I met Grant Ebenger for the first time this year. We have several classes together, and he stands out in all of them with his open and affable personality, infectious curiosity, and admirable work ethic. It’s apparent to anyone who meets Grant that he will be successful, but after interviewing him, I’m fully convinced that we’ll all be working for him some day. Keep reading to see what I mean.
Quick Facts
Name: Grant Ebenger
Dorm: Duncan
Hometown: Fort Lauderdale, FL
Major: Finance
Favorite professor: James Sterba
What is your favorite thing about being a student at Notre Dame?
Ironically, before this interview, in a cab, I met an assistant professor at the Wharton Business School who was traveling to top schools across the nation to present his findings regarding the economic impacts of an individual healthcare mandate. This is a typical day at Notre Dame. Our university attracts the best students, professors, speakers, and opportunities! For me, I have focused on the unbelievable career resources by venturing into projects that align with my career interests. SIBC projects allow me to travel to firms to present investment theses or marketing solution. On top of that, our alumni cannot be beat. It is amazing how at any point I can pick up the phone and call some of the top professionals in the world and get advice about my career or even general life advice. Put simply, we are spoiled with opportunities at ND.
How did you choose your major? What do you plan on doing with it after college?
In high school, I decided to major in Finance. It even played a major role in me choosing Notre Dame. Since an early age, I have been interested in business. I was the kid on the block with the lemonade stand. I am a numismatic (a geeky way of saying coin collector) and I used to – ok, I still do – collect Disney pins. I love markets, but as I got more exposure to the world of finance, I discovered the odd world of debt. As a kid, I never understood why one would take a second mortgage on their house, how the bank paid us to protect our money? That drove my interest in how debt can be exploited to grow returns. In all, I am interested in fields like private equity and investment banking.
What is your favorite memory at Notre Dame so far?
Nine of ten students would likely answer with a big football victory, but my favorite ND moment was definitely Domerfest. Ok, not actually. Instead, I really enjoyed learning how to play soccer. Two of my friends, Cornelius and Radoslaw, both loved soccer, so one day they convinced me to play, and after that, it became my passion. At first, I was terrible, but they kept pushing me and now I am just bad. I’ve never been an athlete by any means, but Notre Dame has exposed me to a whole other side of my life.
Are there any quotes or mottos that you try to live by?
I live by my motto. I promise to focus on what is in my control and worry about nothing else. Every day I encounter problems and stresses, but if I focus on what I cannot control, I only feel stressed. So, I found that the best way to cope is to relax and focus on what I can control. If I do my best, I can only hope for the rest. And yes, this includes my mistakes in the past. They happen! So study harder for the next test, be kinder to the next person, and do not eat the froyo next time in the dining hall. Most of all, however, do not allow regrets of the past to stifle your progress.
If you could choose three famous people to come to campus (singers, speakers, comedians, etc.), whom would you pick?
Three people! This is tough, but let’s begin with Justin Timberlake. I am a big fan of his music, and I have heard he is great in concert.
My inner geek also would like Aswath Damodaran to come to campus (not at the same time as JT, however; I can’t imagine Professor Damodaran’s dance moves). He is a professor at NYU who has written a large portion of the finance literature and resources that I have used here at ND. I would love to see him teach a class.
Finally, I would like George Soros to come speak on campus. Not only is he an expert in hedge funds, but also he is one of my favorite philanthropists. Unlike most others, Soros takes on causes that he is more than passionate about. He goes beyond typical charities and will go to all ends to find justice. For instance, he funded black students to attend the University of Cape Town during apartheid in South Africa.
Thanks for the interview, Grant!
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Images courtesy of the interviewee.