Basic Background
What year did Mike get/will get his Master's of Science?
A) 2024
B) 2025
C) 2026
D) 2027
2026
Though historical wealth is hard to calculate, who is often cited as the first American to have a net worth of over one billion dollars, thanks to his dominance in the oil industry?
A) Andrew Carnegie
B) Cornelius Vanderbilt
C) John D. Rockefeller
D) Henry Ford
John D. Rockefeller
Virginia is one of four U.S. states that officially uses the "Commonwealth" designation. Which of the following states is also a Commonwealth?
A) North Carolina
B) Maryland
C) Pennsylvania
D) Ohio
Pennsylvania
The very first computer mouse, a key component of modern user interfaces, was invented by Douglas Engelbart in the 1960s. What was this first prototype made of?
A) A hollowed-out bar of soap
B) A wooden shell with metal wheels
C) A repurposed toy car
D) A block of clay
A wooden shell with metal wheels
Which of the following is often considered one of the earliest forms of "Fintech" introduced to the public in the 20th century?
A) The first universal credit card
B) The invention of the ATM (Automated Teller Machine)
C) The creation of PayPal
D) The electronic stock market ticker
The invention of the ATM
What job did Mike work in college?
A) Research Assistant
B) Student Admissions Assistant
C) Resident Assistant
D) IT Assistant
IT Assistant
Citigroup's predecessor, the City Bank of New York, was a pioneer in global finance. In 1914, it became the first U.S. national bank to open a foreign branch, establishing a presence in which city?
A) London, England
B) Paris, France
C) Shanghai, China
D) Buenos Aires, Argentina
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Many states have official symbols like a state bird or flower. Virginia has an official state beverage, designated in 1982 to honor a key local industry. What is it?
A) Virginia Dare Wine
B) Sweet Iced Tea
C) Apple Cider
D) Milk
Milk
Leonardo da Vinci, a master of design and engineering, created detailed sketches and plans for many inventions far ahead of his time. Which of the following did he famously design a prototype for?
A) A steam engine
B) A helicopter
C) A telephone
D) A light bulb
A helicopter
The first system resembling a universal credit card, which could be used at a variety of establishments, was created by the "Diners Club" in 1950. What event supposedly inspired its founder to create it?
A) He lost his wallet during a business trip.
B) He wanted a way to track his company's expenses more easily.
C) He forgot his wallet while dining at a restaurant and had to have his wife bring him cash.
D) He was a banker who saw an opportunity to charge interest on small purchases.
He forgot his wallet while dining at a restaurant and had to have his wife bring him cash
What was Michael's field of study for both his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees?
A) Finance
B) Information Systems
C) Computer Science
D) Data Analytics
Information Systems
The Bank of New York (now BNY Mellon) has a long and storied history. It was founded in 1784 by which prominent Founding Father of the United States?
A) Thomas Jefferson
B) Benjamin Franklin
C) John Adams
D) Alexander Hamilton
Alexander Hamilton
In 2011, the VCU men's basketball team made a memorable "Cinderella" run deep into the NCAA Tournament. What was the celebrated, final stage of the tournament that the team reached that year?
A) The Sweet Sixteen
B) The Elite Eight
C) The Final Four
D) The National Championship
The Final Four
Which now-famous hospitality company was famously rejected by multiple venture capitalists, with one investor noting, "the opportunity just seems too small"?
A) Uber
B) WeWork
C) Airbnb
D) DoorDash
Airbnb
In the world of digital assets, domain names can be incredibly valuable. As of recent records, what is the most expensive domain name ever publicly reported as sold?
A) Voice.com
B) Cars.com
C) Insurance.com
D) PrivateJet.com
What was Mike's first rotation as a TTS Analyst?
A) Partnerships & Innovation
B) Global Data and AI, Platform & Data Solutions
C) Digital Asset Payments & eCommerce Services Product
D) NAM Emerging Payments
Global Data and AI, Platform & Data Solutions
During the financial crisis known as the Panic of 1907, the Bank of New York (now BNY Mellon) played a key role. Which powerful New York financier personally intervened, using his own money and influence to organize a bailout of the banking system?
A) J.P. Morgan
B) Andrew Carnegie
C) John D. Rockefeller
D) Cornelius Vanderbilt
J.P. Morgan
The board game Monopoly, a classic game of capital and portfolio management, was originally invented for what surprising purpose?
A) To train real estate agents in negotiation.
B) As a fun way to teach children basic math.
C) To demonstrate the economic dangers of land monopolies and wealth inequality.
D) To be a simple pastime with no deeper meaning.
To demonstrate the economic dangers of land monopolies and wealth inequality.
Mike worked for the Commonwealth of Virginia as a Governor's Fellow. What was his role there?
A) Finance Secretariat
B) Platform and Data Solutions
C) Legal Advisor
D) Software Engineer
Finance Secretariat
Wall Street, the historic heart of New York's financial district, gets its name from what?
A) The last name of the city's first and most powerful banker
B) A defensive wall built by Dutch colonists in the 17th century
C) The towering "walls" of the first skyscrapers built in the area
D) A famous hotel called "The Wall" where traders would meet
A defensive wall built by Dutch colonists in the 17th century
Virginia is known as "The Mother of Presidents" for being the birthplace of more U.S. presidents than any other state. How many presidents were born there?
A) 5
B) 6
C) 7
D) 8
8