridge City Speakers

The Cambridge City Speaker series brings together some of the brightest names in finance – to talk one-on-one, over dinner, to the programme’s students.

For the students involved it is a unique, sometimes career-making opportunity. Not only do they get to meet and learn from influential leaders, it’s also an excellent networking opportunity and the speakers can be an ongoing source of help and advice.

“It’s a fantastic series,” says Prateek Trehun (MFin 2013), who now works as an Investor based in London. “Firstly, the talks I attended were more of an open forum – it was a very relaxed, informal learning space. Then the dinners were a wonderful chance to have a proper chat over 2, 3, 4 hours and make an invaluable contact.”

Learn from industry leaders

Previous speakers include CEOs, MDs and Partners, from a variety of the world’s leading finance organisations such as HSBC Private Bank, Schroders, St James’s Place, Rothschild, McKinsey, Bank of America, Morgan Stanley, Balderton Capital, Vanguard Europe and more.

Former student Wildan Aprian Wiharsanto (MFin 2022) adds, “Through the City Speakers series, I had the privilege of engaging with CFOs, visionary Hedge Fund founders, and Managing Partners. The experience offered a glimpse into their remarkable journeys, to learn from their triumphs and glean insights from their invaluable lessons.”

The messages they bring contain the essentials for a successful career in finance. They talk of the need to adapt, learn fast and constantly re-skill. The opportunities that uncertainty provides and the disruptive force of innovation.

Unique networking opportunities

But it’s at the dinners that the students get their unique networking opportunity. “Students choose which of the dinners they want to attend – typically with a speaker most relevant to their own sector,” says Marwa Hammam, MFin Co-Director. “ Around 10 students attend each one, so everyone has ample opportunity to join the conversation.”

Alumni of the programme Richard Duff (MFin 2011) says the speakers brought a real-world application to the learning experience. “It’s a brilliant opportunity to learn from those at the very top – some of the speakers’ seats are the most powerful in the financial world. The dinners would be business-focused – they’d tell us what they look for when recruiting, or how we could stand out – but it was very relaxed. They were often extremely interested in us as individuals and where we were going.”

Career advice from the experts

Richard secured his first role after the MFin following a series of introductions and connections that were related to the Cambridge programme.

“It didn’t get me the job, but it opened the door,” he says. “I also got help later on from another speaker I’d met who gave me fantastic advice on marketing myself. You learn from everyone there. It was invaluable meeting them and learning from all the speakers. And of course, you meet and learn from so many of your other students with their different experiences.”

Marwa concludes, “City speakers bring a perfect complement to the financial theory. These are highly professional, highly senior people who can shed light on how to develop your skill sets, keep you informed on market trends – but above all they are unique ways to network. Networking is not just about who you know. It’s about who knows you – and the City Speakers series give our students a perfect opportunity to network and forge relationships with some of the most influential people in the sector.”

Networking is not just about who you know. It’s about who knows you – and the City Speakers series give our students a perfect opportunity to network and forge relationships with some of the most influential people in the sector.

Marwa Hammam, MFin Co-Director