Graduate students spend a day with Warren Buffett

Twenty Rutgers Business School graduate students accompanied by John Longo, a professor of professional practice, traveled to Nebraska to visit with business magnate Warren Buffett last week.

It was the fourth time Longo has taken a group of Rutgers students to Omaha to visit with Buffett. This year, students from the MBA and Executive MBA programs as well as the Master of Quantitative Finance and the Master of Financial Analysis programs went on the trip.

Rutgers was among eight universities participating in the meeting with Buffett, who has made his Omaha visit with business school students an annual practice. "Meeting the greatest investor ever is truly an inspiring and life-changing experience," Longo said. "His wisdom is equaled only by his generosity."

Ben Downing, a student in the Executive MBA program, sat next to Buffett and chatted casually with him as they ate lunch. Downing, an Army veteran, said he was surprised to learn that Buffett had served with the National Guard. It was something he had never heard or read about the Oracle of Omaha. And it was a connection that helped to keep the two talking.

"He’s sharp. He can recall numbers, facts and figures," Downing said. "You can tell he enjoys being around students."

The Rutgers group presented Buffett with a unique gift inspired by the philanthropic spirit the businessman exhibited when he set up The Giving Pledge with Bill Gates. As a thank you to Buffett, Longo said he came up with the "Rutgers Giving Pledge" and each of the Rutgers students who went on the trip pledged to do something for charity in Buffett's honor.

Longo said Buffett told him: "It was the best gift you could have given me."

- Susan Todd