About Peter Forlenza
Peter Forlenza, known as Pete, joined Jefferies in June 2013 as Global Head of Equities and a member of the Executive Committee.
With over 20 years of financial leadership, he started his career at Salomon Brothers in 1988, pioneering Program Trading. At Bank of America, he served as Global Head of Equities, overseeing various products, and was a member of the Global Markets Leadership Team. He later became the regional head of Equities for the Americas at UBS. Additionally, Forlenza founded Outpost Investment Group, a global Macro Hedge fund.
He holds a BA from The Catholic University of America and resides in New Jersey with his wife and three children.
Event Overview
After a brief introduction by Dean Andrew Abela, Pete emphasized the pivotal role of critical decision-making early in his career, sharing, “I was faced with a decision that something didn't feel right, and I did something about it, and the decision I made opened doors for me.”
Underlining the significance of faith and staying “grounded,” Pete reflected on how his faith grew during his time at Catholic and served as a guiding force in overcoming challenges. He shared valuable advice with students, urging them to focus on two fundamental aspects: working hard and having fun. Encouraging students in their career discernment journey, he advised, “Learn as much as you can, make contacts– as many as you can, and throw everything you have at it [your career].”
In a concise yet powerful message, Pete encapsulated his guidance for all students: work diligently, act with integrity, foster collaboration, and go the extra mile doing the little things. Concluding with a motivating affirmation, he assured students, “You can do this.” This captures Pete's inspirational message, blending personal stories with practical advice for navigating both personal and professional life.
Audience Questions
What advice would you give to students that you wouldn't hear anywhere else?
- Find the right mentors.
- Find the right people. Look not just at the job but WHO you are doing it with.
- Be inquisitive, confident, and humble. Do not have a sense of entitlement.
What are the top things that will differentiate me from other candidates during an interview?
- Do research on the company, and know something that someone else won't know.
- Ask the person interviewing you about themselves.
What would you do right now, if you were a student at CUA looking to go work on Wall Street?
- Start early
- Consider what interests you.
- There are essentially 3 places to start on Wall Street, find the one that most closely aligns with your innate skills and interests.