Hometown: Acworth, Georgia
Describe yourself in 15 words or less:
Easy-going, hard-working, reliable, calm, polite, generous, adaptable, ambitious
Who most influenced your decision to pursue your MBA?
No one specific person influenced by decision, but the majority of colleagues at my firm have an MBA and have shared with me how beneficial it can be for your longer-term career.
What was your favorite business course and why?
Consumer Behavior with Professor Sam Bond. I really enjoy understanding how people think and make decisions, and I found this course fascinating to walk through different case scenarios and examples of how companies and marketers can trick our brains into getting the products they’re trying to sell us.
What advice would you give to an incoming MBA?
I’d say, enjoy the ride. Also, what you get out of the program is what you put in. It will seem daunting when you start to understand the amount of work that the program requires but just live in the moment for each class and semester and embrace what comes from networking. You’ll learn a lot.
What activities were you involved with on or off campus, and did your business education impact those activities in any way?
Based on my current work, I was involved in the Consulting Club.
What’s been your favorite memory so far at Scheller?
I don’t have one specific memory, but I think just meeting and getting to know so many different colleagues in the program. I love understanding different backgrounds and perspectives. This has been helpful when thinking about how I operate within a business and with cross-functional collaboration.
What is the biggest lesson you gained from your Scheller MBA?
I think from a life perspective, just to take control of my time throughout the week. Before starting the program, I was someone that wanted to be brain dead after work and do nothing. Going through the program and being active just about every night or weekend was stimulating and rewarding.
Where will you be working after graduation?
I’ll be staying with my current employer, Egon Zehnder, where I recently took a promotion into a leadership role. Hopefully one day I’ll be able to help some of my classmates with their careers if I continue to stay there!
What will you be doing to celebrate your graduation?
My wife and I are taking a trip to Chicago after the ceremony and spending the weekend up there. We love to travel, and it is a good excuse to go.
Who would you like to thank most for your success?
I want to thank my wife for putting up with me over the last two and a half years. She really helped pick up the slack around the house. She was a tremendous help to me and supported me all the way through.
What is a fun fact about yourself?
I am a huge animal lover. We have three dogs and one cat at home. One of our dogs is a resilient little guy who’s a tripod with just legs
What are the top two items on your bucket list?
- I want to visit all seven wonders of the world. I’ve seen three so far. The Taj Mahal, Colosseum, and Chichen Itza. I hope to knockout the remaining four in the next 10 to 15 years.
- I want to see as many major sporting events live as I can, including the World Cup, Olympics, and famous tournaments or races like Wimbledon, Monaco.
Who is your favorite business professor?
Professor Peter Thompson was great. I had him for Behavioral Economics and as someone who was an Economics major in undergrad, I thoroughly enjoyed how he taught. It was evident he is an economist through and through. He made the class entertaining and engaging to learn based on the depth of his knowledge.
What's your favorite place you've traveled to, and why?
I loved the feel of Amsterdam. It is beautiful with the canals, culture, and vibe of the city. Everyone bikes instead of driving. It’s very easy to walk around and a great spot to get around the rest of Europe. I could never get bored there.
What did you want to be when you were small?
I wanted to be a professional baseball player.
What is your latest book recommendation?
“What It Takes to Save a Life” by Kwane Stewart. This is a great book that gives the perspective of a vet helping the homeless with their pets on the streets.
Favorite restaurant in Atlanta:
Canoe in Vinings. It may be a bit further out of downtown, but it’s worth the wait for the view, especially if you go there when it’s warmer. You can enjoy the river bar outside.
