Name: Blake
Junior
Major: Mathematical Methods in the Social Sciences, Economics
CFS Concentration: Business Field Studies

This quarter, I have had the wonderful opportunity to work at Wind Point Partners, a middle-market private equity firm located on Michigan Avenue in Chicago. In the short number of weeks I have been with the firm so far, I have been able to work on numerous deals in a wide array of industries. The classroom environment at Northwestern is one that I truly enjoy, but real-world experiences like those gained in a private equity firm cannot be learned in a classroom or at the library. Whether it was the couple of days I spent outlining motor carriers’ adoption of new energy sources, or researching the European rodenticide regulatory environment, the work at Wind Point has been varied, engaging, and intellectually stimulating.

Although the internship experience was the driving factor in my decision to apply for CFS, the classroom component has been markedly beneficial to my academics and in shaping my career outlook. Brian Sargent, my instructor for the quarter, has an academic background in Sociology, but his knowledge of a wide variety of academic spheres became quickly apparent. During the quarter, my classmates and I have read academic articles from disciplines we likely would not have otherwise investigated in our standard courses. Beyond the readings, Brian has led our weekly discussion sections in a way that has challenged all of us to discuss cultural issues using a well-defined academic framework.

This coming summer, I will be working at a Chicago-based, middle-market investment bank in the corporate finance division. My time at Wind Point will certainly be beneficial when I begin that role in a few weeks, as it will have introduced me to the “other side” of acquisitions. Without Chicago Field Studies, I never would have had the opportunity to gain valuable exposure to a sector so relevant to my intended career path, nor would I have taken the time to think critically about the variety of social issues found in the modern workplace.