Speaker Event: BlackRock Associate Desireé Koontz

On November 17, 2025, BlackRock Associate Desire Koontz joined us to share her journey into finance and her path from aspiring accountant to Product Strategist for the Global Allocation Fund. She described how working under Rick Rieder accelerated her investment knowledge and how her role bridges traders and sales by translating complex products for clients and making it relatable Desiree emphasized the importance of communication, creativity, and asking many questions, despite how stupid they may seem. She also answered many questions from members, including how she thinks AI will affect the economic majors we choose to pursue in college. Overall, she provided invaluable insight into a career in finance and her journey.