{"id":634452,"date":"2025-01-14T11:42:56","date_gmt":"2025-01-14T16:42:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/newscenter\/?p=634452"},"modified":"2025-01-14T11:45:47","modified_gmt":"2025-01-14T16:45:47","slug":"jon-onyiriuka-from-courtside-to-client-side-634452","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/newscenter\/jon-onyiriuka-from-courtside-to-client-side-634452\/","title":{"rendered":"Jon Onyiriuka \u201908: From courtside to client-side"},"content":{"rendered":"
Since graduating, former 糖心传媒<\/a> basketball star Jon Onyiriuka \u201908 has traded jump shots for market calls. Now, as the managing director in US case equities sales trading at BTIG, a boutique global financial services firm based in Manhattan, he brings his court-honed instincts to high finance. There, he runs point between institutional clients and financial markets, managing relationships with hedge funds, mutual funds, and pension funds.<\/p>\n \u201cPlaying basketball has had a lot to do with it getting me where I am today,\u201d says the 6\u20197\u201d tall Onyiriuka, who started shooting hoops as a kid in Corning, New York. At Rochester he went on to become a four-year starter who finished his career with 1,267 points (seventh all-time entering the 2013\u201314 season), 829 rebounds (fifth), and 109 blocks (fifth) with three appearances in the NCAA tournament.<\/p>\n Although his college years were full of athletic accomplishments, Onyiriuka\u2019s overall undergraduate experience wasn\u2019t just about personal achievements\u2014it was also about creating lasting relationships and learning valuable life lessons.<\/p>\n \u201cJon brought positive energy to everything, enhancing every environment with his likable personality and strong presence,\u201d says Luke Flockerzi, the men\u2019s basketball coach. \u201cHe made hard work enjoyable, pushed teammates to excel, formed lasting bonds through sport, and was a key part of our exceptional 2008 class of students and athletes.\u201d<\/p>\n Onyiriuka emphasizes that the things often taken for granted in sports, such as being a team player, striving for your individual best, and managing your time well, directly apply to workplace professionalism. He adds that \u201cas alumni, the workplace gives us great opportunities to apply and build on skills we learned and practiced as college athletes,\u201d drawing parallels between practice habits and workplace professionalism.<\/p>\n Despite having Division I aspirations, when it came time to choose a college, Onyiriuka chose the University of Rochester, a Division III school known for its academic rigor. He wanted a balanced academic and athletic experience more than he wanted to play for a Division I team.<\/p>\n During a car ride home from a campus visit to Rochester, Onyiriuka\u2019s father posed a question that crystalized Onyiriuka\u2019s priorities. He asked his son, \u201cSeven years from now is anyone going to ask where you played college basketball?\u201d<\/p>\n Onyiriuka\u2019s transition from athlete to aspiring finance professional wasn\u2019t his initial academic or career goal. In fact, he started at Rochester as an electrical and computer engineering major. \u201cI changed my major to financial economics<\/a> after a lot of self-reflection, at a time when I was really looking at how I could build on my natural strengths and interests,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n Onyiriuka overcame obstacles along the way, too. For instance, as a junior, he didn\u2019t get the summer internship he wanted in New York City. Geared for student athletes, it often served as a feeder program to a Wall Street career. That setback ended up turning into as a catalyst for growth.<\/p>\n \u201cIt became clear, real fast, that I\u2019d have to find something else to do that summer,\u201d he says, noting that he did end up getting an internship at a Rochester-area financial firm. \u201cThat whole experience opened my eyes. It helped me dig deep at what I could have done better, which turned into a great life lesson.\u201d<\/p>\n In his professional life, Onyiriuka draws heavily on the lessons he learned through sports, in the classroom, and from his overall student experience. He credits the discipline, time management, and teamwork skills he honed on the basketball court to his success in sales and banking. Onyiriuka also stresses the importance of networking, professional relationships, and leaning into the benefits of being part the University\u2019s large alumni community.<\/p>\n \u201cAll of this can help you better understand yourself and what motivates someone else,\u201d he says. \u201cAnd with that knowledge always growing, you start operating in service to others\u2014with that comes a positive feedback loop that ends up circling right back to you.\u201d This approach has benefitted Onyiriuka in his sales-focused career, where building genuine relationships is the key to success.<\/p>\n
A game-changing decision\u2014plus a pivot<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Giving back while paying it forward<\/strong><\/h3>\n