Life Hacks from Roger McOmber

Roger McOmber, MBA ‘91, launched a successful finance career on Wall Street at Salomon Brothers as a research analyst in 1990 covering the electric utility industry. During the following 11 years, he worked at Brown Brothers and Lehman Brothers as the senior utility research analyst. While at Lehman Brothers, McOmber was a senior vice president over the electric power group and was twice named the utility sector’s "Top Stock Picker" by the Wall Street Journal. Currently, McOmber is the Managing Partner of McOmber Capital and is an active angel investor.

He recently sat down with the Huntsman School to share lifelong lessons he’s learned along his professional and personal journey.

Mentorship

Mentorship is critical to personal growth, business, and society at large. McOmber calls his venture work "mentor capital" and stresses the importance of giving back knowledge to the next generation.

"Mentorship is a critical part of life, and really making the world a better place… If we can't give back and give some of the things that we've learned to the next generation, what value have we really added?"

Adversity

Success is shaped by the ability to overcome adversity. Examples in McOmber’s life include staying resilient during the Solomon Brothers scandal in 1991 and later during Lehman Brothers’s collapse in 2008.

"The tough times… that’s where it tests your mettle, and it either breaks it or makes it stronger."

Attitude & Hard Work

A positive attitude strengthens resilience and even physical health.

Outwork others. Come in early, stay late, and do what others avoid. This outlook set him apart and created opportunities.

Life Long Learning

Always be learning. McOmber feels the highlight of his career is not a single moment, but the ongoing journey of learning and growing.

"I think that’s part of enjoying the journey—being a life learner… The most important thing I think an education provides people is how much they don’t know. I'm still learning… I wish I’d known that 20 years ago. But I’m glad I know it now."

Giving Back

Loyalty to Utah State and gratitude for relationships with professors motivate his ongoing involvement and philanthropy. "That’s why I’m still involved and still giving back to Utah State—because of how I felt I was treated and learned as a student."

People First

In business, people matter more than product. McOmber’s formula: 1) People, 2) Processes, 3) Product.