On January 24th, the University of Chicago’s Masters Program in Computer Science hosted a dynamic C++ networking event featuring a keynote presentation by Robert Douglas on “The Impact of Technology’s Evolution on Financial Trading.” Attendees also enjoyed an engaging panel discussion with six experts from top organizations, followed by a networking hour to connect with industry leaders in tech and recruitment.
Ayaachi Jha, an MPCS student, described his experience at the event.
“The event provided valuable insights into the opportunities and the key differences between roles and their responsibilities in fintech. The panelists were very active in answering all our questions during the networking phase and introduced me to roles in fintech that align with my experiences as a developer.”
The sentiment was echoed by Dikshant Pratap Singh, a recent MPCS graduate, who enjoyed hearing from both the keynote speaker, Robert Douglas, and the esteemed panel.
“Exploring Career Paths and Trends in Finance and FinTech” was a high-impact event for students keen on C++ and the financial industry. Robert Douglas’s keynote showcased how C++ is revolutionizing trading, while a stellar panel of experts dispelled common myths and offered a candid look at the industry’s competitive hiring landscape. The post-event networking session provided a prime opportunity to connect with quants and software engineers from Aquatic, as well as seasoned recruitment professionals from Shelby Jennings, covering everything from trading technologies to optimizing job searches. Overall, this event offered a powerful blend of learning and relationship-building—an invaluable experience for anyone aspiring to thrive in the ever-evolving world of finance and FinTech.”
During the panel, seasoned technologists, quantitative strategists, and experienced recruiters shared their knowledge and experiences in the fintech industry. Navya Vedachala, an MPCS student, shared how the panel discussion made an impact on her view of technical interviews.
“The part of the conference that stayed with me most was when Robert Zeh spoke about how in interviews, the technical question the company is asking is not necessarily the question they are seeking an answer to. There might not even be a “correct” answer. Through the question, the team might be looking to see how you approach challenges and when and if you give up. So it matters that you don’t give up. The panel made me embrace how so much of working in a C/C++ is about not getting frustrated when you get stuck but to instead get curious and reason about each line of code, because it’s low-level nature lets you do that!”
Additionally, this event was useful to students from a wide array of backgrounds. Shivalika Chaudhary, a current MPCS student, described her experience coming from a non-fintech background.
“The C++ networking event was overall a really great experience! Coming from a non-fintech background, it was really interesting to learn more about the industry and discover the wide range of exciting C++ roles beyond just quant. Being in a room filled with people so passionate about C++ was both inspiring and reassuring, it’s great to see how relevant and thriving C++ still is. The networking was a big highlight for me. I met so many people from such different backgrounds, each bringing something unique to the table. The panelists were very insightful and really approachable, making it easy to have great conversations and build connections after the session. I’m definitely looking forward to more events like this!”
Thank you to all who attended this event. We look forward to hosting similar events in the future.
If you’re interested in moving your technical career forward with a MS in Computer Science, learn more about our program and apply here!