Will and Brittney (Faber) Oberrender '13 were members of the Middlebury men's and women's tennis teams, respectively, and married after college. Will is the Director in Debt Capital Markets at Barclays while Brittney is a Senior Director of Product at SmartAsset.
What have been the most rewarding parts of working in the banking and financial industries? What have been some challenging aspects?
Will: Some of the most rewarding parts of working in the banking & finance industry has been the camaraderie and team-oriented dynamic that feels very similar to our time on the tennis teams. I've been able to develop lifelong friendships with co-workers and clients. A challenging aspect of working in the industry is how quickly the work can change. It can be hard to have clarity on how our work weeks will look as we both have jobs that can require immediate attention and travel responsibilities, which can make both of us wish for more certainty in our schedules, particularly with three young children.
Brittney: The most rewarding part of my career has been to find positions that continue to challenge me and allow me to learn and grow because every day is different in its own way. That said, every day being different is also the most challenging part - especially when you bring raising children into the mix! It can be difficult to pivot quickly when you've only had a few hours of sleep or need to take the kids to the doctor when they're sick.
Both of you attended the Breck School in Minnesota. What drew you to come to Middlebury?
Will: I always knew I wanted to go to college outside of Minnesota. Growing up, I'd heard how great Middlebury was from my cousins, the Fritz's, who played soccer and lacrosse at Midd. When I visited, I was impressed with the set-up of the athletic facilities (and this was pre-squash and field house renovation!) and how the students I spent time with seemed to have a great balance of academics and sports.
Brittney: As I was looking at schools, I liked the idea of a NESCAC school in general versus other lower Division I programs because you have the opportunity to compete for a national championship. The visit to Middlebury really sold me! The girls on the team were great and the school and town felt like the right fit. The fact that Will was going was also a "pro" in the pros/cons list.
You now have three young children at home, including a one-month-old. What has that family dynamic been like?
It has definitely been busy with three kids! The two older ones (Liam & Camilla) have adjusted very well to their youngest sibling (Brooks) - giving him a lot of kisses on the "sweet spot" of his forehead. The overall dynamic so far has been very quintessential 'older child, younger child' between Liam and Camilla: very competitive with Camilla constantly trying to keep up with her brother as they race around the house or play soccer in the backyard.
What have been some of the activities that you have shared with your family? Is there a memory or two that sticks out to you?
We still enjoy playing tennis together. It has been very fun sharing that with our kids and watching them develop on the court! During our last visit to Midd, we even took them to play a little tennis at Nelson, which was a blast! We're hoping to get up to Vermont more as the kids get older and travel becomes a bit easier. Hopefully, we will all get to play on the new courts someday!
What is one piece of advice that you would give to current Middlebury student-athletes?
Our one piece of advice for current Middlebury student-athletes would be to ENJOY it and not take your four years for granted! It might seem stressful at times, but, at the end of the day, you get to play sports with your friends and learn about subjects that interest you in a beautiful environment. We promise that you will miss it after you graduate!
What is your Midd Moment?
Will: It is hard to top winning the national championship as a first-year and getting to ride the coattails of an incredible senior class, including current coach Andrew Thomson '10.
Brittney: One of my most memorable moments playing tennis at Middlebury was when we beat Bowdoin in the NCAA Round of 16 during my senior year. It was the first time in a while that Middlebury women's tennis had made it to the final eight. We had heartbreakingly lost to them in the same round the previous year, so it was very satisfying to come back the next year with a win.
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