As seen in the fall 2025 Ivy magazine.
Imagine being a student in the Debbie and Jerry Ivy College of Business on the first day of your finance class.
The professor introduces himself, sharing over three decades of corporate finance experience, including a stretch at General Electric under under legendary CEO Jack Welch.
You’d be impressed – but here’s what will inspire you: this professor was once just like you – a kid from Iowa studying business at Iowa State University.
Bruce Kraft (’84 finance) returned to Iowa State as a senior lecturer at the Ivy College of Business in 2017 and became a professor of practice in 2019. “I’m at Iowa State first because I love Iowa State. This is one of the most rewarding jobs I’ve ever had. You see the value of what you’re bringing and the appreciation from the students,” he said.
After completing the financial management trainee program at General Electric in 1989, Kraft held a variety of positions, beginning as a financial analyst and advancing to a vice president with the company. In 2000, he joined U.S. Bank as a finance director and rose to the position of senior vice president. In 2009, he joined Scantron Corporation, an education-based technology business, to become its senior vice president and chief finance officer.
“I had some great experience in companies like GE, and my time there coincided with when Jack Welch was CEO. He was well-respected and empowered us to look for opportunities to grow our business and do it in efficient ways,” he said. “It was a base of experience that helped me in my entire career in corporate finance, and now in teaching.”
When he retired from corporate finance, Kraft wanted to continue to do something meaningful. His wife, Jerilyn (’85 accounting), suggested he look into teaching at Iowa State, where he could share his experiences.
“Bruce Kraft knows how to bridge theory with practice. He leverages his experience to provide very concrete examples of the concepts he teaches in class. For students looking to enter the workforce, that insight is invaluable.”
— Hernán Machado (’20 finance, accounting)
Kraft wants students to understand that finance can give them an edge in business and their personal lives.
“It’s a skill you can apply across business, marketing, supply chain, problem-solving, and more,” he said. “Whatever the field, understanding finance can make you more effective and successful.”
He created Finance 4100, an upper-level course where finance majors work in teams to run a business from a corporate finance perspective.
“Budgeting, forecasting, financial reporting, investment analysis, raising capital – we give them hands-on experience they can take into the real world,” he said.
Kraft earns high marks with students, who view him as knowledgeable, accessible, and caring. A common comment: “you need to go to class.”
“When these students graduate and enter the working world, there will be an expectation that they are at work each day. I expect the same here. I expect them to be in class and be actively involved,” he said. “Students who are engaged are going to have a better experience, and that applies to the business world as well. If you are engaged, making connections and building relationships, and willing to go the extra mile, you are going to be more successful.”
While he may have earned his degree back in the ’80s, Kraft is a tech-savvy professor. It isn’t just about being cool, but about showing how embracing new concepts and tools can make you more productive and comfortable with change.
“I leverage technology to the fullest extent I can,” he said. “You never get a paper document in my class. This is a tech generation, so the textbook is digital, and the assignments are online.
His involvement goes beyond the classroom. He supports MBA case competitions and directs the college’s Ivy Summer in Rome study abroad program.
By returning to Iowa State, Kraft shares his expertise – and a personal lesson in giving back.
“When I started at Iowa State as a student, I didn’t know my career path. I want my students to know that I was in their shoes and I was able to be successful after going to Iowa State,” he said. “This is my way to give back and help them benefit from my experience and be successful in whatever endeavor they pursue.”
