From AI Models to Financial Solutions: Christian Hollar
Duke University’s Master’s in Financial Technology (FinTech) program is known for producing graduates who go on to become leaders in financial innovation. Among the current students preparing to follow that path is Christian Hollar, an online student in the Duke FinTech program and a Software Engineer at Boeing.
Duke University’s Master’s in Financial Technology (FinTech) program is known for producing graduates who go on to become leaders in financial innovation. Among the current students preparing to follow that path is Christian Hollar, an online student in the Duke FinTech program and a Software Engineer at Boeing.
While interning at nCino during his undergraduate studies, Christian connected with a recruiter from the Duke’s Pratt School of Engineering who introduced him to the FinTech and Artificial Intelligence (AI) master’s programs. Through his independent research on developing long short-term memory (LSTM) models for stock price forecasting, Christian deepened his interest in the intersection of AI and finance. This led him to enroll in the AI program, where he became proficient in developing and evaluating AI models. While completing his AI degree, he decided to take courses in Algorithmic Trading Systems and Blockchain Technology to expand upon his interest in finance. These courses made Christian realize he wanted to apply his AI skills to the field of FinTech, leading him to stay at Duke to pursue his master’s degree in FinTech as an online student.
In addition to being a student, Christian is a Software Engineer at Boeing in the Avionics Software Design Group. In his role, he develops software for military VTOL aircraft, where he has been able to apply the skills learned in the AI and FinTech program. His ability to work with large data sets, specifically related to data processing and visualization, proved extremely valuable when he had to analyze extensive flight test data and evaluate key performance metrics across V-22 Osprey flights. He also has used these skills to make design decisions and interpret test results for flight control systems. Both the programs have also provided Christian a stronger foundation in software development, enabling him to approach technical challenges at Boeing with greater expertise. While being an online student and a working professional is demanding, Christian mentioned how the professors have been flexible with his work schedule, and how he still feels supported by the program from a far.
Duke FinTech, Class of 2025The level of support—whether academic, career-focused, or personal—is second to none. Whether it’s diving deeper into class topics, tailoring coursework to align with my interests, or preparing for the next step in my career, the faculty is always available and genuinely eager to help.
When reflecting on how the program has prepared him to advance his career, Christian mentioned how the FinTech program has allowed him to explore all his interests. Through the Incubate course with Professor Fimbel, he has been able to develop a product and gain firsthand experience in launching a startup. This has been invaluable for him, as well as allowed him to explore his interest in entrepreneurship. He also built on the AI model development and evaluation skills gained during the AI program, gaining the confidence to apply them to quantitative finance. The program has helped him understand different types of models, when to apply them, and how to validate his effectiveness. Additionally, he has been able to expand on his skills in software development, specifically related to team-based development.
Christian will graduate from the Duke FinTech program in May 2025.
If you are interested in our online program, please contact pratt_fintech@duke.edu.