William Gutknecht
Hometown: Madison, WI
Year in School: Junior
Interests/Hobbies:
I love traveling, cooking, and exercising—whether it’s weightlifting or playing a sport, I’m all in.
Involvements/Employment/Activities:
I’ve been working at Anytime Fitness for almost two years, leading group weight training classes, and I really enjoy helping people get stronger and feel better.
Where is your favorite place on campus and why?
One of my favorite spots on campus is the Discovery Center—it has fantastic study spaces and an awesome café.
What has been your favorite Econ course?
As for classes, my favorite Econ course is Econ 330: Money and Banking with Professor Steven Rick. I’m taking it now, and every lecture feels like my birthday. If you’re even remotely interested in the banking system, this course is a must.
If you have any other majors or certificates in addition to Econ, how did you decide to add Econ or add the other major/certificate?
I’m also earning a certificate in Data Science because so much of economics and finance involves working with data. Even if I don’t use these skills daily, understanding the language of data science will be valuable as I move into my career.
How do you manage your course load?
I’m big on organizing and planning, so study plans and to-do lists are key to managing my workload. The best advice I’ve ever gotten about productivity is simple: be efficient. Set up a quiet, distraction-free environment, and focus on active work, not passive studying. I also don’t have any social media, which makes staying focused a lot easier.
Do you know what you want to do after graduation? If yes, what? If not, what advice would you give to another student who may not know either?
After graduating, I plan to pursue a Master’s in Financial Economics while working part-time in finance or data analytics. Ultimately, I aim to open a financial advising firm to help reduce families’ financial stress and increase knowledge of the financial system.