My name is Gunnar Clyde Mckie Balch. I'm a 23-year-old computer scientist, investor, and aspiring innovator who's passionate about leveraging technology in the world of finance.
I grew up in Atlanta, Georgia. As a child, I spent much of my time playing and loving sports( football, basketball, and fishing ), which taught me teamwork, perseverance, and the importance of goal-setting. Alongside my love for sports, I've always had a keen interest in technology and mechanics, often taking apart my toys and gadgets to figure out the inner workings and/or to rebuild them in my own way.
It was this curiosity that sparked my passion for coding. I began building and programming Lego Mindstorm robots and later explored game and server development through creating Minecraft mods and hosting/managing multiplayer servers. My fascination with coding and technology has only grown since, and it's became clear that I should pursue a career where I could merge these skills with real-world applications.
From 2019 to 2021, I studied Physics at Georgia State University. In the spring of 2020, I landed my first job as a cashier and line-cook at Bennett's Market & Deli. However, my time there was short-lived due to COVID-19 lockdowns. During that period, I rediscovered my passion for coding and technology, which ultimately led me to switch majors to Computer Science and transfer to the University of Georgia in the summer of 2021. It was at UGA that I developed a deep interest in finance, sparked by a Computational Science course and helping organize ACM's 5th International Conference on AI in Finance(ICAIF). In the fall of 2024, I earned my Bachelor of Science in Computer Science with a 3.53 GPA. GO DAWGS!
Currently, Iām the Webmaster for ICAIF but also seeking job opportunities to expand my experience, I'm also applying to graduate school to pursue a degree in Finance. My ultimate goal is to build a fulfilling career in Computational Finance, where I can bridge my technical skills with my passion for innovation, analysis, and making profitable investments.