If you grew up in Canada, chances are you were encouraged to play hockey throughout your childhood. But if emulating Bobby Orr’s career in that sport was not your calling, it would be advantageous to have an alternate area of interest on which to focus one’s future.
For Toronto-raised Mark Garmaise, senior associate dean of the full-time MBA program and professor of finance, the choice was easy. Thanks to an innate interest in math and finance, he could retire the hockey stick and skates and pursue the areas of study that most intrigued him.
Q: So, are numbers in your blood?
Very likely. After my father earned his advanced degree in the United States, my parents returned to Toronto to set up, own and run a successful investment management firm. I have a brother who is a consultant in New York and a sister working for a market research firm in Toronto. Guess you could say it’s all in the family.
Q: Looks like you followed your parents’ footsteps in pursuit of your academics.
I wanted to attend Harvard University to study math and philosophy, a combined major that was very appealing, as the fields have logic in common. While there wasn’t much time to engage in other campus activities, I did write some political pieces for one of Harvard’s student newspapers (not National Lampoon, in case anyone was wondering). I was working really hard on my studies and focusing on the academics, which was my priority.
You graduated magna cum laude from Harvard, then headed to Stanford University, where you earned a Ph.D. in finance. What was that attraction?
I always wanted to come to California for a number of reasons, including its natural beauty, laid-back attitude — a lot of stereotypes that are based on fact.
Q: But you left California and headed to Chicago upon graduation. What prompted you to leave the state where you longed to live?
Believe it or not, Anderson was the first school to offer me a teaching position after graduation. I was really torn between Anderson and Chicago, but opted for the University of Chicago, where I taught finance for three years. Not only was there tremendous energy there, but it’s where I met my wife.
Q: What drew you back to Anderson?
It started when Anderson’s finance faculty first took me to dinner. They seemed to really enjoy each other’s company, to the point that when dessert arrived at the table, two of them actually shared it from the same plate. I did not see that camaraderie at other schools.
My colleagues here are world-renowned, amazing to work with and extremely pleasant. Most of us have lunch together every day. We do talk about academics, but also broader ideas. It’s one of the best parts of working at Anderson for me. It may also be one of the reasons that there is relatively little turnover here — few people leave the finance department to go elsewhere.
Q: What do you like most about teaching?
My favorite part is asking a question of a student who doesn’t have the immediate answer and then walking the student down the path until he or she achieves the “Aha!” insight. That’s a beautiful moment.
Q: Is there anything unique about your method of teaching?
I wouldn’t say it’s unique to me. I focus on engagement with individual students in the classroom, so when it’s a student’s turn, it’s his or her show. We’ll take the time we need to get where we need to go together. The other students will learn from the interaction.
That method encourages preparation, because I’m not spoon-feeding answers. We get to go down various paths, some of which are not good ideas, but we get to explore that and figure out why something is not a good idea. Not only does it slow me down and prevent me from glossing over things I may have taught many times, it gives students the ability to see others’ thought processes.
I try to spend little time lecturing. I’d rather provide the tools and expertise students need and watch their application process.
Q: Is there anything that few of us might know about you?
I have four young daughters whom I enjoy taking on walks or hikes to a number of scenic spots throughout Los Angeles, such as Baldwin Hills. I no longer play hockey, so this activity becomes my aerobic exercise.
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