UWF alumna working on Wall Street

Kim Mustin, B.A. Accounting, ’90, went from walking the campus pathways of the University of West Florida to navigating the streets of New York City. Mustin, who had an affinity for tax class and a drive for accounting, used her UWF degree to make her own path. She now works for one of the largest banks on Wall Street, Deutsche Bank and is the head of Key Accounts for the Financial Institutions Group.

“It was the professors at UWF who really pushed me and made me strive to be my best,” said Mustin. “It really shows the powers teachers have to make you realize what you want do try to do with your life and the tools you need to get there.”

Mustin also has a leading role with Deutsche Bank’s Financial Institutions Group, which sells asset management solutions to other financial institutions. The group’s mandate is to work with companies like Hancock, Prudential and Fidelity to provide them with financial solutions for their businesses. This can involve many different types of financial instruments from mutual funds to structured products and derivatives to commodities and currency transactions.

“Lately the shoes I’ve been wearing are track shoes,” said Mustin when asked about a day in her shoes. “The markets have been moving really fast and there is a lot going on. Some of the key responsibilities I have are setting the strategy and tempo for my team, interfacing with senior level client relationships and growing and developing the talent that we have.”

Mustin joined Deutsche Bank in 1999 after nine years of industry and regulatory experience including consulting for mergers and acquisitions at State Street Global Advisors, both retail and institutional consulting services at Putnam Investments and serving as a former U.S. Treasury Agent.

“This business is not for the faint of heart,” added Mustin. “We put in a lot of hours under constant pressure and always try to make sure we are making the most rational decisions. It’s imperative to find a work/life balance since many of us are mothers, daughters, etc. and that keeps us grounded in reality.”

Growing from lessons she learned in college, Mustin participated in numerous campus organizations and found time to volunteer for organizations like Big Brother, Big Sister. A Northwest Florida native, she found a collegiate balance juggling school, work and campus life and was one of the first in her family to graduate from a four-year university.

“I had always been driven towards education and knew that I wanted to do something very big,” said Mustin. “Even though I wasn’t sure exactly what that would be, I tried to pursue those goals to find it out.”

“For students looking to pursue this industry, they have to be able to come to the table with more than just good grades,” added Mustin. “Involvement in organizations and demonstrated leadership skills are always the way to show employers that you are willing to challenge yourself.”

To find out more information about programs offered through UWF’s College of Business, visit uwf.edu/cob.

By Megan Tyson, University Marketing Communications