2025 Best & Brightest Business Major: Logan Roach
"Small-town roots with a big-city heart--find me collecting passport stamps and Dunkin' receipts."
Fun fact about yourself:
I literally “grabbed the bull by the horns” when I ran with the bulls in Pamplona, Spain at the Fiesta de San Fermín in 2022.
Hometown:
Starkville, Mississippi
High School:
Starkville Academy
Major:
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance
Minor:
Computer Science; FinTech
Favorite Business Course:
Management of Financial Institutions with Gary Jones
Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles During College:
Awards:
- Bergmark Family Dean’s Scholarship recipient
- Faculty Honors recipient (4.0 GPA) every semester
Extracurricular Activities:
- Scheller Business Ambassadors (2021 – present): President
- Georgia Tech Investments Committee (2021 – 2024): Sector Head
- Georgia Tech Student Advisory Board (2024 – present): Scheller Representative
- Scheller Undergraduate Committee (2024 – present): Student Representative
- GT Undergraduate House of Representatives (2021 – 2022): Scheller Representative
- GT 1000 Freshman Seminar (2022 – 2024): Team Leader
- Georgia Tech Lorraine Study Abroad (2022)
- Volunteer Tutor (2022 – present)
- Fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta (2021 – present): Head of IT and Scholarship
Where have you interned during your college career?
- Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (New York, NY): GCF/Commodities Trading Summer Analyst
- Morgan Stanley (The Hansberger Group) (Atlanta, GA): Private Wealth Management Intern
- Invesco (Atlanta, GA): Global Capital Markets Intern
Where will you be working after graduation?
I am extremely excited to return to CIBC in the New York City office as a sales and trading analyst in the Global Markets Division.
Who is your favorite business professor?
My favorite business professor I’ve had during my time at Scheller is Dr. Jacqueline Garner. By concentrating in finance, I have had the privilege of taking two of her courses (Financial Modeling and Intro to Finance), as well as serving alongside her on the Scheller Undergraduate Committee. From these experiences, I have witnessed firsthand her passion for finance; her unique ability to break down complex financial concepts into practical and applicable knowledge; her unwavering dedication to her students; and her love for Scheller.
I believe there are very few college professors that have the ability to impact their students in the way that Dr. Garner does. In the classroom, she makes difficult content both engaging and exciting by bringing her professional experience into everything that we learn. She challenges us to think critically and be strategic in our approach to solving real-world problems, which is an asset I have been able to successfully apply to my internships in college.
Beyond the classroom, she is always approachable. Whether it’s staying after class to simply chat about life or visiting office hours for advice on how to navigate my career path, she manages to fully invest her time into getting to know every one of her students. Her passion and love for Scheller and its students is evident and inspires me to carry the same enthusiasm.
What is the biggest lesson you gained from studying business?
Throughout my time studying business, the biggest lesson that I have gained is the importance of investing in relationships. While technical skills and industry knowledge are a large part of being successful in your respective field, I have found that success in business starts with the relationships and connections you make with others. Whether it is building strong professional networks, collaborating with professors, colleagues, and peer students, or understanding customer needs, meaningful relationships are a driver of long-term success in college and beyond.
With this, I have learned that an important part of creating these relationships is having the ability to listen. A professor at Scheller taught me that it isn’t always valuable to be the most talkative in the room. By listening more than you speak, you have the ability to absorb more insights, understand different perspectives, and foster deeper connections. Scheller specifically has done an exceptional job in teaching students this key lesson. Our professors, faculty, and career team have not only helped instill the importance of building relationships into our careers, but provided us opportunities to begin creating these relationships with executives in the business world on the first day we arrive. I will forever be grateful for these opportunities.
Looking back over your experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently in business school and why?
I have enjoyed every second of my time at Scheller and will forever be thankful for every opportunity that I have been provided. However, if I could go back in time and do one thing differently in business school, I would have taken the opportunity to explore more areas of the business world earlier in my journey, whether they are “niche” or not. As a business student, I have found that students often feel pressure to go into certain industries or positions because that is the “road most traveled.” I wish I had focused more on creating my own path from the beginning – and exploring areas of the business world that I never considered before, such as the entertainment industry or entrepreneurial ventures. That way, I believe I would have had a broader perspective and an even more diverse skillset earlier on.
Although it took time for me to do that, I discovered that there were many uncovered passions that I never knew I had. Scheller provided me with opportunities to explore areas of business that I never knew existed. Being able to witness my classmates find their dream jobs, driven by their unique passions, pushed me to do the same. Ultimately, business school is the perfect time to take these risks, explore new interests, and learn beyond the traditional boundaries that I set in my own mind. I wish that I fully embraced that mindset from the start.
What is one way that your business school has integrated AI into your programming? What is one insight you gained from using AI?
The Georgia Institute of Technology, and more specifically Scheller, has been at the forefront of intertwining technology into nearly everything that we do and learn as students. Being able to see the progression of AI and its effect on the business world over the past four years has been quite spectacular, and Scheller has ensured that we understand the power and implications of AI. On top of creating classes revolving around AI and its use in the business world, professors at Scheller have included lessons on how to specifically use AI both ethically and effectively in nearly all of my classes.
