The turnout marked a record for the event. Now in its 14th year — and the first in a new venue within the global financial hub of Manhattan — GAME Forum stands as a testament to the entrepreneurial ethos that compelled 11 students to found the institution that would become Quinnipiac College nearly a century ago, as Provost Debra J. Liebowitz noted in her stirring keynote address.

The spirit of the founders is the perfect antidote to the uncertain geopolitical and economic times facing the world today, Liebowitz said. Business leaders have always played a key role in reversing the course of history by finding innovative solutions to complex problems, she said, and the next generation of change agents could be sitting in the crowd at GAME.



“For good or ill, uncertainty is the defining market, financial and political reality of the day,” Liebowitz said. “I can’t think of a better response to uncertainty than being here to embrace learning. Because despite the headlines of the day, despite the headwinds that will exist tomorrow, I really believe that magic happens when we come together for the common purpose of effecting the greater good.”

Against the backdrop of the stock market crash of 1929, the founders provided the framework for how to turn volatility into opportunity, Liebowitz added.

“[Uncertainty] is something that each of you can harness,” she said. “The lesson of those 11 students couldn’t be clearer or more relevant today: when the landscape shifts, we don’t just stand still. We embrace learning and listening, and we move together toward something better.”

Student oversight chair Quinn Guth ’24, MBA ’25, delivered a poignant welcome address, urging his fellow attendees to “be curious and be bold” across the “two-day sprint of insight, strategy and connection.”

Noting that “growth doesn’t come from comfort zones,” Guth highlighted the similarities between his four-year stint as a member of the men’s basketball team at Quinnipiac and the desire to forge a path to success in the finance world.

“While they may seem worlds apart, there are striking parallels between attending this forum and competing at the highest levels of collegiate athletics,” Guth said. “Time and time again, I found that the same principles that guide us on the court also apply here in this room, in this industry, in the careers that await us. As athletes, we learn how to push harder, prepare longer and stay focused under pressure. We train ourselves to anticipate what’s coming next, to rely on our teammates and to relentlessly improve. In every way, that is what GAME is all about.”

In the day’s marquee event, President Judy Olian was joined on stage by Antony Ressler, co-founder, director and executive chairman of Ares Management and the principal owner of the National Basketball Association’s Atlanta Hawks, for a thoughtful discussion entitled “Outstanding Financial CEO Fireside Chat.”

School of Business Dean Holly J. Raider delivered a warm message of appreciation for the student volunteers and all the behind-the-scenes staff whose tireless efforts keep GAME operating smoothly. The stewardship of Osman Kilic, GAME Forum’s executive director and faculty advisor, has also been a constant as the event approaches its 15th anniversary, she said.

“It’s that commitment that makes possible the educational mission — not just of Quinnipiac — but of all the institutions represented here,” Dean Raider said. “At our School of Business, our mission is to educate and equip students for meaningful lives and careers in the real world. We want them to thrive in interdependent, dynamic environments with an emphasis on experiential learning and on the human qualities that set us apart. GAME Forum is a perfect manifestation of every element of that mission.”

Gold sponsors Merrill Lynch and The Dunn-Dunne-Wall Group were among the 65 exhibitors from industry-leading financial firms and organizations on hand to facilitate networking opportunities for the students. A global roster of participating schools included Yale University, Columbia University, Cornell University, New York University, the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, the United States Air Force Academy, the University of Miami, Purdue University, American University of Beirut and the University of Washington, 

Student emcees Mila Iuteri '25, MBA '26, and Rocco Di Carlo ’26 brought the energy between panels, urging the students in attendance to chart a course for a personalized agenda using GAME Forum’s dedicated mobile app and make lasting memories in the photo booth. And Bloomberg Surveillance co-anchors Lisa Abramowicz and Tom Keene each moderated spirited panels discussions in the main ballroom, headlining an impressive array of Wall Street luminaries who lent their candid insights to Thursday’s proceedings. 

Other highlights from the opening slate of panels and workshops included a fireside chat on the psychology of leadership moderated by Board of Trustees member Brett M. Amendola ’91, managing partner of Wooster Square Advisors. Amendola interviewed Sebastien Page, CFA and head of global multi-asset and chief investment officer at T. Rowe Price, whose new book, “The Psychology of Leadership,” was available to all attendees via a promo code shared during the chat.

Day 2 will feature another full lineup of panel discussions, along with the annual student-managed portfolio competition.
 

In Focus