2015 MBA To Watch: Joe Hintz

Joe Hintz

 

Cornell University, Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management

Playing the violin requires passion, resolve, and precision. And those traits served Joe Hintz well at Cornell. A classically-trained violinist who has played in orchestras worldwide, Hintz emerged as a quant who managed the school’s hedge fund and ultimately landed a job as an investment analyst. In addition he served as the recruiting head for the school’s investment management club; a group leader who advised first years on the recruiting process; and a teaching assistant for Core Finance, Capital Markets and Asset Management Immersion.

Age: 34

Hometown: San Diego, CA

Undergraduate School: Oberlin Conservatory of Music

Undergraduate Degree: Bachelor of Music, Violin Performance

Where did you work before enrolling in business school? I was a professional classical violinist. I performed with various orchestras, including the San Diego Symphony, the New World Symphony, and Orchestra Nova.

Where did you intern during the summer of 2014? American Century Investments as an investment analyst summer associate in Kansas City, Missouri

Where will you be working after graduation? American Century Investments as an investment analyst in Kansas City, Missouri

“I knew I wanted to go to business school when…I learned that it would be the best path toward a career in equity research.”

“If I hadn’t gone to business school, I would be…busily searching for a different route into the world of investment management.”

What are your long-term professional goals? My ultimate goal is to be a successful equities portfolio manager.

Favorite Courses: Macro/Micro-economics; Financial Markets and Institutions; Investment and Portfolio Management; Bankruptcy Law

Which academic or professional achievements are you most proud of? My successful transition from being a professional classical violinist to working on the buy-side in investment management.

Who would you most want to thank for your success (and why)? The strong network of support at the Johnson School. Johnson has such an unbelievably engaged student body, faculty, and alumni base. During the first year of business school, I learned a tremendous amount from second year students and alumni, in addition to what I was learning in the classroom. Everyone was not only willing, but excited to provide guidance and feedback in my process of building out investment ideas for recruiting. I could not have made this transition without their unbelievable energy and support.

Why did you choose this business school? I chose Johnson for three reasons: community, resources, and leadership.

First, I was truly impressed with the sense of community at Johnson. Having a relatively small class size and being located in a small, upstate New York town makes Johnson a naturally tight-knit school. However, I was even more impressed with how eager students were to help each other and to engage in furthering the mission of the school as a whole. Johnson has a very strong pay-it-forward system.

Second, Johnson has abundant experiential learning opportunities that were very attractive to me, particularly as a career switcher. Whether it is the Capital Markets and Asset Management Immersion, the Cayuga MBA Fund (student-run long-short hedge fund), or the Parker Center for Investment Research, the school offered the perfect mix of resources for me to be able to strengthen my investing experience prior to my summer internship.

Finally, I feel that many business schools talk about the strength of their leadership programs, but Johnson truly lives up to its word. It provides a fantastic curriculum of leadership training and then fosters an environment that challenges every student to really test those newly developed skills in real-world situations.  Two of my favorite leadership training activities have been participating in the NOLS backpacking expedition in Patagonia and serving on a non-profit board in Ithaca, through the Johnson Board Fellows program.

What did you enjoy most about business school? Getting to know my classmates. I have been so impressed with the vast array of backgrounds and skillsets that students bring to Johnson. My peers have not only created a positive and supportive environment, they have also taught me so much through their unique insights and talents.

What is your most memorable moment from business school? I will always remember the energy that was running through Sage Hall during the first class-wide case competition. It occurred right at the beginning of our core curriculum semester. Everyone was still excited about meeting new people and about starting their business school experience. There was a very short time period in which each core team could produce their solution to the business case.  I remember busily brainstorming solutions with my teammates and then listening to the final presentations by other teams. That was when I first truly realized the vast wealth of knowledge and varying opinions that my classmates bring to Johnson.

Fun fact about yourself: I am the only person in my immediate family pursuing a career outside of music.

Favorite book: The Most Important Thing, by Howard Marks

Favorite movie: When Harry Met Sally; The Godfather

Favorite musical performer: Three-way tie between Christian Tetzlaff, James Brown, and Radiohead

Favorite television show: Breaking Bad

Favorite vacation spot: My favorite adventure is always the next adventure. I want to travel to new places and experience new cultures.

What are your hobbies? Reading, playing chamber music, spending time with friends and family, and outdoor sports/activities.

What made Joe such an invaluable addition to the class of 2015?

“Joe is a humble, understated student, who is very much seen as a leader within his class and in particular, among the asset management cohort and the student managed hedge fund (Cayuga MBA Fund) at Johnson. Joe is a focused student, who has excelled academically and also professionally as he prepares to join American Century full time next year. As you know from his own portion of this nomination, over the past two years Joe made an incredible career switch from classical violinist to money manager – the raw talent and personal determination required to make this switch, combined with his intellect and thoughtful nature, make me certain Joe will become a leader in his future organizations.” – Amanda Shaw, Assistant Dean, Student Services

DON’T MISS: MBAS TO WATCH FROM THE CLASS OF 2015