Gennadiy Gurevich, B.S. Industrial Engineering ‘13 and Denning T&M ‘11, grew up on Connecticut’s idyllic “Gold Coast,” far from the bustle of Atlanta. He first heard about Georgia Tech from his neighbor and IM ‘75 alumnus Michael Neal. Neal’s encouragement set Gurevich on a path that would ultimately shape his career – and his commitment to giving back.
Neal’s early influence led Gurevich to Georgia Tech and inspired his deep involvement as an alumnus. “Seeing Mike’s passion for Georgia Tech and the impact he had on the Institute and the students here was inspirational,” Gurevich said. “I would never have wanted to go to Georgia Tech without Mike’s guidance. I knew that after I graduated, I wanted to be able to give back, not only with money, but also with my time and expertise that I developed.”
Finding an Academic Home
Gurevich, who earned his degree in industrial engineering, found his academic home in the Scheller College of Business’ Denning Technology and Management (T&M) Program, a cross-disciplinary initiative that bridges engineering and business.
“I knew I wanted to learn from Georgia Tech’s engineering curriculum, but I was also focused on making sure I ended up on a path that let me develop a career in business and finance,” he shared. “The T&M program brought together engineering students with business school students in a two-year MBA-style program. It seemed like the perfect opportunity to get an engineering education while also getting exposure to foundational business courses, like accounting and finance.”
After graduation, Gurevich co-founded a hedge fund with his brother, eventually expanding into venture capital and private credit. He also earned his CFA designation, a rigorous credential that deepened his financial expertise. Even as his career flourished, his connection to Georgia Tech remained strong.
Giving Back with Purpose
For Gurevich, giving back isn’t just about writing a check – it’s about creating opportunities he wishes he had as a student. “It was important to me not just to support initiatives I believed in, but to support things I would have found worthwhile as a student,” he said.
That philosophy led him to become a founding board member of CREATE-X Georgia Tech’s startup accelerator. “When I joined, they met in a basement room and couldn’t even afford their own coffee,” he laughed. “Now they graduate over 100 teams a year and are one of the top recruiting tools for the Institute. It’s been incredibly rewarding to see the progression and growth of CREATE-X over the past nine years.”
Driven by concern over students graduating without a basic understanding of personal finance, Gurevich helped launch Georgia Tech’s financial literacy course in 2019. His endowment helped seed the course, which has since expanded with institutional support. “It was worrying how many students were leaving without understanding the mechanics of debt and interest rates,” he said.
Most recently, Gurevich joined the Advisory Board for the Center for Finance and Technology, a new initiative at Scheller. “Whether you're studying engineering, computing, programming, or finance, we're seeing that everyone is using large language models,” Gurevich said. "You don't really need to be an expert in coding anymore to be able to code. You don't need to be an expert in underwriting financial instruments to be able to underwrite them. You just need to be able to use the tools and bring all the concepts together. We’re entering a stage where a multidisciplinary approach is essential, as is knowing how to teach yourself how to learn.”
Building A Unique Legacy
Gurevich’s journey at Georgia Tech began with the insight of a generous neighbor and mentor. Today, he mentors others. Seventeen years ago, Gurevich came to Georgia Tech guided by a desire to blend engineering and business. He now helps students do the same. And through his involvement with Scheller, he’s helping shape the future of education and entrepreneurship at Georgia Tech.
With all that he knows now, Gurevich advises current students not to wait to make an impact. “This is the time of life when you have the least responsibilities and the most opportunities,” he said. “Think big. Think outside the box. And don’t be afraid to ask. You can find resources to do all those things at Georgia Tech.”
Learn More: Giving to Scheller
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Thanks to the support of alumni and friends, Transforming Tomorrow is securing resources that will advance the Institute for decades to come.
To learn more and support the campaign, visit transformingtomorrow.gatech.edu.