Energy Finance Group at UT

Prior to attending McCombs, Joshua spent the last eight years leading multimillion-dollar energy infrastructure projects across the oil, gas, and renewable sectors. At ExxonMobil, he oversaw offshore drilling and exploration in the Gulf of Mexico and Guyana, and at Biogas Engineering, he managed renewable natural gas projects from design through commissioning. Joshua continues to pursue an interest in Energy Finance and Investment Banking, with the long-term goal of becoming an investor in energy and sustainable infrastructure. He aims to deploy capital toward projects that accelerate energy integration and support strategic economic growth. Outside the classroom, he enjoys international travel, supporting others in reaching their goals, and exploring global cuisines.

He grew up in Calabar, Nigeria and holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Georgia Tech as well as a M.S. in Petroleum Engineering from Texas A&M. He resides in Houston and looks forward to diversifying his experience in the Energy Industry across functions.

Before attending business school, Patrick served as an Army Officer for 10 years serving in units across the United States including the 10th Mountain Division, 1st Ranger Battalion, and 1st Cavalry Division and deployed multiple times at locations around the world.

Originally from Nokesville, VA, Patrick holds a B.S in Economics from the United States Military Academy and is currently pursuing a career in Energy Investment Banking.

Stephanie Nugent is an MBA candidate at the University of Texas at Austin’s McCombs School of Business. She most recently served as an FP&A Senior Analyst for Madison Square Garden in New York City. Prior to her time at MSG, Stephanie served as a Treasury and FP&A Analyst for Equinox, where she focused on optimizing liquidity management and streamlining financial reporting processes. Her dual experience in Treasury and Corporate Planning allowed her to build a comprehensive understanding of the financial lifecycle within high-profile, consumer-facing organizations.

Stephanie is originally from Dublin, Ireland and now resides in Austin, Texas. Where she is leveraging her extensive background in corporate finance to pursue a career in Energy Investment Banking.

Prior to McCombs, Cole began his career at BMO Capital Markets on the Corporate Banking team in Houston, Texas. Afterwards, he transitioned into Private Equity Fund Finance in NYC working for Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC), the world’s 2nd largest Japanese financial institution, where he was a Vice President and Relationship Manager for North American Private Equity Fund Sponsors, providing structuring, execution, and capital markets advisory services for fund and asset-level leverage. 

Cole is from Memphis, Tennessee and holds a BS in Finance from The University of Alabama. Cole is a Hildebrand Scholar in the University of Texas McCombs Hildebrand MBA program, graduating in May 2027.

Aaqil Anwar is a Full-Time MBA candidate at Texas McCombs (Class of 2027) concentrating in Energy Finance. He earned his Bachelor’s degree cum laude from the University of Denver and a Master’s in Finance magna cum laude from the University of Denver.

Prior to business school, Aaqil built a career at the intersection of strategic finance, investing, and operating roles. He led business development and investor relations for a sports-focused investment platform, working closely with founders, institutional capital, and strategic partners, and previously worked in healthcare analytics where he translated complex data into strategic insights for executives and investors.

Before attending McCombs, Harrison built his career in the government contracting sector, where he supported mission-critical projects for the Department of Energy and the Department of Defense. He specialized in capture management and business development, navigating the complexities of federal proposals to secure energy and defense contracts.

Originally from Park City, UT, Harrison holds a BS in Civil Engineering and an MS in Civil & Environmental Engineering from California Polytechnic State University. He is currently pursuing a career in Energy Investment Banking.

Laura Rivera is a dual-degree MBA/MS Mechanical Engineering student at UT Austin focused on energy leadership and strategy. Originally from Bogotá, Colombia, she earned her undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering from The University of Texas at Austin. As VP of Education for the Energy Finance Group, Laura develops programming that helps members understand energy trends and the energy policy landscape shaping investment and strategy. She brings 6 years of experience in the energy sector at EthosEnergy, where she led engineering and service project portfolios supporting energy assets. In her free time, Laura enjoys playing padel and traveling.

Before business school, Nicole spent three years at ExxonMobil in finance, supporting cash management, FX exposure, and funding initiatives across upstream operations, building a strong foundation in corporate treasury and financial planning within the energy sector. Originally from Curitiba, Brazil, Nicole is currently an MBA candidate at Texas McCombs and will join Jefferies in Houston as a Summer Investment Banking Associate in Energy Group.

Prior to McCombs, Ryan spent over 4 years as a senior underwriter at Chubb on their private equity team in Atlanta, where he managed a multi-million dollar book of business and worked with clients across industries and geographies, on D&O, EPL, and Fiduciary risks.

Ryan is originally from Houston and holds a BBA from the University of Georgia Terry School of Business and is pursuing a career in Energy Investment Banking.