Strictly BIF

Phillip Butler

Bhavin Dhanani

Cass Business School

 

Strictly BIF was founded by three students from Cass Business School, studying Banking and International Finance (BIF). Our names are Phillip Butler, Bhavin Dhanani and Christian Esposito with additional support from Patrick Fraser, a fellow BIF student. Since its creation several other Cass students have now joined to aid in the expansion of the newsletter. We all have varying roles and responsibilities but as a team we produce a weekly financial newsletter detailing the important financial news from the previous week.

The idea started when we realised a school with the quality of Cass has no newsletter written by or for the students. Being students ourselves we know how tough it is to acquire and read the relevant financial sources during the week. Whether it is the Financial Times or The Economist, keeping abreast of the week's news is challenging especially when work starts to swell. Therefore by condensing the week's news in to one readable weekly newsletter, it allows fellow students and lecturers to keep up to date with current financial issues.

Since our launch in October 2007 we have begun to expand the newsletter with the creation of this website, a blog, mailing facilities and user polls. With the aim of encouraging debate over financial issues, complementing Cass Business School's degrees and allowing expression of opinions.

We have received a great amount of support from people within Cass Business School with particular thanks to Maria Carapeto, Barbara Casu, Ben Sawtell, Gemma Lines and Alistair Milne.

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Here is some further information about the individuals in the group.

Phillip Butler

I am originally from Chelmsford in Essex but now live in Orpington in the Borough of Bromley. I took my GCSE's and A-levels at Hayes Secondary School where I achieved A-level results of 3 A's and a B in Maths, Physics, I.T. and Economics respectively. Cass Business School was my first choice university and I have not been disappointed whilst studying here. In my free time when I am not studying, commuting or working I try to unwind by playing football, basketball or squash. I am currently taking an industrial year out at the Bank of England where I work as a research assistant in Monetary Analysis (You can read about my time at the BofE on the "placement experience" section our site).

My involvement within Strictly BIF is the design and maintenance of the website and blog where I continually interact via the blog to share my views and opinions. I write stories from time to time and assist in choosing stories and bites. I have done a lot of work trying to expand the newsletter and increasing the number of members involved in the newsletters creation.

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Bhavin Dhanani

I live in Edmonton, north London. I studied for my A Levels at Woodhouse College where I got 3 A's in Maths, Economics, and Accounting. I am currently on my placement year at Morgan Stanley, where I work in the foreign exchange team within Operations. In my spare time I enjoy playing cricket and table tennis.

My involvement in Strictly BIF is in writing and researching the suitable stories. I also contribute to the banking bites and think of and assess new ways in which we can drive Strictly BIF forward.

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Christian Esposito

I am from Hempstead in Kent and spend most of my time at university or playing football for various district and university teams. I attended Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School for my GCSEs and A levels, where I attained 4 A's and a B in Maths, Geography, Physic, General Studies and Classical Civilisation. I choose Cass Business School over LSE and Warwick when deciding my university and have not looked back since.

My involvement in the Strictly BIF newsletter extends to contributing the Key term of the week depending on occurrences in the markets and I also add the company profiles and market discussions to the newsletter. I edit and grow the newsletter through meetings with senior Cass employees and discuss content and layout of all forms of the newsletter across all media.

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Sarah Lloyd

I spent the early years of my life in Hopton, East Anglia before moving to the Seychelles Islands where I completed my GCSEs and A Levels - obtaining 2 A's and a B in French, History and English as well as AS Economics.  I worked for two years, in sales and marketing before moving into the research division of the Central Bank of Seychelles. After working for 2 years, Cass was my first choice university - a decision I do not regret at all. I will be returning to the Seychelles upon completion of my degree to continue working with the Central Bank.

I only recently joined the Strictly BIF team upon starting my second year at Cass.  I write one to two articles a week for the newsletter and occasionally contribute towards the Banking Bites.

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Sunny Shah

I was born and brought up in Mumbai, India where I did my schooling before coming to UK in August 2005. I completed my A-Levels in Mathematics, Economics, Accounting and Business from West London College before joining Cass Business School. At university I am studying Investment and Financial Risk Management and enjoying it! As part of my course I am currently doing a yearlong placement with GE Money, which has been a great learning experience.

I have been writing for Strictly BIF for over a year now and hoping to get myself more involved as it compels me to stay abreast with the financial world.

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About Cass

Part of City University, Cass is a business school with a truly international perspective. An environment created for learning, not teaching. A place where students, academics, industry experts, business leaders and policy makers can share ideas, and enrich each other's thinking. The name of City University's Business School is Sir John Cass Business School, City of London or Cass Business School for short. It was formerly known as City University Business School but changed its name in August 2002 following a substantial donation from the Sir John Cass Foundation, a leading educational charity. The undergraduate programme is ranked 1st in London and 3rd in the UK for Business (The Guardian University Guide 2008).

For more information go to http://www.cass.city.ac.uk/

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