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“I Don’t Have to Fit Any Mold to Be Successful”: Meet Nastaccia Thompson, BSBA ‘23

To celebrate Georgia Tech Scheller College of Business students, we interviewed a few outstanding undergraduate students to learn more about their journey at Scheller. Meet Nastaccia Thompson.
Photo of Nastaccia Thompson at night

Nastaccia Thompson, BSBA ‘23

Georgia Tech Scheller College of Business students come to learn, explore, and build community. As they move forward in their careers, they take everything they’ve learned and use it to power innovation in industries and businesses across the globe. In celebration of Spring 2023 Commencement, we sat down with a few students to learn about their experiences and the wisdom they’ve gained in the process.

Meet Nastaccia Thompson, who is graduating with a concentration in Information Technology Management.

Where are you from?

Goose Creek, SC

Who most influenced your decision to pursue business in college?

Myself. During the pandemic, I found myself unsure of what I wanted to do with my education. I entered undergrad as a computer engineering major as I had studied robotics all throughout high school and found that my passion was no longer there. So, I asked myself, “What’s next?” To pass the time, I embarked on a personal journey of entrepreneurism. Through my business, Pressure Thee Brand, I learned so much about not only how to open a successful business, but also how to maintain it. As it came with its own trials and tribulations, I became intrigued to learn more. That is why I decided to change my major and pursue business. I had finally found my place and my purpose at Scheller.

Why did you choose Scheller College of Business?

I decided to change my major to business since I wanted to learn more about how to run my own business. However, my increasing admiration for Scheller came with its professors and career advising. Before making my official switch, I took a few classes to both cover my prerequisites and see which concentration I’d be most interested in. I started contemplating the switch in my third year, so I wanted to be sure. The professors were always so kind and encouraging. They made it clear early on that the goal was to prepare us, not divide us. They answered every question thoroughly and were always available to meet. The career advising was also so impressive because Scheller makes a point to send opportunities our way. Career advising made getting a job/internship easy and accessible.

What concentration did you pursue and why?

I pursued the Information Technology Management (ITM) concentration because it offers incredible versatility. With ITM, I can do anything from database management to coding software. I enjoy being challenged, and the ITM concentration offers skill sets that place me in the running for any industry of my choice.

What is your best piece of advice to an applicant hoping to get into Scheller College?

Just be you. Scheller has shown me that I don’t have to fit any mold to be successful. Through group projects being the foundation of our coursework, Scheller helps reinforce that the only person you should be in competition with is yourself because every person on a team is different and has something unique to offer. Recruiters, regardless of college or company, want to get to know you. They want to know who you really are, what you specifically bring to the environment, and if you are striving to be better today than you were before. In your application, do not try to be who you think they want you to be, just be you.

What is the biggest myth about Scheller College?

“Business students aren’t good at STEM.” That one is a huge myth! Math and science are honestly my favorite subjects, and I thoroughly enjoy applying my skills in those areas to my coursework. All the concentrations have their own technical components, which require students to engage with STEM topics. Due to this, Scheller students find work in various industries, not limited to only those typically deemed for business majors. Scheller is such a melting pot of skill sets because, in business, the opportunities are endless.

As a business student in the heart of Tech Square, how do you think Scheller College embodies the intersection of business and technology?

Scheller embodies business and technology because the foundation of our coursework is focused on building both our hard and soft skills. Scheller is unique, but in addition to learning how to work in groups and network, you are also learning how to use the newest industry technologies in the most innovative ways.

What was your favorite course (and what was the biggest insight you gained about business from it)?

My favorite course is Introduction to Digital Transformations. That course aided me in learning all the industry programs that would make me a better information technology professional. The best insight I learned from that course was how to do technical research on a program of your choice. I learned that in IT, you may not always know how to use new software, but that class forced us to find the information we needed. We were given the opportunity to self-teach, something you must do daily as an industry professional.

Who was your favorite professor (and why)?

My favorite professor is Michael Dutcher. He is informative, compassionate, and always eager to help. During my time in the career development course, he was always available to help us connect with alumni or look over our interview documents, such as resumes, cover letters, etc. That class truly fast-tracked my ability to merge successfully into Scheller and hit the ground running as a soon-to-be business major.

What activities were you involved with on or off campus, and did your business education impact those activities in any way?

On campus, I serve as the chapter president for my sorority, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., for the 2022-2023 academic year. In addition, I am a first-generation mentor, and I participated as a team leader for the GT1000 course, specifically in my role as chapter president. Scheller has taught me a lot about how to communicate with others and use project management skills when it comes to planning events and services. Off-campus, I work as a pharmacy technician. In my position, I can apply my understanding of workflow and organizational behavior to better our workplace. 

Where did you intern/co-op during school? 

I interned for QGenda as an implementation consultant intern during the summer of 2022.

Where will you be working after graduation?

Post-graduation, I will be working for Accenture in their Atlanta-based office as a technical architecture delivery analyst.

How did the Scheller College undergraduate career education program assist you with your job efforts? Did you end up working or interning for one of your top choice companies?

The career education program helped me with my job efforts in every single step along the way. Whether it was giving me resources such as resume building, hosting company workshops to navigate networking, or just sending me job openings to apply for, the career center has been there every step of the way. They provide for everything. Due to their assistance, I have been able to work for companies like Qgenda and will be working for Accenture.

Did you participate in any hands-on/experiential learning opportunities? If yes, which projects/companies did you work with, and how did you help them?

I interned at QGenda last summer. There, I worked on various software projects in the area of medical scheduling. In my role, I assisted consultants with scheduling software for hospitals, independent doctors’ offices, and clinics by preparing demos for the clients, importing their data into the database, and cleaning data. 

Who would you like to thank for your success?

I would like to thank my mom most for my success. She has dedicated her life to building me up into the person I am, and for that, I am forever grateful. 

What is a fun fact about yourself?

I absolutely love the fine arts. Before college, I studied classical music and sang opera for about six years.

What are some of your hobbies?

In my free time, I enjoy singing, dancing, and doing makeup.

What are the top two items on your bucket list?

Someday, I want to travel to Italy and take an RV across the country.

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