For Glenn Eckert, BS Finance ‘89, MBA ‘92, life in finance was not started by visiting a Bloomberg Terminal or a Wall Street internship. It started in Fairfax, Virginia, with athletics including swimming and rowing, a part-time job, and a degree from George Mason University that helped boost momentum.
Glenn Eckert was born in New York City and moved to Northern Virginia when his father’s job was relocated. He graduated from South Lakes High School in 1985 and chose to enroll at George Mason. At that time, George Mason was smaller compared to now, but to Glenn it was a campus that offered opportunities provided by its proximity to Washington, D.C., while still maintaining a close-knit campus feel. During Glenn’s time at George Mason, he worked part-time, was involved in club sports, and was one of the founding members of George Mason’s Beta Theta Pi fraternity.
Initially drawn to marketing, Glenn’s career path took a change of direction while he was a student intern at EMC, just before their IPO. Having the opportunity to witness the scale and strategy of the public offering the company was going through, he realized that finance wasn’t just technical, it was exciting, intellectually challenging, and full of impact. The IPO was Glenn’s first taste of finance, and he never looked back.
Fast forward to today, Glenn serves as a managing director at Moody’s, overseeing corporate credit ratings across various industries. His journey through finance has included experiences in banking and analyzing a broad spectrum of industries including, media, telecom, homebuilding, and manufacturing, and years of leadership experience. While technical knowledge matters, he emphasizes that soft skills are a must. To build a career in finance, students should aim to have a strength in both.
Glenn discussed the competitive nature of the finance world, and how it draws talent from everywhere. Students should know that early on and be able to differentiate themselves. His advice? Build real experience through internships, part-time jobs, get involved on campus, and most of all—show INITIATIVE! An internship experience isn’t optional or recommended anymore, it’s expected in the competitive finance landscape.
One of the biggest takeaways from Glenn’s experience is that success is about blending knowledge and relationships. Your network is your net worth and that’s not just a saying, it’s the reality. If you put in the work, the sky is your limit.
Glenn’s advice to students is straightforward: Stay true to who you are, don’t pick a path just because someone told you so. Find something that interests you and excites you that you can pursue for the rest of your life. He also encourages students to ask for feedback, own your mistakes, and above all, invest in yourself both professionally and personally. Study topics that interest you and surround yourself with people who want you to grow.