The University of Chicago Booth School of Business

Mark Lanctot

Mark is an international equity trader who is pursuing concentrations in analytical finance and entrepreneurship. He believes Booth’s flexible curriculum has given him the opportunity to take chances and grow in new directions.

About Mark

  • Current Position
    E*Trade Capital Markets
    International Equity Market Maker
  • Program
    Evening MBA
  • Concentrations
    Analytical Finance
    Entrepreneurship
  • Student Groups
    Student Admissions Committee
    Student Mentoring Program
    Wine Club (co-chair)
  • Living In
    Chicago, IL
  • Previous Degree
    University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
    BS, Finance

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Mark describes Booth as a mindset that provides students with a veritable toolbox of innovative problem-solving techniques.

The Essence of the Booth Experience

The Booth experience is designed to prepare students to handle any situation they might encounter in business.

Booth is not about taking one economics course. Booth is not about taking one investment course. Booth is about a way of thinking. Booth is a toolbox that allows you to apply innovative problem-solving techniques across the board no matter what.

Exploring New Areas through the Flexible Curriculum

Booth’s flexible curriculum allows you to maintain control over your own destiny. I don’t want to be in a program where everything is scripted and nothing is expected to change. The flexibility of the program is key because it allows students to explore, try new things, and grow.

I am a perfect example of how Booth’s flexible curriculum can transform you in unexpected ways. I came here determined to concentrate my efforts in analytical finance, but I’ve taken courses that have opened my eyes to additional interests in entrepreneurship. I love that the Booth MBA allows me to make choices and to adjust my path if something captures my imagination.

Faculty Teach a Global View

Taking International Corporate Finance with Professor Raghuram Rajan truly opened my mind. This is a thinker who has made a world impact. He was the former chief economist for the International Monetary Fund and is currently an economic advisor to the Prime Minister of India.

Professor Rajan taught me that yes, numbers are important, but they are only a small part of the picture. Culture, management, personalities—all these things matter too, and he has a unique way of bringing everything together in a way so students understand how to think about the context as a whole as opposed to just one part.

The Impact of Booth at Work

In my current role, Booth has given me more confidence. Have I applied academics? Yes, I have. I am learning things here that I can directly transfer from the classroom to my job. Also, I think knowing that I have been able to successfully take part in such a rigorous program has inspired me to take on additional challenges at work.

I think differently. Like my fellow classmates, I’m no longer satisfied with the first answer that presents itself. I question everything, not to simply shoot down an analysis or make someone feel inferior, but rather to ensure I can deliver the best product and know that anybody who sees it will understand that it’s been thoroughly Booth-tested.