10 Questions with Dave Thomas (November 2018)

1. What do you do at The Marquee Group?
I teach 100+ days a year and am the Co-Head of Training. I am responsible for new course development and lead other strategic initiatives for the firm.

2. How long have you been teaching at Marquee?
I have been with Marquee for over six years.

3. What do you like most about your job?
My favourite part is teaching students and observing the “a-ha” moment when they grasp a new concept. There’s such positive energy in teaching because everyone is there to learn. There is never a dull moment in the classroom (well, maybe the tax discussion).

4. Why do you think financial modeling is such an important skill?
Financial modeling is all about creating decision-making tools that convert analysis into action. We think it’s a critical element for all business management. The best part of teaching such a core business skill means we are able to interact with professionals from finance, marketing, human resources, legal – financial modeling is used by everybody.

5. What is the toughest question you’ve ever been asked in a class?
During our Data Manipulation with Excel course, I have been asked some incredibly challenging questions that I was not able to solve or locate on Google. Fortunately, I have my partners to draw on and they have always made me look good!

6. What is your favourite keyboard shortcut or modeling tip?
Alt =. It’s a simple one but I use it hundreds of times a day. It works vertically and horizontally, automatic

ally skips headers, and puts in the correct formula if you are running a filter. Not bad for a little shortcut.

7. What is your favourite snack to munch on while building a model?
Pocky, the Japanese snack. I love them because they are conveniently formatted as chocolate covered sticks to avoid messing up my keyboard.

8. What is your favourite pastime? 
I have enjoyed spinning and cycling for many years. At 6’6″ the hardest part was finding a bike that fit me!

9. If you weren’t working at Marquee, what would you be doing?
Whatever it would be it would involve teaching. I teach an elective at Ivey and if I wasn’t teaching at Marquee I would teach at the university level.

10. L-shaped Enter key or straight Enter key?
L-shaped. Reminds me of my days on Lotus 1-2-3. I don’t miss the 8″ floppy but I love the old, clicky keyboards.