Graduate Testimonials 

The success that I have had in my first 2 years of employment is a product of the unique skill set I gained at the Academy and hard work, the incredible opportunities that have come about in my life are simply a byproduct. My whole life growing up I heard about the “American Dream” and how the only way to achieve graduating college and landing a good job working for Corporate America where you could climb the ladder. Which would allow you to buy a house by 30 and raising a family until you retire. It has been 2 years since I graduated the Academy and I still have to pinch myself everyday to make sure the life I am living is in fact real and not a dream.

– Tyler Paschke, Senior Media Buyer and Ad. Operations Specialist

Mori offers more than just a simple education- he provides mentorship. There is so much to know going into your career. When you first start the job process, you can see that school prepared you with a brief outline of what is to be expected. At ERM Academy, I learned to spend my time efficiently, approach problems and projects rationally, and apply my skills thoroughly. ERM Academy provided me with the above and beyond competitive advantage. 

– Evan Etienne, Risk Analyst, Global Catastrophe Reinsurance

Mori and I worked together at his ERM Academy in Boulder, Colorado for two years. From the moment I met Mori I felt like I had known him for years. He became a good friend and teacher within the first session. Mori is an excellent teacher who is very knowledge in his field. His real life examples make for the best learning experience that anyone could ask for. Risk management is not an easy field and Mori does an excellent job of breaking down complex subjects so that a new student, or even a seasoned student, can relate and understand. When I signed up for his class, I did not know what to expect. What I got was a great introduction and in depth understanding of the Risk Management industry. Mori’s endless connections in the field and expert advice make for an added bonus when working with such a great guy and good friend.

– Christopher Burnham, First Vice President of Investments at Marcus & Millichap

My experience with Mori at the ERM Academy altered my career projection and future goals.  I was able to receive one on one training to lay out the land of data, how it’s used in risk across various industries. The skills obtained are those that will last a lifetime and give an edge in the workplace that is unobtainable otherwise.  The exposure and experience Mori has and shares with you you can’t find anywhere else. It gives the experience and knowledge that is not available at an institution such as the University of Colorado.

– Tesha Johnstun, Business Robotics Analyst Risk Control, UBS Bank

I worked with Mori at his ERM Academy for two years, and he’s been my mentor and great friend for the last six. I can honestly say that nobody is more passionate about creating a new class of hard-working, ethical, and analytically superior students. When I signed on to his program, I didn’t realize I was gaining a career coach and friend for life, but his global network and seemingly endless connections have opened unbelievable doors for me and the rest of the ERM Academy graduates. Mori has a heart of gold and has been the largest influence in my professional career. I use his training every day and I know that he will always be ready to jump on a call and talk about what’s next in my career.

– Alec Hugo, Senior Sales Operations Analyst at OpenTable

Throughout the 6 years of knowing Mori I have never stopped learning. Whether I was working with him, tutoring his students or simply reaching out to see how he was doing he has always helped to progress my skill set while also being a close friend. The ERM Academy taught me the finest Risk Management techniques backed by real-life examples, running in parallel with professionalism and social responsibility. I looked to apply my skills in ways I was unable to in my college courses and I was ecstatic when I achieved this within the Academy. I cannot thank Mori enough for supporting my thirst for knowledge and pushing me further than I thought was possible. From Credit Risk to Predictive Modeling to Marketing Analytics he has helped me think of data in ways I had not been able to before. I find myself looking back at the hours spent working as a Risk Analyst frequently, cherishing the impact it has had on my career and character. Mori is a leader, a colleague and a friend. I thank him for the lessons he’s taught and the experiences he’s shared. I hope, but am confident, that he can continue his tremendous success wherever he ventures next.

– Jon Kelly, Revenue Operations Manager at YipitData

I’ve known Mori now for over 4 years and in that time I don’t think I’ve found someone who’s more passionate in what he does. Mori has been not only an excellent mentor and teacher but a great friend as well. He’s created something truly special in the ERM risk academy and without the academy, as well as his unique brand of tutelage, I would not be in the position I am now. I have yet to come across anyone with as strong of an analytical skillset as Mori and he’s taught me almost everything I know about risk management and the finance industry in general. It’s been a pleasure to know him and I couldn’t recommend anyone more highly then Mori.

– Marcus Martinez, Industry Insights Analyst at ALG, A TrueCar Company

Spending two years with Mori earned me interviews with investment banks, asset management groups, and other Fortune 500 companies both abroad and in the States. His circumferential curriculum and interactive teaching style enabled me to interview for positions in credit risk management, credit reporting, corporate finance, corporate development, market risk management, and general financial analysis. I can genuinely say if it wasn’t for Mori I would not be one of the few American graduates (Bachelor’s degree) who was fortunate enough to find employment in a cutthroat and extremely competitive Fortune 500 job market. Every day on the job I utilitize the technical skills Mori taught me including VBA, Macros, expert Excel modeling, Monte Carlo simulation, statistical analysis in finance, automated reporting, SAS, and Visio. It can be difficult to prove yourself a competitive candidate in international corporations when completing your education in Colorado. However I promise your investment with Mori, in time and money, will open more doors for you [across the world] than an investment with any other mentor or career coach could. Thank you, Mori, for a terrific two years.

