Financial Expert Sergio Reyes, MBA Delivers Financial Insight Academy to MIUC Students 

Earlier this month, Sergio Reyes, MBA, a financial expert with decades of experience, including in Silicon Valley, kicked off the Spring semester’s Financial Insight Academy with a lecture series on “Financial Math as an Essential Tool to Survive in the Business World” and “Financial Markets Overview.”

With a highly visual and lively discussion, marked with practical examples and up-to-date financial data, this ¨Financial Math as an Essential Tool to Survive in the Business World¨ provided a valuable opportunity to gain practical knowledge about fundamental issues in financial math which are very important in the corporate world. 

The module included why financial math is important in the business world, projecting cash flows, discounting cash flows, project valuation (NPV and IRR), and the application of financial math in real world cases. 

Sergio Reyes, MBA taught that financial math helps businesses evaluate investments, pricing strategies, and financial risks, in the context of inflation, interest rates, and discounting future cash flows.

Financial math enables businesses to calculate interest payments, amortisation schedules, and debt repayment strategies, and is used in stock valuation, bond pricing, and risk assessment for financial markets.

In addition to helping businesses calculate margins, break-even points, and return on investment (ROI), it supports operations, including revenue forecasts, cash management, and setting and achieving financial goals. 

It covered the role of interest rates, and how they impact economic growth, the housing market, inflation control, government debt, currency values, corporate finance, savings and investments.

Sergio Reyes, MBA emphasised the importance of understanding compound interest rates, as a measure to calculate how capital grows each year, and the impact of interest rates on principal over longer periods of time. This is a very important takeaway for MIUC’s students’ future professional and business life.

Another highlight was his explanation of project valuation: NPV & Internal Rate of Return (IRR).

The Internal Rate of Return (IRR) is the discount rate that makes the Net Present Value (NPV) of an investment or project equal to zero and represents the annualised rate of return at which the present value of future cash flows equals the initial investment. IRR is widely used in capital budgeting and investment analysis to assess the profitability of projects.

Unlike other financial metrics that can be computed directly with algebraic formulas, IRR requires an iterative approach because the IRR equation is nonlinear – It involves exponential terms, making it impossible to solve explicitly using simple algebraic methods.

The Magic Seven principles—economic growth, inflation control, currency value, savings and investments, housing markets, government debt, corporate finance, and banking sector stability—were integrated into discussions to illustrate the broad impact of financial math in real-world applications. Practical examples, including Coca-Cola stock price fluctuations and structured financial projections, ensured students gained real-world analytical skills applicable to finance, investment, and business strategy.

The ¨Financial Markets Overview¨ module provided MIUC students with a hands-on approach to understanding the structure and functioning of global financial markets. The sessions focused on key financial markets, including major equity indices and stocks, and emphasising the performance of the Magnificent Seven (Apple, Microsoft, Nvidia, Amazon, Google, Meta and Tesla), thus, helping students grasp how these markets operate and interact with macroeconomic forces.

A strong emphasis was placed on the practical application of financial models and tools used by professionals in investment banking, asset management, and trading. Students worked through case studies where they applied fundamental analysis to real-time stock market data, evaluating companies based on price-to-earnings ratios (P/E), earnings per share (EPS), and return on equity (ROE) among many other financial ratios. The whole approach was based on narrowing the gap between theory and real-world financial decision-making. The session ensured students left with a strong analytical foundation and a deeper understanding of how financial markets shape economic growth and investment strategies.

“Throughout this Financial Insight Academy, it can clearly be seen that mastering financial math is a critical skill for entrepreneurs, executives, and investors, as it helps in financial planning, risk assessment, and strategic decision-making,” Sergio Reyes, MBA said. “A solid grasp of these concepts ensures businesses optimise resources, sustain profitability, and achieve long-term success in competitive markets.”

The Financial Insight Academy concluded with exams and a Certificate Award Ceremony, where MIUC’s own academic and finance professional, Dr Fernando Ramirez de Verger, presented the certificates.

At MIUC, students’ voices matter, and we follow a “You Said, We Did” approach. This semester’s Financial Insight Academy builds on the success of last semester, where students praised Sergio Reyes, MBA, for his ability to break down complex financial concepts into clear, engaging explanations during intensive daily three-hour sessions. His lectures sparked curiosity and helped students develop a strong foundation in finance.

The initiative continues MIUC’s long-standing commitment to Financial Literacy, following the seminars led by Christophe de Landtsheer, MSc.