Stevens students put real-world-ready technology, business skills to practice in national competition

A unique blend of technology- and analytics-focused business classes helped three Stevens seniors score an honorable mention at the most recent College Federal Reserve Challenge.

Unlike other schools, Stevens Institute of Technology doesn't offer a special course focused on the competition. It's not needed, the students said — at the Stevens School of Business, students are taught to work collaboratively, present effectively and think quantitatively. That gives them the real-world skills sought by the Fed, as well as high-profile internships in nearby Manhattan and opportunities to run the university's successful Student Managed Investment Fund.

The competition introduces students to the operation of the Fed and implementation of monetary policy. Each team presents to a panel of Fed economists before answering questions about their data, methodology and conclusions.

"Our professors shared a lot of their insights with us as they worked with us in mock presentations," said Ronak Shah '17, who is going on to a job at Mizuho Bank. "And in the challenge, you’re talking Fed policy with the guys who wrote it. So being able to validate why we made a decision without faltering is something I’ll carry over in my career."