One insight that I have gained from using AI is the power it has in automation. I have learned that time is one of the most valuable assets we have, and automation provides us with more of this. By leveraging the increased efficiency that comes from automation with AI, students and employees alike are able to focus on higher-value projects and tasks. This is an area that I have been fortunate to work on in both my business and computer science courses. It is something that I am excited to keep focusing on as I continue my journey in the business world.
Which academic, extracurricular or personal achievement are you most proud of?
During the fall of my senior year, I was given the amazing opportunity to give a speech to all the first-year business students, faculty, and professors of Scheller, as well as conduct an on-stage interview with the Co-Founder and CEO of Inspire Brands, Paul Brown.
After being contacted by faculty at Scheller asking me to be the student speaker, I was filled with a rush of both excitement and fear, knowing that I had big shoes to fill from the speeches that had come before me. After much preparation and reflection on my college journey, I crafted a speech that not only highlighted my personal growth throughout college, but also aimed to inspire students as they begin their own paths. Standing on that stage, sharing my experiences, and engaging in a conversation with Paul Brown was both humbling and empowering. It pushed me out of my comfort zone, affirmed my ability to connect with an audience of all ages, and reminded me of how far I have come in my personal and professional endeavors.
It took until after the event ended for me to be filled with a sense of pride, as I hadn’t processed that I was the one student that our leading faculty at Scheller had picked to ignite a sense of excitement and hope in all the first-year students. Looking back on this event, I will forever be grateful for this opportunity and believe that it helped me make monumental strides in my own personal and professional abilities.
Which classmate do you most admire?
The classmate I have admired the most throughout my time at Scheller is Grant Fouts. Grant was the very first person that I met when arriving at Georgia Tech, and since meeting, we have grown to become great friends.
I am extremely grateful to have seen both the personal and academic sides of Grant. Not only have we had the opportunity to make amazing memories during our college years, but I have also been able to share a challenging and rewarding academic journey with him. Grant has an unwavering commitment to his passions, staying true to his interests and values despite the rigor and challenges that Georgia Tech students face. His relentless work ethic and curiosity have allowed him to achieve remarkable accomplishments, including him landing his dream internship as a third-year.
Beyond academics and career achievements, Grant is also an extremely supportive friend who has pushed me and everyone around him to chase after their dreams and be the best version of themselves that they can be. Whether in the classroom, at a networking event, or in everyday life, he constantly leads by example and has a unique ability to inspire others. I am deeply grateful to have met Grant during my time at Scheller and grow alongside him, and I look forward to many more years of memories to come.
Who would you most want to thank for your success?
I wouldn’t have half of the success that I have today if it was not for my amazing parents, Jeff and Stephanie Roach. Throughout my entire life journey, they have supported and guided me with unwavering love every step of the way. Whether it’s a weekly inspirational quote or being the only contacts in my phone that I call every single day, I could never ask for a better support system. They have been there to pick me up from the deepest struggles and are always there as my biggest cheerleader in life’s milestones. By witnessing their hard work, selflessness, and the positive impact they have had on so many lives, I’ve learned from them that true success isn’t measured by achievements alone, but by the character you build along your journey and the positive impact that you can have on others. Their strength, resilience, and belief in me have shaped my determination to be the best version of myself.
Beyond that, they have taught me the importance of truly living life. From countless number of concerts and fiercely competitive family pickleball tournaments to cheering on Georgia Tech football in Bobby Dodd together, they have taught me to fully embrace life, create lasting memories, and find joy in the moments that I share with the people who matter the most. I am truly blessed to have amazing parents to lean on and I can only promise to make them as proud as they have made me.
What are the top two items on your professional bucket list?
- As a travel enthusiast, I would love to work abroad at some point in my career. I believe that this would provide an opportunity to gain extremely valuable insight into other cultures and develop a more global perspective that I would be able to apply to future positions.
- One of my main priorities after college is to give back to Scheller and my high school. Throughout my years of education, I have been fully surrounded by a family of faculty, professors, classmates, and friends who have supported my academic journey every step of the way. Whether it is through mentorship or a scholarship of my own, I am eager to give back to the institutions that have given so much to me.
Jacqueline L. Garner, PhD senior lecturer in Finance on what made Logan such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2025:
“I recommend Logan Roach for Poet & Quants Class of 2025 Best-and Brightest Undergraduate Business Majors with great enthusiasm. Logan was a student in two of my classes, the introductory finance class, Financial Management and an upper-level class, Financial Modeling. I also serve with Logan on the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee, a group who reviews and recommends curriculum changes/updates.
From the moment I met Logan, he distinguished himself through academic excellence as well as his leadership, collaborative spirit, and his commitment to learning. What sets Logan apart is his ability to encourage and elevate those around him. Logan’s delightful personality and his willingness to help others demonstrate his remarkable character. In the classroom, he always provides thoughtful and insightful contributions to discussions. Logan is naturally curious; he couples that with an unmatched work ethic which results in a rare combination of intellect and impressive performance.
Beyond academics, Logan is remarkable at connecting with classmates and faculty. He is not only a student who excels in his classes, but he also encourages and inspires those around him.”