Gregory VanLaeken Headshot

Gregory VanLaeken

Managing Director, Investments

Office of the VP of Finance and Administration
Finance and Administration
Adjunct Faculty
gvanlaeken@saunders.rit.edu
585-475-5585
Office Location
EAS-6026

Gregory VanLaeken

Managing Director, Investments

Office of the VP of Finance and Administration
Finance and Administration
Adjunct Faculty

Bio

GREGORY VAN LAEKEN is a specialist in the area of international finance and derivative products, and an experienced executive in global banking and institutional investment advisement., , Van Laeken began his career working in the New York Metropolitan area as an interbank dealer of interest rate and currency derivatives. In 2003 he moved to Zurich, Switzerland, as the vice president and global head of emerging markets trading for a prestigious private Swiss bank. In this role Van Laeken helped to develop and oversee rapid growth in the emerging market trading and sales operation for the bank's foreign exchange division. , , In 2005 Van Laeken left the financial services industry to become business manager and analyst for global operations at Rochester Institute of Technology. Van Laeken works directly with senior management across all divisions of RIT to provide leadership in the areas of business and financial planning as well as daily operations and risk management for RIT's overseas campuses. , , Additionally, Van Laeken oversees the management of RIT's short-term investment portfolio and advises senior management on the institute's debt portfolio and interest rate hedging strategies. , , Van Laeken earned a bachelor'ss degree in economics in 1994 and MBA in 2008 from RIT., , He also serves as an adjunct faculty instructor for the E. Philip Saunders College of Business at RIT where he specializes in international finance and derivative products.

gvanlaeken@saunders.rit.edu
585-475-5585

Currently Teaching

FINC-420
International Finance
3 Credits
Discusses the problems posed by the international financial environment in which corporations operate. In particular, students learn to quantify and manage risks arising from shifting exchange rates. Other topics include exchange rate systems, international trade finance, international capital budgeting, country risk analysis, and long-term international financing.
FINC-470
Introduction to Options and Futures
3 Credits
This course explores risk management from the viewpoint of a finance professional. The primary tools used are derivative instruments including options, futures, forward and swaps. Students learn about the basic features of derivative instruments: how to value them, how they are traded, and how to use them to mitigate various types of financial risk.
FINC-605
Financing New Ventures
3 Credits
A focus on financial issues affecting an entrepreneur. The course emphasizes, identifies, and follows the wealth creation cycle. The wealth creation cycle begins with an idea for a good, product or service, progresses to an initial company startup, passes through successive stages of growth, considers alternative approaches to resource financing, and ends with harvesting the wealth created through an initial public offering, merger or sale. Identification and valuation of business opportunities, how and from whom entrepreneurs raise funds, how financial contracts are structured to both manage risk and align incentives, and alternative approaches by which entrepreneurs identify exit strategies are reviewed.
FINC-740
Options and Futures
3 Credits
This course focuses on financial derivative securities. Their role in financial management is becoming increasingly important, especially in portfolio management. This course covers valuation of various options and futures as well as their use in risk management. Specific topics include options and futures pricing models, options strategies, and contemporary topics such as index arbitraging.
FINC-760
International Finance
3 Credits
This course has a specific focus on international business problems that are financial in nature. Topics include an examination of the international environment the firm operates in, international investment, exchange rates and the management of risks arising from shifting exchange rates, and the problems of short and long-term asset and liability management.
FINC-850
International Finance
2 Credits
This course examines how the international environment affects the practice of corporate finance by using a combination of theory and cases. Topics include an examination of the international environment the firm operates in, international investment, exchange rates and the management of risks arising from shifting exchange rates, and the problems of short and long-term asset and liability management.

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