Today we’d like to introduce you to Miles Hickman.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I am a second-generation college student from Detroit, MI. I grew up playing sports, reading, and exploring as much as I could of what life had to offer. My father, Darrell Parish, originally from Jackson, MS, rose from humble beginnings to become the president of a $10mm medical equipment manufacturing company in Detroit. My mother, Charlene Hickman, was born and raised in Detroit, MI. She is a proposal manager and has her master’s degree. The most impactful person in my life, my mother, is my backbone and taught me much of what I know today. Of all the lessons my parents taught me, the gift of intellectual curiosity is the most impactful. Matched with discipline and consistency, the seeds of curiosity form the renaissance man I aspire to be.
Navigating through diverse educational experiences, I began at a Christian private K-6 school before transitioning to the University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy. Despite the loss of my father in 8th grade, I persevered, leveraging my grief as a catalyst for success. Throughout high school, I excelled academically and athletically, serving as Student Senate President, leading the football team to victory as a captain, and earning offers from prestigious universities like Columbia and Brown. Ultimately, I chose Morehouse College for its commitment to my holistic development and personal fulfillment.
At Morehouse, I’m studying finance, a passion that’s propelling me toward a promising career path. Upon graduation in May 2024, I’ll be joining Lazard as an investment banking M&A analyst, eager to apply the knowledge and skills I’ve honed. My time at Morehouse has been marked by significant leadership roles, including serving as President of the Morehouse Business Association during my junior year and founding the Morehouse Investment Fund. I’ve also had the privilege of being selected as a fellow of the AltFinance program, a rigorous scholarship and development program designed to groom HBCU students for careers in the alternative investment industry. This program, in partnership with industry-leading alternative asset managers, business schools, and training programs such as Ares, Apollo, Oaktree, MLT, and the Wharton School of Business, has provided me with invaluable insights and connections. Additionally, as a proud brother of the Alpha Rho Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., I’m deeply committed to our fraternity’s principles of manly deeds, scholarship, and love for all mankind. These values serve as constant guiding principles, shaping my actions and decisions every single day as I strive to make a positive impact on the world around me.
My journey at Morehouse has deepened my cultural appreciation and self-awareness, aligning with the college’s ethos of being well-read, well-dressed, well-spoken, well-traveled, and well-balanced. Looking ahead, my interests in investing and dealmaking align with my mission to provide for my family and future generations while striving for excellence and embodying true manhood, making my parents proud every step of the way.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The journey has been both smooth and bumpy. My father passed away in 2015, at the age of 45 when I was in the 8th grade. This was incredibly challenging for me, but I used grief and powerful emotions to push myself. Through channeling my emotions into productivity and optimism, I was able to move forward.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about The Morehouse Investment Fund?
We are a fully student-managed long-term public equity investment fund. Established in November 2022, we set our sights on the S&P 500 as our benchmark, embodying a commitment to sustained growth.
Currently, we are actively engaged in a fundraising initiative to secure live capital for our management endeavors. In this venture, we have forged a strategic partnership with BlackRock, leveraging their proprietary Alladin technology through the BlackRock for Universities (BLK4U) program. This collaboration empowers us to analyze our portfolio comprehensively and gain a nuanced understanding of our risk exposure.
Our team is comprised of 25 brilliant student analysts, all hailing from Morehouse College. These analysts are organized into distinct industry groups, covering technology/software, healthcare, infrastructure, financial institutions, and consumer sectors. For the past year and a half, this talented group of young men and I have spent long days and nights toiling away at crafting a thorough, well-analyzed equity portfolio, which we are excited to share with investors and donors. Notably, our fund stands as a trendsetter, positioning Morehouse College as one of the pioneering HBCUs to participate in the BLK4U program—an achievement that aligns us with prestigious Ivy League institutions and other high-performing schools.
Our primary objective is to secure the necessary funds to give tangible significance to our investment analysts’ portfolio pitches. This not only underscores the real-dollar implications of our work but also serves as a testament to the exceptional capabilities and intellectual curiosity inherent in the Morehouse College community and HBCUs at large. Through this fundraising endeavor, my co-founder, PJ Martin, and I aim to showcase our unique position as trailblazers in the investment landscape.
Any big plans?
In June 2024, I will begin my career in investment banking at Lazard. Currently, I am on a trajectory to establish a multi-billion-dollar initiative. This venture aims to invest across various asset classes and actively contribute to positive social and economic changes. The initiative will be positioned to address critical issues such as food insecurity, financial illiteracy, and housing shortages. My vision is to build an institution that combines financial success with a commitment to making a meaningful impact on pressing life challenges.
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