Making the transition from a career in high technology to a career in finance can be difficult, especially in our tech-saturated talent environment. What specific skills, networking, and strategies can you employ to make a successful transition to finance? What is the key to becoming a decision-making member of the finance team, rather than the "tech expert" hired to consult for one-off projects? Perhaps you are in technology and would like to better understand the interaction between tech and finance for your current company or future entrepreneurial ventures?

John Rohal (WG79) brings a wealth of experience to bear on this topic, having started his career with fourteen years in the technology industry in a variety of sales, marketing, and planning executive positions, then making a successful transition to the world of investment banking and hedge funds. John's financial background includes successful careers at Alex Brown & Sons (MD and Co-Head of the Technology Research Group), Robertson Stephens (Global Research Director), and EGM Capital (Chairman, MD, and Chairman of the Portfolio Strategy Committee). John is also a member of the WCNC's Board of Directors.

The format is highly interactive--John will give a brief presentation but will then open the floor and encourage a robust dialog. This will be an excellent learning experience and networking opportunity for both tech and finance professionals. So please bring your appetite (dinner will be served), and join us in the Goldman Sachs Conference Room in the B of A Building for this unique opportunity.

Date. Wednesday, March 9th, 2005
Time. 6:15-8:00pm
Place. Goldman Sachs: 555 California (the B of A building), 45th Floor Conference Room, San Francisco, CA 94104
Fee. $25 for WCNC members and one accompanied guest; this event is limited to current WCNC members and one accompanied guest.

Due to the small attendance format of this roundtable, it is expected to fill up quickly. If you would like to attend, please register now. If the event is full already, put yourself on the wait list--there is a very good chance that at least the first few people on the wait list will be able to join the roundtable.

John Rohal
Mr. Rohal most recently was Chairman, Managing Director and Chairman, Portfolio Strategy Committee of EGM Capital, a San Francisco based hedge fund focused on Long/Short Equity investing. Prior to EGM, he was the Global Research Director for Robertson Stephens, a growth equities focused San Francisco based investment bank. During his eight years at Robertson Stephens, Mr. Rohal built the research department from 13 senior analysts to over 50 plus a large support staff, covering all major growth industries. Mr. Rohal began his career in financial services at Alex Brown & Sons where he was managing director and co-head of the Technology Research Group. During his ten years at Alex Brown as a senior equities analyst, he provided research coverage on communications, workstations and design automation. Mr. Rohal also served on the Commitment and Investment Opportunities Committees of the firm. Prior to joining Alex Brown, Mr. Rohal spent 14 years in a variety of sales, marketing and planning executive positions starting in 1969 at IBM in sales. While at Honeywell, Mr. Rohal ran multiple sales offices in the computing business. At Pfizer, he ran sales and marketing for the diagnostics products division. During his tenure at Martin Marietta, he headed strategic planning as well as product marketing for the Data Systems Division. Mr. Rohal received a BS from West Virginia University, and an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He also attended Law School at Georgetown University.