Meet Brandes Mentors

Brandes RISE Mentorship Program Mentors

We’ve provided synopses of their professional backgrounds and a Q&A to amplify the experience and motivation they bring to the program.

 

Mitch Cooper

  • Research Associate

Mitch Cooper is a Research Associate in the Industrials group, assisting in the fundamental research on companies primarily in the heavy building materials and construction services sectors since joining the Research Associate Program in fall 2020. Before joining Brandes, Mitch worked in analytics at TD Ameritrade on the Trading and Client Experience teams as part of a rotational “emerging talent” program and as an intern at Thompson Research Group. He earned his MS in Finance from Vanderbilt’s Owen Graduate School of Business and his BS in Finance and a certification in analytics with distinctions from Saint Louis University.

Q: What led you to pursue a career in investment management and why do you think mentorship is important?
A: I knew I wanted to pursue a career in investment management after taking a portfolio management class my senior year at Saint Louis University. My intro to finance professor informed me of the course in my sophomore year and the pre-requisites required and encouraged me to pursue the optimal coursework, internships, and recommendations to have my application accepted. The class introduced me to several new ideas, concepts, applications and mentors that I feel set me up for a successful and informed career in investment management. To me, mentorship is crucial to give students an early introduction to all the prospective careers and pathways you can take within investment management.

Program Manager

Mitch Cooper

  • Research Associate

Mitch Cooper is a Research Associate in the Industrials group, assisting in the fundamental research on companies primarily in the heavy building materials and construction services sectors since joining the Research Associate Program in fall 2020. Before joining Brandes, Mitch worked in analytics at TD Ameritrade on the Trading and Client Experience teams as part of a rotational “emerging talent” program and as an intern at Thompson Research Group. He earned his MS in Finance from Vanderbilt’s Owen Graduate School of Business and his BS in Finance and a certification in analytics with distinctions from Saint Louis University.

Q: What led you to pursue a career in investment management and why do you think mentorship is important?
A: I knew I wanted to pursue a career in investment management after taking a portfolio management class my senior year at Saint Louis University. My intro to finance professor informed me of the course in my sophomore year and the pre-requisites required and encouraged me to pursue the optimal coursework, internships, and recommendations to have my application accepted. The class introduced me to several new ideas, concepts, applications and mentors that I feel set me up for a successful and informed career in investment management. To me, mentorship is crucial to give students an early introduction to all the prospective careers and pathways you can take within investment management.

*Program Sponsor