A Real Case, Real Investments, and a Global Professor: Guest Lecture by Professor Mikhail Munenzon
On Monday, March 31, students of the Master’s in Finance program had the chance to attend a dynamic guest lecture by Professor Mikhail Munenzon from Illinois Wesleyan University (USA). But this was more than just a lecture — it was a hands-on workshop where finance theory met real-world practice, and investment decisions felt strikingly real.
Professor Munenzon is not only an academic — he’s a practitioner with an impressive international track record. A CFA charterholder, risk management expert, and published author in top-tier journals, he also leads the Quantitative Finance Program and directs the Greg Yess Bloomberg Lab at IWU. His students in the U.S. work with real financial data and cutting-edge tools, preparing for careers at top financial firms.
The lecture in our program covered two insightful mini-sessions: “What is an Investment?” and “Financial Statement Analysis from an Investor’s Perspective.” Professor Munenzon walked students through core investment principles, contrasted the investor vs. accountant mindset, and offered practical insights on evaluating companies.
One of the highlights was a real-life case study: students were asked to assess a company's investment potential and make a decision. The discussion was lively — weighing pros and cons, analyzing risks and exits, and debating strategies. Professor Munenzon even introduced the psychology of trading and the famous 90/90/90 rule: 90% of traders lose 90% of their capital within 90 days.
We are thrilled to share that Professor Munenzon will be teaching a course on Financial Risk Management in our program. And we hope this is just the beginning of an exciting collaboration! We are proud to welcome another international professor to our faculty — one whose energy, experience, and global perspective are truly inspiring.
Welcome to the team, Professor Munenzon — we look forward to learning and growing together!