Students in Dr. Smirnova’s ECON 3413 “Financial Economics” class at Stamford welcomed former financial industry executive, Mr. John Brett, on Thursday, October 29, 2026.

Mr. Brett had a long fulfilling career in the financial industry, holding positions like Vice President at Morgan Stanley & Co. Inc., Executive Vice President at Paine Webber Inc., and Managing Director at UBS AG, among others.

His visit aimed to inspire students to pursue careers in finance. He shared practical advice on securing a job, retaining it, and defining professional success. While acknowledging the industry’s competitiveness, he emphasized its many opportunities and encouraged students to approach their careers with confidence, humility, a strong work ethic, and the skills they developed in college.

Students asked questions and spoke with Mr. Brett, who invited them to share their career goals and favorite UConn classes. Although all were Economics majors, many cited courses in Political Science, History, and Literature as their favorites. He encouraged students to explore different jobs after graduation to find work they are passionate about. “This way, you will have fun doing it for the rest of your career,” Mr. Brett advised.

Dr. Smirnova frequently welcomes industry professionals into her Economics classes, believing they can bring to life the career competencies students develop in her courses. During Mr. Brett’s visit, students thoroughly enjoyed the informal, free-flowing discussion and found it more motivating than they had expected.

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