By Cassandra Taylor, Publications Assistant
After graduation, Micah O’Leary Kurtz ’11 took what he had learned during his time at the College and dove headlong into the world of finance. Now, in addition to his work at Morgan Stanley, he also serves on the board of Patrons of the Arts in the Vatican Museums—following his own advice to give back to what is important to you.
He took some time from his work and family life to tell us more about getting his foot in the finance door and meeting Pope Francis.
You are a CFP® for the Gemmell and Kurtz Group at Morgan Stanley. What was your path like from TMC to wealth management?
My path started when I was a freshman. My now-business partner Joe was visiting a staff member from TMC, who invited me to join, knowing I was interested in finance. Joe’s parting advice was to follow up, stay in touch, and come visit his Boston office. I took that advice and was regularly in Boston networking throughout my four years at TMC. Upon graduation, I applied to over a hundred financial jobs and heard back from no one—absolutely defeated. Then, on the last day of my summer beach job, I sent an email to the various professionals I had met in Boston while I was a student, letting them know I was eager for my first job in the financial sector. Surprise, surprise, I had multiple interviews lined up before the end of the day.
How did your time at the College prepare you for your career? Is there one class that tends to stick with you?
TMC gives you the building blocks to apply critical thinking to whatever you choose to do after graduation. What you do with that will determine everything. It’s not one class, it’s the entirety of our education.
Tell us about your work with Patrons of the Arts in the Vatican Museums. Have you always been passionate about art? How did you get involved? What was it like to meet the Pope?
My father was an artist, and I grew up going to art shows. After graduating and moving to Boston, I was introduced to Patrons of the Arts in the Vatican Museums through a friend. Over the course of a couple years, I became quite involved with the organization. Their mission is preserving and restoring the art within the Vatican Museums. As a student, I was able to see these works while studying in Rome, and as a young professional I’ve been given the opportunity to give back and join the leadership team; I now serve on their Board of Directors as Treasurer. Some of the more well-known restoration projections are the Sistine Chapel, the Gallery of Maps, and the Bramante Courtyard. Playing a small part in preserving these worldly treasures is just so cool.
Recently, the organization celebrated an anniversary at the Vatican and Pope Francis welcomed us for a private audience. The whole situation was somewhat unreal. While we waited for him to enter the room, I had that moment when you think about yourself as a little kid—where you came from and all the little and big things that led to you being there in that moment. It was something really special that I will cherish for the rest of my life.
What advice would you give to current TMC undergraduates, especially those looking forward to a career in finance?
I absolutely love what I do and would recommend it if you have any interest. It is a world where what you put in, you get out. You get to help others and provide for your family while doing so. First step: raise your hand and express your interest.
Finally, never forget to pay it forward. Give your time, your talent, and your money to the things that are important to you.
These comments have been edited for length and clarity.
For further reading:
From Literature to Motorcycles: An Interview with Richard Worsham ’07
Promoting Free Speech and Fruitful Discourse: An Interview with Bridget Ruffing ’22
