The world’s largest student conference on hedge funds and private equity featured one of BYU–Hawaii’s students at its annual gathering in January. Marcus Lobendahn, who graduated in December 2011, was not only selected to attend the Alternative Investments Conference (AIC), but won the gathering’s first ever Best Trade Idea Competition.
The AIC, presented by the London School of Economics, was held in London, England, on January 23-24, 2012. The AIC brings together some of the most prominent leaders in the finance industry to address the students who were selected for being top in their fields of study. For the 2012 conference, there were 4,580 applicants from more than 200 universities and 123 countries all vying for the limited 350 available spots. Top schools such as Columbia Business School, Harvard Business School, London Business School, University of Oxford, Helsinki School of Economics, and Yale were represented. Now BYU–Hawaii, thanks to Lobendahn, is on that prestigious list.
“When you have the opportunity to put your best foot forward on a stage in front of top professionals from around the world, make the most of it,” said Lobendahn. He took his own advice and drew from skills gained at BYU-Hawaii through helping form the University Investment Club and his participation on the Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE) Presentation Team. He was selected to represent BYU–Hawaii and went to the conference with a mission to share the knowledge and experience he gained throughout his college career.
Each student attendee was required to submit a trade idea that was evaluated by industry professionals prior to the conference. Lobendahn submitted his idea titled “Gold: Buying Opportunity or Value Trap.” From the submissions, three students were chosen to present at the conference in front of their peers and a panel of judges. Lobendahn’s idea was chosen as one of the three and after his presentation, it was recognized as the winner of the Best Trade Idea Competition.
“Something I feel proud of is the fact that for the future of the Alternative Investments Conference, BYU–Hawaii will always be the first school to have won the Best Trade Idea Competition,” said Lobendahn.