Robert Day School students completing their MA in Finance this year are taking part in the 2nd Annual RDS Pitch Day on Friday, February 13. RDS Pitch Day is designed to simulate the interaction between an early-career analyst (Robert Day Scholars) and a senior executive (a role played by an experienced CMC alumnus or parent).
As these students prepare for employment in the business and finance sector, the goal of the RDS Pitch Day is to give students an opportunity to develop and practice their presentation skills while learning how to differentiate themselves when given the opportunity to make presentations to their colleagues early in their careers.
The RDS Pitch Day Schedule:
Round 1: 8:30 – 9:00 a.m.
Round 2: 9:00 – 9:30 a.m.
Round 3: 9:30 – 10:00 a.m.
Round 4: 10:15 – 10:45 a.m.
Round 5: 10:45 – 11:15 a.m.
Round 6: 11:15 – 11:45 a.m.
Lunch and Group Feedback Session: 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
In each “round,” the senior executives will listen to a 20-minute presentation from a junior analyst. At the conclusion of the presentation, the senior executive will provide the junior analyst with 10 minutes of feedback. The schedule will enable 36 Robert Day Scholars to participate in this exercise.
During the “Group Feedback” session, the senior executives will provide a summary of their observations throughout the day. They will also review the “Top 10 Things to Do” and the “Top 10 Things Not to Do” in these situations. The day’s activities will conclude with a luncheon where the Scholars will have an opportunity to continue their interactions with the senior executives.
The senior executives will include:
Richard Chino ’90
Richard is currently on the Board of C2FO, ShipHawk, StaffRanker, and the Pasadena Angels, and is an advisor to a handful of startups. At CMC, Richard is an Alumnus Trustee, a member of CMC's Alumni Association Board, is on the board of the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE), conducts an annual case interview workshop to help prepare CMC students for management consulting interviews, and is a mentor to a handful of current students and young alumni.
Christopher Dodds P’13 ’15
Before semi-retiring in 2007, Chris worked at The Charles Schwab Corporation for 21 years, including the last 8 years as Chief Financial Officer. Since that time, he has worked as a Senior Advisor with The Carlyle Group, one of the largest private equity firms in the world. He also serves on the Boards of 5 companies in the financial services sector, including ITG, Baron Capital, Avalon Advisors, Charles Schwab Bank, and TCW.
Lee Ann Gliha ’96
Lee Ann is a Managing Director and Head of Media in the Houlihan Lokey's Media & Telecom Group. She has worked as a media investment banker for over 15 years, with extensive experience across all product areas, including buyside and sellside M&A, debt and equity financing, liability management, restructuring, and valuation. Lee Ann has deep sector expertise, having executed transactions in each of the television and radio broadcasting, newspaper, magazine, B2B, cable network, digital media, movie theater, and other out-of-home entertainment sectors. She is based in the firm’s Los Angeles office.
Allison Robinson ’92
Allison is a Vice President and the Manager of the Credit Training Program at MUFG Union Bank in Los Angeles. In her current role she manages all aspects of this program’s training curriculum, which includes both classroom and virtual teaching/delivery as well as content and course development for advanced training modules. In addition, Allison develops policy and product-specific in-house training content for various wholesale lending segments across the Bank’s footprint.
Mark Robles ’78
Mark is a Principal and Managing Director of Alta Pacific Wealth Management LLC in Mission Viejo, California. Mark has over 35 years of investment experience with leadership roles at AG Edwards, Wachovia Securities and Merrill Lynch as a Senior Vice President-Branch Manager. Notably, Mark was an advisor to the County of Orange, and a member of the investment commission for the City of Mission Viejo. Mark specializes in active portfolio management for high net-worth relationships, utilizing alternative investments.
Brian Smith ’99
Brian Smith is a managing director and member of the Piper Jaffray consumer investment banking team, focused on providing M&A advisory services to companies in healthy, active and sustainable living industries, with a focus on fitness, sports nutrition and multi-unit retail. Brian also serves as a Board Member for Anytime Fitness (2009 – present), the largest co-ed fitness franchisor in the world with over 2,500 locations spanning 18 countries.