From Kicks to Capital: Garry Teekah’s Oxford Origins
As a recent Emory 40 Under 40 award recipient, Garry Teekah 15Ox 17C is recognized not only for his contributions to investment banking—where he began his professional career—but also for his work in the financial technology industry, where he currently thrives. From joining Rothschild & Co’s investment banking program to restructuring the Emory Alumni Network Finance Committee in New York City as a co-chair, Garry is an innovator with a growth mindset, always thinking of strategies to grow and enhance existing structures.
This was the case for Garry, given his deep involvement in several clubs at Oxford. Notably, he led the Martial Arts Club and co-founded the Oxford Asset Management Group with his roommate. “The Martial Arts Club was something that I was passionate about,” he recalls.”It was like, ‘Hey, let's all get together at the gym and meet up once a week, and do this.’ Things can naturally form at Oxford. In a much larger or less structured place, you don't necessarily have those opportunities.”
While the Martial Arts Club was a meaningful endeavor, one of Garry’s most amusing yet valuable experiences came from his time with the Oxford Asset Management Group.
“We created a website and got people involved. Oxford just lets you run with it and lets you figure everything out and, again, mature within those boundary conditions.
But then, a couple of months later we got an email from Oxford Asset Management in the UK saying, ‘Hey, you're using our name—you’re not allowed to.’”
Considering the potential legal complications, this would be a daunting situation for any young, emerging leader. However, Garry and his team handled the situation with grace. “We responded that we're a school community and this is a club just trying to learn about investment banking since there weren’t any pre-existing structures. And they said, ‘That's so cool,’ and then donated $200 to us.”
Garry speaking at Oxford Baccalaureate. May 2015.
Ultimately, he appreciates the environment Oxford provided him to gain tangible experiences that allow students to learn real-world skills that are difficult to find within a classroom.
“It's safe to go out and try something because even if you fail, it's okay. It's still going to add something to the community, whether that be your learning or whether that be something that you created. You're empowered to go figure stuff out, and you have the safety net of Emory, which is fun and exciting.”
From Left to Right: Lydia Nichols (Garry’s wife), Garry Teekah 15Ox 17C, George Montgomery Jr. 14Ox 17C. November 2024.
He also values the close relationships and the “safe boundaries” that Oxford offers. “My closest friends from college today are still all Oxford folks. So I would say Oxford forces you to get close to folks, which is awesome.”
Garry’s involvement with the Emory community didn’t stop after graduation.
As the co-chair of the Emory Alumni Network Finance Committee in New York, Garry has expanded alumni involvement opportunities for more seasoned graduates.
“I found that the alumni community was super helpful in college and right out of college, when you're early in your career. But the events were geared a lot more towards recent grads, and not necessarily to folks mid to late career. So, I had this idea of wanting to get more senior folks into our community. Really, what that had to look like is creating some structure and saying, ‘Hey, we're not just doing generic happy hours, we’re developing a true business network.’”
From left to right: Howard He 20L, Jennifer Crabb Kyles 98Ox 00C, Mazur 99C, Professor Tom Smith, Elizabeth Halkos 01MBA, Garry Teekah 15Ox 17C. December 2024.
For the Finance Committee, this came in the form of three major themes: education, progressional development, and community engagement. Most recently, the Committee hosted an internal education session with Goizueta professor Thomas Smith on the economic outlook amid a new administration. “We created this community and it's still growing. We're still in the early stages of it, but me and Brad Mazur 99C, my co-chair, really believe that there are people out there that have this wealth of knowledge. But how do we just kind of create a framework for people to know how to engage? That's the hardest piece once you get away from the structure of college.” In the upcoming months they look forward to hosting events around financial literacy in the local community and partnering with other NYC Committees to further drive network engagement and professional development.
When it comes to connecting with the Emory alumni community, Garry reflects on how “helpful and gracious” everyone is. He encourages current students to reach out, because most alumni are “more than willing to answer a LinkedIn message or answer an email.”
“No question is too small to ask. Just don't be afraid to do that,” he recommends.