IUM is proud to celebrate an exceptional achievement by our MSc in Finance students who competed in the prestigious CFA Institute Research Challenge 2025. This year, the IUM team—consisting of David Hepting, Max De Paola, Samira Rodriguez, Angela Claudia Miljak, and Dorian Ben Youssef—after winning the French final, achieved 1st place in the CFA EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa) Semi Final, earning them a place in the EMEA Final. The EMEA final event, hosted recently, saw the team ranked 3rd in EMEA and 9th globally, out of more than 1,000 teams worldwide.
CFA Institute Research Challenge
The CFA Institute Research Challenge is one of the most respected competitions in the finance world. It provides students with hands-on experience in financial analysis, valuation, and investment reporting—skills that are at the core of the CFA curriculum. Each team is required to analyze a company, develop a comprehensive research report, and defend their recommendations in front of panels consisting of seasoned investment professionals. The IUM team had to evaluate companies performance, strategy, and growth prospects, all while responding to real-time developments within the company and the market. The task demanded not only deep financial expertise but also adaptability, teamwork, and strategic thinking.
From Classroom to Challenge
The journey began months ago with intensive preparation—analyzing. studying market trends, debating valuation models, and preparing their final pitch. After progressing through the local stages, the team advanced to the CFA EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa) Final, where they meet against top universities from across the region.
Their professionalism, analytical depth, and teamwork were instrumental in driving their success at each stage of the competition. Their placement showcase the school’s continued excellence in finance education and its commitment to preparing students for real-world financial analysis and decision-making
The team worked under the expert guidance of the Program Director Dr. Gregory Moscato, and Dr. Domenico Campa, with additional mentorship from Vincent Tange and classmates.
Looking Ahead
While this chapter of the CFA Challenge has come to a close, the journey is far from over for these talented students. Their performance on a global stage not only brought pride to IUM but also laid a solid foundation for their future careers in finance.
As they move forward, they carry with them not only international recognition, but also lifelong lessons in leadership, collaboration, and excellence.
Congratulations once again to our incredible CFA Team—you have truly raised the bar.
Updated 11 April 2025