Specialized Masters Program Speaker Series Learning from Global Business Leaders
In the Specialized Masters Program Speaker Series, Booth students get business insights and career guidance from top executives.
- By
- January 23, 2026
- Finance
“Make sure not to lose track of the joy. The people that have the most success have that intrinsic motivation.”
That might not be the advice you’d expect from a senior finance executive at Goldman Sachs. But that’s one of the key tips Christian Mueller-Glissmann, head of asset allocation research and a managing director at the global financial institution, recently shared with a roomful of specialized masters students at Booth.
Mueller-Glissmann spent an hour sharing career insights and advice in a wide-ranging discussion with Anil Kashyap, the Stevens Distinguished Service Professor of Economics and Finance. The session was the latest installment of Booth’s Specialized Masters Program Speaker Series, which brings business experts—including alumni—from around the world to Booth to share their wisdom with students in the Master in Management and Asness and Liew Master in Finance programs.
“This speaker series brings the world of business directly into the classroom—connecting students with senior leaders and alumni who are shaping industries today,” says Nirvana Chapman, senior associate director of careers for the specialized masters programs. “These conversations offer more than career insight; they embody the Booth tradition of questioning ideas, testing evidence, and engaging with real-world challenges that define modern business leadership.”
It’s the expert—and at times unexpected—insights, such as focusing on joy to find long-term success in a challenging field, that make the series an especially valuable resource for Booth students.
“The series has been an invaluable learning experience,” says Master in Management student Yashaar Daad, who attended Mueller-Glissmann’s talk as well as previous events featuring Mike Hunstad, president of Northern Trust Asset Management, and Kunal Kapoor, MBA ’04, CEO of Morningstar. “I learned a lot about their respective financial firms, but even more so, I was impressed by their motivation to lead with intellectual curiosity.”
Daad, who is interested in pursuing a career in equity research, added, “The talk between Mueller-Glissmann and Kashyap provided fantastic insight into the world of asset allocation research. I was later able to use those learnings to be well-informed in coffee chats with senior researchers.”
“These conversations offer more than career insight; they embody the Booth tradition of questioning ideas, testing evidence, and engaging with real-world challenges that define modern business leadership.”
— Nirvana Chapman
Mueller-Glissmann’s Lessons from Goldman Sachs
During the session, Mueller-Glissmann gave students an insider’s view of what it’s like to work at Goldman Sachs. He discussed the structure of his research team, the rhythms of day-to-day work, the demands of his globe-trotting role, and the broad approach the firm takes to investment.
Mueller-Glissmann also touched upon the transformational role of AI in his field. “AI is all about data and data ownership,” he said. “I think, ultimately, the companies with the most data will probably have enormous benefits for AI.” Because companies such as Goldman Sachs have massive amounts of proprietary data, Mueller-Glissmann added, “Enterprise AI will probably be a much bigger deal than consumer AI, over time.”
Along with emphasizing joy, Mueller-Glissmann stressed the importance of good communication skills. He shared an anecdote from early in his career when he thought he had nailed a presentation, only to learn from his boss that he came across as “cold” and “technical” and had largely lost the room.
That taught Mueller-Glissmann several valuable lessons: Learn how to have a meaningful conversation, simplify complex topics, and read whatever room you’re in. “Sometimes the best way to start a meeting is to ask questions,” he said. “What do they want to learn from you? How can you best address their needs?”
Mueller-Glissmann also advised students to build a portfolio of skills: Work to become the smartest person on one topic so you become the go-to resource. Then, work on the next topic, and so on. “Over time, you build a portfolio of knowledge that gives you the best scope to be successful,” he said.
At the end of the discussion, students had the opportunity to ask Mueller-Glissmann their own questions about the finance industry and global economy. They touched on the likelihood of a debt crisis, the role of AI in investment strategy, operating across time zones, domestic versus international investment options, and more.
Referencing the US government shutdown, one student asked about responding to potential macro shocks in the market. How do you position portfolios? What’s the framework?
“We try to build models and frameworks that allow us to analyze based on historical parallels and historical patterns,” Mueller-Glissmann said. “It always comes down to quantifying things, trying to benchmark macro data, and trying to add value.”
As the session closed, Mueller-Glissmann left Booth students with one final piece of advice: “This life and this job is all about growth. Never stop growing.”
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