– Brooks Kanski, Director at Province, Inc.

In the world of risk and analytics there is no better. Mori is a master of both insurance and credit risk with a proven track record of success. I attended Mori’s Enterprise Risk Management Academy as well as worked under him at ERM Risk Advisors. I learned more in the time I spent with Mori than I did my entire undergraduate career, and I can confidently say that he is the reason I am successful In my role today. A friend, and a colleague whom I am fortunate to have. 

– Thomas Waldschmidt, Data Science Analyst II at Goal Structured Solutions, Inc. 

Looking back at my college years after being in the workforce for 4 years has left me feeling slightly ripped off. Don’t get me wrong, college was a blast and I gained valuable knowledge, but I realized that there are certain skills and thinking processes that can’t be learned in a classroom setting.

I hit a plateau at my old job and was looking to make a giant leap. When I first heard of the Academy I was skeptical about learning a new trade from a friend of a friend, but after meeting with Mori and discussing what the Academy has to offer I went for it.

Mori fosters a creative and open learning environment. He is the type of person colleges are begging to hire. He’s a downright awesome guy. I’m at where I am today because of my time at the Academy.

High-level critical thinking and discussion in an individual and small group setting excels the learning process. Mori’s extensive background in mathematics, statistics, quantative financial analysis, enterprise risk management, and data analytics serves as the curiculum. I decided what topics were best for me and aligned with my career goals.

I’m at a whole new calibre now and am rocking my new job. I couldn’t be more excited for what’s next!

– Kevin Wagley, Engagement Engineer at Valen Analytics

When I joined ERM Academy and Buffalo Academy in October 2011, I was just beginning to accept that life after college was coming my way, and quickly.  I was disappointed by the poor job market and overwhelmed by the sheer number of paths my first career could take.  I was a stranded sailboat with a broken sail, drifting ever farther from the calm, warm waters of life at CU and closer to the perfect storm of reality.  Soon, though, I found a friend and a shipbuilder in Mori, who began to help me repair my sailboat and to see the reality of the landscape that awaited me.  A storm still awaits me, but instead of being drawn into it uncontrollably and fearfully, I am barreling into it head on, armed with the confidence and knowledge I haved garnered in the last several months.  Am I invincible?  Of course not, not even close.  But understanding the nature of this storm and having the knowledge and direction to guide my sailboat in the right direction have made all the difference.

– Nicholas Parker., Associate Analyst – Corporate Finance Group at Moody’s Investors Service – Energy (Oil & Gas)

Hope you’re doing well and boulder is treating you well as the new school year has started. Just wanted to update you on what’s going on here in NYC! 

I got a project manager position with a financial services company named Guggenheim partners in NYC.

I just received the offer on Friday and am starting next Tuesday!! I am working in their legal department, and am in a team with 2 other girls a couple years older than I am. 

This job is exactly what I wanted with all the work life balance they provide, with what seems like a great work atmosphere and a great learning and growing experience for me. Also, they are starting me at a salary higher than my recruiter and I had anticipated. Obviously a plus I am very happy about!! 

I truly appreciate the work experience you have given me, because without your help and guidance who knows if this job would have even been within reach. My manager who hired me told my recruiter after the first interview she was expecting to hire someone who had At LEAST 3 years experience. She said my personality, charisma and past work experience impressed her. Also she said she could see so much potential in me regardless of how long the prior work experience was, and that is exactly what you had done for me. Given me the confidence to further succeed with the potential you had seen in me. I cannot thank you enough for that! 

– Kelsey M. Hughes, Project Manager at Guggenheim Partners

I was a student of Mori’s around the time when he first started his tutoring business. I was a sophomore at The University of Colorado at Boulder when I realized I needed extra help with my business calculus and statistics courses. Mori knew exactly how to break down the information that I was not understanding and taught me exactly how to solve each equation and the process to get the end result. Mori is a terrific teacher, person and role model. His enthusiastic entrepreneur attitude is easy for any student to relate to.

Mori was my mentor until I graduated and I even ended up taking his Enterprise Risk Management course, otherwise known as “The Academy”. The Academy was unlike any other course I had taken in college. I was fully prepped with how the insurance and banking risk is developed and the process that analysts carry out to determine a bad loan from a good loan. We used advanced software that you don’t get to use in undergrad college courses, so by the time I graduated from Mori’s academy, I had something on my resume that many students did not have.

Without Mori’s help and expertise I would have never been able to be where I am today, working with Guggenheim Partners in Santa Monica, California.  I owe a lot to Mori for all the help he’s given me. Even after graduating, Mori stays connected with his students making sure they have the available resources necessary to reach the top.

– Josh Picker, Real Estate Agent at Douglas Elliman Real Estate

The enterprise Risk Management Academy has tremendously boosted my career potential and opportunities.  Everyone who interviews me wants to talk about the Academy and what I’ve done there.  While it may be expensive, it is helping me out more than I could have imagined!  I had no idea what I wanted to do with an economics degree and the Academy paved the way for me to start a real career in something I would have never been exposed to.  If you can afford it, you should go for it.

– Zac Riera, Associate Wealth Architect at Wealth Architects, LLC