Prof Luis Seco shares his thoughts on 19 years at MMF.
For nineteen wonderful years, I have had the privilege of serving as Director of the Master of Mathematical Finance Program.
When I became Director, the world was in the midst of the subprime financial crisis. The future of finance seemed uncertain, and many wondered what opportunities would remain for our students.
Yet even in 2008, when markets were collapsing around us, every student secured an internship. Some opportunities took our students as far away as Hong Kong, but what mattered was that we never stopped believing in them.
That belief has always been at the heart of this program.
There is a quote often attributed to Goethe that has guided me throughout my career:
“Treat people as if they were what they ought to be, and they will become what they should be.”
That is what this program has always tried to do. We did not simply teach quantitative finance.
We saw potential before it was visible.
We challenged students to become more than they imagined they could be. And year after year, they exceeded every expectation.
Over these nineteen years, we built something unique together.
We introduced the vertical and horizontal scheduling model: a traditional academic structure in the first term and an intensive professional-training format in the third term. That innovation gave us the freedom to bring the very best practitioners, professors, and industry leaders from around the world directly into our classrooms.
Then came the Symposium.
What began as an ambitious experiment became a global gathering of ideas. By the slopes of Blue Mountain, students, academics, executives, entrepreneurs, regulators, and innovators came together to discuss the future of finance.
I still remember David Ha speaking to us in 2017 about how Google Translate worked while he was still at Google. At the time, it seemed fascinating. Looking back, it was a glimpse into the future.
I remember another speaker who had flown from California and opened his presentation by emphasizing how far he had traveled to be with us. What he did not yet realize was that the audience included participants from Germany, Spain, the United States, China, and many other countries. We were no longer a local program. We had become a global community.
At one point, I calculated that more than one million miles had been flown by guests, alumni, faculty, collaborators, and friends simply to spend time with our students and share ideas. Think about that for a moment. More than one million miles traveled because people believed this program—and the people in it—mattered.
Then came COVID.
Like every institution, we faced uncertainty. We had to reinvent ourselves overnight. We became virtual. We adapted. We fought back.
And in doing so, we discovered some of our best ideas.
The internship videos, the emphasis on personal branding, the stronger connection between students and alumni, the new ways of telling your stories and showcasing your achievements—these innovations helped transform an already strong program into an exceptional one.
Then came artificial intelligence, bringing with it entirely new challenges and opportunities. We responded by introducing content on neural networks, large language models, machine learning, ethics, and the social impact of technology. Most recently, we created streams that allow students to focus on areas such as fintech, sustainable finance, regulation, and transformative technologies that will shape the future.
And of course the global impact awards the the Squarepoint scholarships
But when I look back, none of these innovations are what I will remember most.
What I will remember are the people.
We have always said that your success is our success.
For me, that has never been a slogan.
Your success has been my success.
The greatest reward of these nineteen years has been watching our students leave this program and change the world.
Watching Stephen McLennan become Chief Investment Officer of Ontario Teachers’.
Watching Klaus Zimmer from Blackrock manage the largest mutual fund in Mexico.
Watching Matthias Knobloch build Betatron in Hong Kong and successfully raise capital year after year.
Watching Alyson Bailey-Flynn become a leader in the world of international banking audit.
Watching David Ha create Sakana AI, the fastest unicorn in Japanese history.
Watching Ana, Omar, Taha, Ivy, and hundreds upon hundreds of others build remarkable careers across finance, technology, entrepreneurship, academia, and public service.
Every time I see one of your promotions, your companies, your achievements, your families, your contributions to society, I feel an immense sense of pride.
Because those accomplishments are the true legacy of this program.
Not the curriculum.
Not the courses.
Not the buildings.
You.
The alumni.
The students.
The community that grew around this program.
Tomorrow, I will cease to be Director.
And while that chapter ends, I leave with a heart full of gratitude and joy.
When I look at all of you, I am reminded why I was here in the first place.
I was never here to build a title.
I was here to help build people.
And the privilege of watching what you have become has been one of the greatest honours of my life.
I am also grateful that this is not goodbye.
I will continue to work alongside our extraordinary staff and colleagues. I will continue supporting the program under its new leadership from the Department of Economics. I will continue serving as an advisor to the program.
Most importantly, I will continue being available to all of you.
As you always have, you can reach out to me for advice, support, guidance, introductions, opportunities, or simply a conversation.
My door will remain open.
Because once you become part of MMF, you remain part of this family.
Nineteen years ago, I became Director.
Tomorrow, I stop being Director.
But I will never stop being proud of you.
And I will never stop working to make this program the very best it can be.
Thank you for allowing me the privilege of being part of your journey.
– Prof. Luis Seco