UF finance students take 2nd at William & Mary women’s stock pitch competition

University of Florida Warrington College of Business finance students Sydney Shaw (MSF ’26), Sophia Miele (BSBA ’27) and Antonia Koliucheva (BSISE ’28) were awarded second place in the William & Mary Women’s Stock Pitch Competition in Williamsburg, Virginia. Competing against 22 elite teams, they pitched IQVIA (NYSE: IQV), a healthcare contract research organization, in UF’s debut at the event.

Preparation began over winter break, with Warrington’s Master of Science in Finance (MSF) program providing critical tools. Coursework in valuation and financial modeling built their confidence in analyzing IQVIA. Access to Bloomberg Terminals and FactSet via the Heavener School of Business library enabled thorough research into healthcare sector trends.

“We applied to the competition over winter break and did much of the heavy lifting in the months leading up to the pitch,” the team said.

As members of the Gator Student Investment Fund (GSIF), the students brought expertise in financial institutions, energy, and healthcare sectors, respectively. Their diverse academic stages – sophomore, freshman, and junior/MSF – enriched their collaboration, with Shaw handling financials, Miele focusing on market analysis, and Koliucheva tackling industry trends. 

“We believe that this, coupled with our difference in experience, gave us an edge given that we were all able to contribute diverse ideas,” they said.

Warrington’s faculty provided critical feedback, refining their pitch for the competition’s three rounds, where they outshone seven other teams and advanced to the finals alongside two other teams. Facing seasoned judges was daunting, but GSIF’s rigorous pitch practice ensured they excelled. 

“We believe that this was the first time that UF students have attended this conference, thus making a second-place accolade particularly rewarding,” the team said.

Networking with William & Mary faculty and sponsors was a highlight, reinforcing their career aspirations. 

“We were beyond grateful for the opportunity to attend this conference and to meet such incredible W&M faculty, judges, event sponsors, and fellow students,” they said. “This experience reaffirmed our interest in pursuing careers in financial services, and we would certainly recommend these sorts of experiences to fellow Gators in the future.”