Gabelli School of Business, Fordham Foundry, and SuitUp Partner in “Battle of the Boroughs” Competition, Which Introduced High School Students to Careers in Financial Services

Featured Events | Dec 23, 2024 | Gabelli School of Business

On December 13, 2024, hundreds of NYC high school students, from across the boroughs, descended upon Fordham University’s Gabelli School of Business, at Fordham’s Lincoln Center campus. They participated in the SuitUp “Battle of the Boroughs” competition, which focused on building a diverse talent pipeline in the financial services sector by engaging students in an exercise that introduced them to the world of finance. This entailed having them create a product or service that celebrates and builds a sense of community in New York City.

Members of Queens Team 1 pose for a photo prior to beginning work on their project.

Educational institutions that competed included: Liberty Partnerships Program, Bronx; Integration Charter Schools, Staten Island; St. Jean Baptiste High School, Manhattan; The Young Women’s Leadership School of Brooklyn and The Brooklyn School for Math and Research; and John Adams High School, Queens. SuitUp also enlisted corporate partners including Apollo Global Management, Ares Management, BlackRock, Global Atlantic Financial Group, Goldman Sachs, and Santander Bank, whose executives served as coaches and judges for the contest.

Lerzan Aksoy, Ph.D., Gabelli School dean, delivered opening remarks, welcoming students to the School and encouraging them to consider careers in business. Al Bartosic, Fordham Foundry executive director, who has been instrumental in building the partnership with SuitUp and executing the event, also was on hand, serving as a judge.

Lesley A. Massiah-Arthur, Fordham’s associate vice president for government relations and urban affairs and special assistant to the president, arranged for the Bronx and Brooklyn borough presidents to attend the competition and deliver inspirational remarks. Casandra Gomez, project coordinator for government relations & urban affairs was on hand to ensure that all proceeded smoothly.

Both borough presidents were deeply impressed with the caliber and originality of the presentations the students delivered, with each commenting on the wonderful opportunity the SuitUp competition provides.

“I want to congratulate all of the students who participated in the “Battle of the Boroughs.” This event is vital in providing our youth with the tools to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills, empowering them to be the leaders of tomorrow. A special thank you to Fordham University and to all of the sponsors for hosting such a successful event.” said Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson.

“Experiential learning programs like Battle of the Boroughs provide students with a fun opportunity to learn about new fields and gain career readiness skills. It was great to hear so many creative ideas and to see the students’ collaborative spirit on full display. Thank you to Fordham, SuitUp, and the many other partners who organized this memorable event,” said Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso.

Brooklyn Borough President, Antonio Reynoso, and Bronx Borough President, Vanessa Gibson, pose for a photo during the competition.

Coached by a participating financial services sponsor, the student “CEOs” developed a product or service they sensed would build community in New York City. Each idea included a profit margin, a 3-year financial model, and a list of KPIs to measure success. The winning team from each borough went “head-to-head” in a true battle of the boroughs final.

Students from the Liberty Partnerships Program (LPP) in the Bronx took first place, with an idea for eyeglasses that help to translate what others are saying into different languages so that all New Yorkers can understand one another. The Liberty Partnerships Program is a comprehensive pre-collegiate/dropout prevention program that was established in 1988 by the New York State Education Department. The SuitUp victory by LPP (Bronx) was particularly meaningful, as Fordham University has been a part of the Liberty Partnerships Program since 1989. This critical collaboration provides academic, social-emotional, and enrichment services to over 300 students enrolled in grades 6 through 12.

All students walked away from the SuitUp experience with a greater understanding of the financial services industry and the business world, as well as the confidence that, they too can be CEOs someday.