Finance in Focus

Webinars

Inside the Finance World with Jesse McDougall

Ever wondered what investment bankers really do? Or how hedge funds and PE firms make their money? Jesse McDougall offers a practical look into the finance world, from M&A and investment strategies to the tools used by top professionals. Drawing on her experience as an investment banker, hedge fund founder, CFO, and development finance lead, Jesse explores the key skills and insights that shape the industry. 

About the speaker

Jesse McDougall leads UK Export Finance’s origination efforts in the US, Mexico, and the English-speaking Caribbean. UKEF provides debt financing to projects and transactions globally, with an emphasis on clean growth and sustainable infrastructure solutions. She has been a Visiting Professor at King's College London and Queen Mary, University of London, since 2009. She worked in Investment Banking for BMO Capital Markets in Canada and in London, advising large-cap Canadian companies in the early 2000s. Jesse was a Vice President and Portfolio Manager at Barclays Capital on the Equity Derivatives Proprietary Trading team in London, researching and trading a variety of alpha strategies, including long/short, event-driven and quantitative futures trading. Jesse is a McGill University and London Business School graduate (Mathematics and Finance). 

Mastering Private Equity, Venture Capital, and Deal-Making: Module Insights from Omiros D. Sarikas

What does it take to structure a successful deal in today’s fast-moving investment landscape? Omiros D. Sarikas, CEO of Brookstreet Equity Partners and Visiting Faculty at Queen Mary University of London, shares real-world insights from over 300 global transactions. This session explores how private equity and venture capital intersect with innovation, ESG, and digital transformation, and what it means for aspiring finance professionals.

About the speaker

Omiros D. Sarikas is the Founder and Managing Partner of Brookstreet Equity Partners LLP, a Mayfair-based private equity firm recognised for its focus on innovation and ESG-driven investments. Omiros also serves as a Visiting Faculty member in Private Equity and Venture Capital at Queen Mary University of London. He has been honoured with accolades such as “Game Changer of the Year,” “CEO of the Year,” and inclusion in Real Deals' Drax Future 40 list. With extensive international experience in M&A and investment across London, Zürich, and New York, Omiros has executed over 300 engagements involving corporates, investment banks, PEVC funds, and governments. He holds degrees from Harvard Business School, London Business School, and the London School of Economics.

Understanding the Financial Sector in the UK

Gain a clear picture of the UK financial sector, its structure, key trends, and career opportunities, with expert insights from our academic and professional development teams. 

About the speakers

Pash is a Careers Consultant within the Careers Service at Queen Mary University of London, working with schools on employability initiatives inside and outside the curriculum. Pash has a background as a university recruiter with several leading graduate employers in industries as varied as fintech, consultancy & advisory and health & social care. He has managed recruitment and assessment for Bloomberg’s ‘Analytics & Sales’ programme, Frontline’s graduate programme in children’s social work and Gartner’s graduate sales roles. 

Lewis is the initial point of contact for employability queries within the School of Economics and Finance. He organises professional development opportunities for postgraduate students studying at the School, helps to coordinate the PGt careers programme and raises awareness of other employability initiatives. As part of this, Lewis manages the Professional Development Award, a development plan that supports skills development to prepare students for the move into the graduate job market. Lewis also organises the professional development modules, which currently include AmplifyME Finance Simulations, C++ for Finance and VBA/Excel for Finance, MATLAB and Applied Portfolio Management.

 

Contact:

If you have any questions about these events, email sef-studentrecruitment@qmul.ac.uk