2025 Best & Brightest Business Major: Brianna Henderson
“A woman who will find the beauty in every moment.”
Fun fact about yourself:
I have accumulated over 5,000 hours in playing the Sims!
Hometown:
Atlanta, Georgia
High School:
Westlake High School
Major:
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
Minor:
Computing & Business
Favorite Business Course:
MGT 3744: Managing Product, Service, & Technology Development
Extracurricular Activities, Community Work, and Leadership Roles During College:
- Scheller Business Ambassador, 2023-2024 VP of Marketing & Outreach and 2022-2023 Marketing and Outreach Chair
- Hands 4 Care, Founder & President
- Dance Company at Georgia Tech, 2021 and 2022 Showcase Choreographer
- Denning Technology & Management Program Scholar
- 2024-2025 Miss Krimson & Kream, Lambda Delta chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi
- Society of Women in Business
- GT 1000 Team Lead, 2022 & 2023
- Raena W. and Joseph W. Evans Dean’s Scholar
- Bergmark Family Study Abroad Scholar
- Visa Black Scholars and Jobs Program Finalist
- Visa North America Global Case Challenge Finalist
- Visa Campus Ambassador
- 4x Faculty Honors
- 3x Dean’s List
Where have you interned during your college career?
- Project Analyst at Visa, Foster City, California
- Software Engineer at Visa, Austin, Texas
Where will you be working after graduation?
Client Services Development Program Associate at VISA
What is the biggest lesson you gained from studying business?
A lot of people tend to reduce business to one thing: entrepreneurship. Any time I mentioned that I was a business major, the first question I was asked was, “Do you want to start a business?” While entrepreneurship is a great avenue of business, it is only one subset of it and there are many other opportunities in business to explore. Even before immersing myself in the business world, I had no clue about the depth of business. I’ve since explored business abroad, business in art, business in technology, and the list can go on. The biggest lesson I have learned as a business major is that business is multifaceted and there are opportunities in places I would have never imagined; I’ve learned to never limit myself to only what I know and to always strive to take my business skills to the next level.
What advice would you give to a student looking to major in a business-related field?
Do not be afraid to pave your own path; do things differently and explore opportunities you never thought you would. It’s easy to get inspired by other great people in business, but their journey is not your own. It is much more rewarding when you make it your own.
Looking back over your experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently in business school and why?
If I could do one thing differently, I would have explored business analytics more! Throughout my college career, I pondered heavily on what role would best mix business and technology and also suit me. I was convinced that either project management or software development would be the perfect choice, it but I realized that it wasn’t after interning in each role. It wasn’t until I took my first business analytics course, in my junior year, that I discovered I had an interest for it and that I was good at it. If I could do one thing differently in my business school, I would have taken advantage of our analytics certificate and electives.
What is one way that your business school has integrated AI into your programming? What is one insight you gained from using AI?
I am so grateful for my school’s integration of AI into our learning! I’ve had the opportunity to work with AI in multiple different business avenues. My favorite experience was my capstone project with the cybersecurity consulting company, Risk3Sixty. My group members and I were tasked with developing an AI model that mapped cybersecurity frameworks together and automated client audit processes. One insight that I gained from this experience is that AI is a helpful tool for efficiency and that it should be embraced in the educational environment, not discouraged. AI is a rising tool in all industries and many businesses are beginning to integrate AI into their daily operations. Artificial Intelligence is the future of our world, and it is not going anywhere. Rather than discouraging it due to dependency, I believe students should learn how to ethically and creatively use AI to support business decisions and operations.
Which academic, extracurricular or personal achievement are you most proud of?
One thing that I am extremely passionate about is mental health. In 2024, I competed in a pageant on the platform of Minority Mental Wellness. I decided to take it a step further and I established a club, Hands 4 Care, to provide educational well-being resources to minorities on campus. Although we are just getting started, I am proud to be another resource on campus that emphasizes and prioritizes the mental health of our bright minds.
Which classmate do you most admire?
Lekha Gowda, a Georgia Tech alumna, served as one of my mentors coming into college. I admired her dedication to her degree, and she inspired the trajectory of my college career. I turned to Lekha when deciding my concentration, my minor, and courses that would support my academic development. Aside from that, we became friends, and I am insanely proud of the woman she has become. Instead of taking the “expected route”, Lekha went above and beyond and balanced her passion for business with her passion for creativity. She taught me that I didn’t have to be limited to one pursuit, and that I can balance and integrate business into my other hobbies. One day, I hope to start a small fashion business, and I attribute this idea to her relentless passion.
Who would you most want to thank for your success?
I would like to thank and dedicate my achievements to my grandfather, Michael Thompson. Even in our last moments together, he always believed in me and that I would be successful; he trusted me to the extent that he passed his life work on to me to continue. As I continue to learn and grow, I will always remember the unwavering faith and optimism he had in me and our family, and I will use it to keep doing great things.
To my grandfather, I could not be the best and brightest without your love and support. Thank you for shedding a light within our family. You will always continue to motivate me to strive for the best.
This recognition is dedicated in loving memory of Michael Thompson.
What are the top two items on your professional bucket list?
Throughout my professional journey, I hope to one day start my own business. As an incoming associate at VISA, I hope to work collaboratively with the international locations to develop VISA, its operations, and its community as a whole; I am hoping to work on technology and community development projects to support this mission.
Beatriz Rodriguez, assistant dean of Student Engagement on what made Brianna such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2025:
“From the moment I met Brianna in her first semester at Georgia Tech, as a student in my GT 1000 seminar, it was clear that she was destined to make a significant impact. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of seeing her grow, especially during the two semesters she volunteered as a team leader and mentor, where she guided incoming students with the warmth of a big sister.
Brianna has been an invaluable addition to the class of 2025, fearlessly seizing every opportunity to excel in her academic journey. Her participation in the Oxford Study Abroad Program in Summer 2022, along with her decision to pursue a concentration in Information Technology & Management and a Computing and Business minor in the prestigious Denning Technology & Management Program, speaks volumes about her ambition and dedication. She also secured two noteworthy internships with Visa, first as a project analyst in California and later as a software engineer in Texas. For a Georgia native like Brianna, leaving Atlanta and her family was a bold move, but she embraced the challenge with confidence and determination.
Brianna’s individuality and fearless approach have defined her time at Georgia Tech. She has not only crafted her own mold but also exemplified excellence and compassion. Her presence has been a source of inspiration for new students who needed reassurance and guidance. I am honored to have witnessed Brianna’s journey and eagerly anticipate her achievements as a Scheller alumna.”