Mathematics and economics alumnus parlays quantitative interests into career in private equity real estate

After attending a class at The College of Wooster as a prospective student during his senior year of high school, Gio Tramonto ’18 knew he belonged at Wooster. He observed a mutual level of engagement between professors and their students—a relationship he found inspiring. Tramonto, a self-defined subpar student early in his academic career, developed an affinity for academics through the influence of his high school teachers. Eager to delve further into his newfound passion, Tramonto chose to attend Wooster in hopes of learning alongside dedicated faculty who could steer his interests toward an established career. He recalls his time at the College accomplishing just that, imparting him with skills he frequently draws upon as an associate for a private equity real estate firm.  

Despite initially intending to concentrate his interests solely toward a major in economics, Tramonto eventually swayed toward the study of mathematics as well. “It really came down to my professors who influenced me to keep going with math,” he said. John Ramsey, professor emeritus of mathematics, encouraged Tramonto to pursue the study of mathematics by taking as many math classes as possible, noting the importance of the subject across numerous areas of specialization. Upon quickly heeding Ramsey’s advice, he became hooked onto the subject and decided to major in mathematics alongside economics.  

Tramonto further honed his studies during his junior year at the College, opting to spend the entire academic year studying abroad at the London School of Economics in England. His desire to study abroad was reinforced by exposure to global perspectives at Wooster, where Tramonto remembers having a number of friends who were international students. Consequently, he frequently engaged in discussions that broadened his worldview. “What I think college is about is trying to meet people who don’t think what I think—and at least hearing them out,” he said. Through these experiences, he identified a heightened ability to think critically, a skill he recognizes as continuing to be important. 

In addition to the London School of Economics, Tramonto further supplemented his Wooster education at the likes of Harvard University, Oxford University, and the University of Chicago. Though valuable experiences, he remembers his teachers at Wooster having the most impact on his undergraduate education. “The primary thing at Wooster is teaching. I don’t think people realize that isn’t the primary focus at other schools,” he said. Tramonto emphasized these experiences while back on campus in September 2024 as a panel member for the College’s annual Mortensen Lecture that focused on the importance of relationship-rich education.  

Tramonto’s experiences in the classroom shaped his life post-Wooster as an associate for IDR Investment Management, a private equity real estate firm that invests pension money for clients and currently has over $8 Billion in assets under management. His day-to-day responsibilities include portfolio management and turning walls of numbers into easily digestible visuals to help prospective investors understand the landscape they face. Tramonto describes his work as, “Starting with nothing and trying to discover what you are being told from the data.” In addition to his work at IDR, Tramonto tutors local underprivileged children in Mathematics.  

To current Wooster students, Tramonto’s main advice is to, “Reach out to alumni,” he said, with regards to finding internships or jobs. “Anytime I reach out to a Wooster alumnus, they go further than you think.” 

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Posted in Alumni on December 1, 2024.