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 Isabel (Izzy) Evans, who is graduating with a concentration in Supply Chain & Operations Management and a minor in Engineering & Business through the Denning Technology & Management (T&M) Program.
Where are you from?
Atlanta, GA
Where did you go to high school?
The Westminster Schools in Atlanta, GA
Who most influenced your decision to pursue business in college?
In high school, I was incredibly involved in my FIRST Robotics Competition Team, and I led the business sector of the team for three years. Through Robotics, I developed a passion for the intersection between technology and business, and I realized that I could leverage my business skills and continue to explore my passion for engineering and technology. I was involved in spreading access to STEM education, writing award and grant applications, and I spearheaded a robust statewide recycling competition. I saw how synergistic and necessary every aspect of the team was, and I knew I wanted to pursue business in an environment that’s on the cutting edge of technology. It was not one specific person that drove me to pursue business, but the overall experience, my incredible teammates and mentors, and the opportunities to explore business throughout high school were all influential factors in my decision.
Why did you choose Scheller College of Business?
As an Atlanta native, I’ve always been familiar with Georgia Tech, and once I realized I was interested in pursuing business, Scheller just fell into place as the perfect fit. The location in the heart of Tech Square and the consistently stellar rankings certainly attracted me to Scheller, but I took a tour, met some awesome Scheller Business Ambassadors, and I knew I had found my home. It sounds incredibly cliche, but everyone made me feel so welcome from the beginning, and I immediately sensed that Scheller was a family. I’m happy to say that after four years, I still get that same feeling.
What concentration did you pursue and why?
I pursued Supply Chain & Operations Management (SCOM) because I’ve always been interested in logistics and processes. To me, SCOM embodies problem-solving and the beauty of behind-the-scenes planning. It’s fascinating to learn and apply the concepts that are integral to things that we take for granted daily, such as buying our favorite snack at the store or having maintenance get the necessary parts for your broken dryer.
What is your best piece of advice to an applicant hoping to get into Scheller College?
One of the wonderful things about Scheller is being surrounded by other exceptional students, but that means that so many applicants will also have stellar resumes and test scores. When coming to Scheller, they want to know YOU. Your story, your passions, your personality. Scheller will not reduce you to a number on a page, and they want to get to know all potential students holistically for who they are.
What is the biggest myth about Scheller College?
Sometimes people may believe that you have to be a certain type of person to be a Scheller student. Whether that’s because someone once overheard that everyone in Scheller is super involved in investing or your engineering friend told you that business majors are just engineers who can’t do math. Any overarching stereotypes about Scheller aren’t true, because the core of Scheller’s culture is to embrace each individual as they are and help them harness their greatest strengths.
As a business student in the heart of Tech Square, how do you think Scheller College embodies the intersection of business and technology?
Without fail, every single one of my Scheller courses has integrated current events, cutting-edge technologies, connections with local companies, insights from Scheller alumni, and much, much more. Beyond the classroom, Scheller’s doors are open to the city of Atlanta, and it’s not uncommon to see well-respected companies networking with students as they walk between classes. Furthermore, so many of the professors have direct work experience in their respective fields, and it’s exciting and humbling to be surrounded by so many brilliant people who share a passion for growth, innovation, and business excellence.
Scheller also emphasizes its interdisciplinary educational opportunities, whether it’s programs such as the T&M Program or the many different student organizations housed within the College.
What was your favorite course (and what was the biggest insight you gained about business from it)?
Some of my favorite core business courses were Management of Technology and Information Systems & Digital Transformation due to their immense value outside the classroom. I found myself using skills from both of these classes in my internships and job interviews. My favorite non-core course was Emerging Technologies, which I took with my T&M Program cohort. This class taught me a lot about the cutting-edge technologies that are impacting business today, but my favorite aspect of the course was how it made me much more aware of the impact of technology on the world around me, even in the smallest ways.
Who was your favorite professor (and why)?
Dr. David Ku taught one of my smaller Technology & Management courses, and not only was this one of my favorite classes, but Dr. Ku’s enthusiasm for the subject and compassion for his students made this course a highlight of both the T&M Program and my undergraduate experience. I appreciated how Dr. Ku always encouraged us to engage in unconventional thinking and ask bold questions.
What activities were you involved with on or off campus, and did your business education impact those activities in any way?
At Scheller, I have been involved in the Scheller Business Ambassadors, and I have served as a team leader for the business section of GT 1000. I am very passionate about mentorship, and I love having a hand in making Scheller a home for others, as it has been for me. Additionally, I am a member of Alpha Chi Omega and held an executive and non-executive position within my chapter before becoming the president of the Collegiate Panhellenic Council (CPC). Since the members of CPC comprise about 25% of Georgia Tech’s undergraduate female population, I assumed a great amount of responsibility. I relied upon those around me and drew upon past experiences, and I was able to synergize my leadership capability with my business competencies to be an influential figure on campus.
Where did you intern/co-op during school?
I was a supply chain consulting intern with Argon & Co. (previously Crimson & Co.) and I worked for Target as a distribution center operations management intern.
Where will you be working after graduation?
I will be joining Publicis Sapient as a junior associate product manager in their Salesforce practice in Denver, Colorado.
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?
Scheller’s efforts to integrate career preparedness into each student’s journey at every step of the way was an integral aspect of my career success. By the end of my first semester, thanks to the Scheller GT 1000 class, I had a complete LinkedIn page, resume, cover letter, and an arsenal of advice from my team leaders. From day one, Scheller students are aware of the availability of career advisors and are consistently provided with information about internship/co-op openings, full-time openings, networking events, info sessions, and much more. I have never been the type of person to have one set dream job, so I leveraged Scheller’s career resources to help me explore what type of career is the best fit for me. From various opportunities, I was able to see many different companies, roles, and cultures and narrow down what speaks to me. Overall, I did end up at my top choice for post-graduation employment, and I have to credit the Scheller Undergraduate Advising and Career staff for empowering me to know my worth and seek several different opportunities.
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?
My capstone project for the T&M Program involved myself and an interdisciplinary team of scholars working directly with one of T&M’s corporate affiliates, Ware2Go, a UPS subsidiary. My team and I were tasked with analyzing, streamlining, and making further suggestions regarding Ware2Go’s customer onboarding process. The 3rd Party Logistics company could increase its profits and decrease strain on its onboarding team by bringing clients onto its platform more rapidly and efficiently. Overall, my capstone project was a fantastic way to culminate my T&M experience, and I am so happy that Tech offers the opportunity to work hands-on with a business and encourages us to explore our field outside the classroom.
Who would you most like to thank for your success?
I would like to extend lots of love and gratitude to my parents and the rest of my family for always supporting me and being my biggest cheerleaders.
What is a fun fact about yourself?
During the summer of 2021, I lived and worked in West Yellowstone, Montana, right at the entrance to Yellowstone National Park. I worked at the front desk at a local hotel and spent my off time exploring the park and surrounding areas.
What are some of your hobbies?
I typically rotate between a couple of different arts and crafts over time. Whether it's painting, embroidery, beading, jewelry making, etc., I’m bound to be into some random craft at any given time. Of course, I love spending time with my friends or maybe my roommate’s cats, and I also find a lot of pleasure in simple things like reading and journaling.
What are the top two items on your bucket list?
Number one is that I want to visit all 63 national parks in the United States. As of right now, I’ve only been to 14, but I have a trip planned to see four more, and I will likely try to go to maybe five to 10 more when I’m traveling this summer. Number two is that I want to travel to all seven continents, including Antarctica, which will be interesting since I’m absolutely petrified of boats and deep oceans. (Is anyone else on Drake Passage Tik Tok?)
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