Vital Stats
HOMETOWN: Broummana, Lebanon (a suburb of Beirut)
Master's Program:Columbia University, Master of Science in Financial Engineering
Undergraduate Degree:Degree in computer engineering from Lebanese American University (all courses were taught in English)
Honors: Graduated with honors.
Internships: No financial services internships -- I graduated from Lebanese American University in June 2008 and started Columbia's M.S.F.E. program in July 2008.
Mentor: My sister, who works in financial services and also got her master's in this field. I'd also say the professors at Columbia University.
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Interview Conducted By Kerry Massero
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- Qualifications and Background
- Aspirations
- Beyond the Numbers
Advanced Trading: Why did you choose to pursue a master's degree in finance, and why did you choose Columbia's program?
Haidar: I knew I wanted to mix my undergraduate experience -- computer engineering -- with finance, and where better to go in finance than New York? My first thought was I'd like to study in the financial capital of the world. I opted for Columbia mainly because I like the program -- besides its reputation and that it is an Ivy League school. I also liked that it was a one-year program -- compared to many other programs that are two years and cover the same material. I don't want to study all my life. I want to finish my academic background and go into the real world and start working.
AT: What is your math background? Do you have any prior programming experience?
Haidar: I have a background in probability and statistics, but it's not really extensive. I've only had the introductory courses. This summer semester I studied stochastic processes, and we learned about the Martingale system and Markov chains.
AT: What classes are you taking that will be essential to helping you be more prepared for a job on Wall Street?
Haidar: Currently I'm taking the Monte Carlo simulation class, which is one that is important. But all of the classes help you in a way. During the summer we took stochastic processing. The Foundation in Finance course was helpful in that it showed us where we could end up working. But then to learn the tools of trading and how to model stuff via Monte Carlo simulation -- that will definitely be helpful as well.
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AT: How would you rate your knowledge of the business of financial services, on a scale of 1 to 10?
Haidar: I would give myself a 7 because my background is in computer engineering, not finance. Also, please bear in mind that where I come from, most of these types of financial institutions do not exist. For example, very few hedge funds exist in the Middle East -- none in Lebanon.
AT: Discuss your training in statistics and your ability to analyze data.
Haidar: I did not have advanced training in statistics. Prior to my coming to Columbia, I had just used statistics in relation with communication systems. Analyzing time series, for example, was not required in computer engineering. That is a skill I am currently learning at Columbia. This requires computer and programming skills, which I already have.
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AT: Why did you choose to pursue a career on Wall Street?
Haidar: Whatever happens on Wall Street pretty much affects the whole world. The salary is a factor, but it wasn't the main factor. I wanted a career on Wall Street because I believe I could make a difference in the long run. I'd like to make a difference -- affect the world in just a small way and hopefully in a good way.
AT: How?
Haidar: Based on the situation that Wall Street is in right now, anything would be better.
AT: In what type of role would you like to start?
Haidar: I don't have any professional financial experience, so I can't say I want to do "X" yet. [Ed. note: The one-year Columbia M.S.F.E. program began one month prior to this interview.] But I am interested in being an analyst and using the IT stuff that I know. I do want to use my programming abilities and my computer engineering experience in finance.
AT: What do you see yourself doing in two years? In 10 years?
Haidar: In two years it's hard to say. ... Hopefully I'd be an associate or VP. But in 10 years' time, hopefully I'll be the CEO or managing my own company. Isn't that every person's goal?
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AT: Name some firms you'd like to work for.
Haidar: I do like Citigroup. I also like Merrill Lynch, JPMorgan, Morgan Stanley. Even though most of the big companies have financial problems now, I like the idea of being in a well-known financial institution. I prefer working for a big company rather than a company with, say, 500 employees. Also, on the consulting side, I do like McKinsey.
AT: Do you have a preference -- buy side or sell side?
Haidar: I'd prefer to be on the sell side right now. But in 10 years that could change.
AT: What sets you apart from other quant candidates?
Haidar: I believe that a master's in financial engineering from Columbia University complemented with my degree in computer engineering sets me apart from other students. I would thus have both quantitative and programming skills. Also, by fluently speaking three languages -- English, French and Arabic -- I have the ability to work in different parts of the world, wherever the need may be.
AT: What three questions would you ask a prospective employer?
Haidar: I would ask about the stability of the department for which I was interviewing -- where does the company see it going? Where will the firm be in two years? What kinds of investments is the firm making? I'd ask them to take a chance and hire me because I know I would be a benefit to the company.
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AT: Do you trade at all?
Haidar: No.
AT: Is there someone who was instrumental in your decision to pursue a career in finance?
Haidar: My sister is in the financial world. She majored in the same thing as me at Columbia -- she works for Merrill Lynch doing hedge fund due diligence. Also the teachers at Columbia are really inspiring, and the advice that Professor Emanuel Derman [director of the Columbia M.S.F.E. program] gives us really helps.
AT: Has the recent credit crisis and issues at many of the large investment banks changed your view of working in financial services?
Haidar: The recent crisis definitely makes you rethink your plans, but it did not make me doubt my will and desire to work in financial services. At one point the market is going to go up again. I am still looking forward to learning about the business and still want to try and make a difference.
AT: What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
Haidar: I enjoy playing tennis and I also love art. Going to the museums is great here. MoMA is a museum I really like. Any kind of sport, museums and concerts -- that's great.
AT: Name one thing you did this summer for fun.
Haidar: I went to Las Vegas.
AT: Describe one of your personal goals beyond a career on Wall Street.
Haidar: I'd really like to buy an apartment in New York. I'd also like to contribute to the financial system in Lebanon, in some way.
AT: Is there anything else you feel is important that you would like to mention?
Haidar: I'm interested in the tech market, and my senior project in my undergraduate was in e-textiles. I think it will be pretty important in the future. I do watch how these stocks are doing. Electronic textiles (e-textiles) are going to be pretty important in the future, and not only in military stuff.
On a separate note, I do not shy away from a challenge. I pick projects based on their level of interest, not their level of difficulty.
In fact, during my senior year project, I built an e-textile project which aimed at mapping out obstacles to help visually impaired and blind people. Electronic textile is a relatively new technology and definitely nascent in Lebanon. This did not stop me, however, from doing the required research and building a successful prototype.
AT: Choose one word to describe yourself.
Haidar: Confident.
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AT: Describe one of your personal goals beyond a career on Wall Street.
Drogoul: I'd like to be able to understand the world and how it works -- to be conscious of how things work. I don't want to just live in this world and be focused on my own life. I want to have an understanding of different religions, sociology, psychology. ... There is not any one thing that explains how humanity is working.
AT: Choose one word to describe yourself.
Drogoul: Kind.
AT: What three questions would you ask a prospective employer?
Drogoul: My first question would be about the specifics of the job and what my responsibilities would be. What is the relationship between the desk I'd be working for and the other trading desks as well as the larger business? I'd want to find out if my superior is someone who would be a good mentor, someone who would be interested in training me and helping me to develop my skills and a career at the firm.
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