Alumni Spotlight: Brian Harbour

Brian Harbour, at right, pictured in 2019 with Adam Yoran ’09 (left), his original Philodemic mentor back in 2007, and John Tincoff ’09 (center).

Brian Harbour (MSB’10)

2008-2009 Philodemic Treasurer 2012 Founding Alumni Philodemica Treasurer

What are you up to now?

I live in Boston with my wife (also Georgetown ’10, not Philodemic though) and work for Morgan Stanley as an investment research analyst. I spent a while in New York City post-school, then moved up here to be closer to family and the outdoors. I am on a long-term tour of the Northeast but am still partial to my hometown of Detroit.

How has your time in Philodemic influenced your career path?

I was the oddball MSB student in the Philodemic. No surprise, I ended up in finance over law or politics or the like. But my job nonetheless does involve a lot of trying to convince people I’m right about various investment ideas, in print or in person, and working through both sides of a debate. And sometimes making up what I’m going to say on the spot. I can thank the Philodemic for preparing me.

What was your favorite debate or memory from your time in the Philodemic Society?

I have a lot of vivid memories from that time; it’s hard to pick one. I enjoyed my induction debate on the Iraq War and am still friends with many of the people in the room that night. Our senior debate, which I keynoted, was everything we hoped it would be. Evenings at Martin’s became an iconic memory of college. I once gave a keynote defending the French over the English and obviously did not win. Behind the scenes, I used to enjoy sparring with SAC about funding and once had to get our post-Merrick dinner cruise on the Potomac approved about 12 hours before it was slated to sail.

What does Philodemic mean to you?

10+ years later, it stands out to me as a place where I built lasting friendships and camaraderie, developed self-confidence that I probably lacked previously, and expanded my mind in the company of people and ideas I may not have otherwise known. I was an outsider there at first but stuck with it, and it became integral to my time at Georgetown. I always tell prospective students about it when I do admissions interviews. It was great fun, and still is when I gather with current or former members.