College Experiences That Helped An Independent Consultant Succeed
Mike's undergraduate economics degree stemmed from a desire to understand "how the world works," particularly in regions with governance issues and lack of opportunity, leading him to a career in finance and emerging markets. The interdisciplinary nature of economics, encompassing "math, business, finance, geopolitics, psychology, sociology, and history," provided a strong foundation for a differentiated career path.
Economics, Emerging Markets, Geopolitics, Financial Analysis, Problem-Solving
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Mike Sims
Advisor
Independent Consulting Company
Penn State University, 2020
Executive MBA, UCLA, June 2023
Economics
Consulting & Related Professional Services, Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG)
Entrepreneurship and Business Owner
Veteran
Video Highlights
1. Mike pursued economics to understand global issues, driven by his experiences in different countries where he observed common problems like poor governance and lack of opportunity.
2. His choice of economics was strategic; he aimed for a career in finance and emerging markets, viewing economics as a foundation that integrated math, business, geopolitics, and social sciences.
3. He recommends economics for students seeking a differentiated background, highlighting its broad scope as a valuable foundation for diverse career paths, especially in finance and related fields.
Transcript
What did you do in undergrad to set you up for success in your career?
My biggest reason for choosing economics is my curiosity about how the world works, particularly from a behavioral and scarcity standpoint. My background is different, and I've seen many countries facing significant problems.
We were trying to solve these issues, and I realized that whether I was in Afghanistan, Iraq, or Asia, the fundamental problems were the same. One major issue was governance, which in these areas could use improvement.
The biggest challenge, however, was a lack of opportunity. Many people were being manipulated by those in power, engaging in low-level warfare. While we were trying to find them, talking to them revealed that they didn't want to be fighters.
They wanted to go to school, provide for their families, get a job, and have a pension. These opportunities often didn't exist in the places we were going. I wanted to understand how the world works more deeply than just "jumping on a helicopter."
I saw economics as a fundamental field, like the psychology of how civilizations function when faced with community and scarcity. This is what drove me to study it. I also wanted to work in finance and Emerging Markets, making economics a perfect starting point.
If you want to be an engineer, I’d advise against studying economics first, as you might have to restart. But I like economics because it incorporates math, business, finance, geopolitics, psychology, sociology, and history. It's a great convergence of thought.
For someone looking to be distinct from, say, an accounting graduate, I definitely recommend getting an undergraduate degree in economics.