As part of our Countdown to Commencement series, we interviewed a few soon-to-be graduates from our undergraduate and MBA programs to learn about their backgrounds, why they chose Scheller College, and what they plan to do after Fall 2018 Commencement.
Meet Naomi O’Halloran:
Naomi is an Atlanta native and finishing her undergraduate Business Administration degree with a concentration in Accounting and a minor in French. While at Scheller, she got the chance to intern with The Coca-Cola Company, Goldman Sachs, and Newbridge Management. After graduation, she will be packing her bags for New York, where she will work for Goldman Sachs at their New York City headquarters as an internal audit analyst. And, here’s a cool fact about Naomi: she’s given a speech at the United Nations’ General Assembly Auditorium in The Hague, Netherlands!
Why did you choose Scheller College of Business?
I chose Scheller after attending the Dean’s Scholarship Interview Day where I had the pleasure of interacting with the administration, faculty, and current students. I distinctly remember the information session detailing Scheller’s explicit plan for each student’s success and their 96% job placement rate before, or three months after, graduation. That statistic blew me away as well as the plan for success they had developed for students. From the information session alone, I could tell how dedicated Scheller’s administration was to the care of its students. I also had the opportunity to interact with Scheller Business Ambassadors, a group that I have had the opportunity to be a part of now as a student.
Who was your favorite professor and why?
Many Scheller professors are great but Ryan Blunck is my favorite professor at Georgia Tech (and within Scheller), without a doubt. Professor Blunck’s quirky sense of humor and genuine interest in making sure students succeed in his class really stood out to me. His classes are in no way a breeze but, with proper preparation and solid understanding of the concepts, Professor Blunck ensures that his students will succeed and do well in his class. Finally, he is able to teach tough concepts in a fun yet fulfilling manner.
What was your favorite course and what was the biggest insight you gained about business from it?
My favorite class was Financial Reporting & Analysis I, in part because Professor Blunck taught the class but also because it really helped reinforce my interest in finance and accounting. I was able to apply experiences I learned through internships to the subjects we we learned in class, as well as take away concepts we learned in class and apply them to new experiences outside of the classroom. The class was challenging yet incredibly fulfilling and it definitely didn’t hurt that I did really well in the class, too!
As a business student in the heart of Tech Square, how do you think Scheller College embodies the intersection of business and technology?
Scheller students have the ability to go outside the building and be within walking distance of some of the biggest companies in the world. Scheller College ensures that students don’t let these opportunities go to waste with an incredible administration who are determined to see students succeed beyond their years at Georgia Tech. As business continues to intertwine with development of technology, Scheller curriculums are constantly being updated to reflect the changes being made in the real world whether it be with new and emerging companies or software.
What is the biggest myth about Scheller College?
The biggest myth about Scheller is that because Scheller students are at a university known for engineering, its curriculum and classes are less rigorous. This is completely false and is something that the rest of campus comes to learn after taking classes within Scheller and/or interacting with its students.
Who most influenced your decision to pursue business in college?
Both my parents are my biggest role models and cheerleaders in life. My parents constantly challenged my sisters and me with a rigorous education but made sure we realized the importance of being a well-rounded individual, which is essential in the business world.
What activities were you involved with on or off campus, and did your business education impact those activities in any way?
I was involved with the following organizations: Alpha Chi Omega, the Collegiate Panhellenic Community, the Georgia Tech Alumni Association, Georgia Tech Ambassadors, the Georgia Tech Student Foundation, GT1000 Team Leaders, Scheller Business Ambassadors, Society of Women in Business, and the Student Government Association's Athletics and Recreation Committee.
Did you travel abroad during your time at Scheller? What were some of your key takeaways from the experience?
I participated in the Language for Business and Technology (LBAT) study abroad program in Summer 2017. We lived in Paris for nine weeks and in Nice for two. I loved my study abroad experiences because having previously attended Atlanta International School growing up -- and learning French from the age of four -- I was able to apply my language-learning experiences to a variety of different business classes, all taught in French. It was a wonderful opportunity to be able to apply my language background to real world business environments beyond the traditional classroom setting.
“If I hadn’t gone to business school, I would be..."
If I hadn’t gone to business school, I’d be preparing to go to medical school to become a pediatrician.
In one sentence, how would you like your peers to remember you?
As someone who was incredibly passionate about the things she was committed to and a loyal friend with a fun sense of humor and demeanor.