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 2025 Commencement, we sat down with a few students to learn about their experiences and the wisdom they've gained in the process.
Meet Steven Chrysosferidis, who is graduating from the Full-time MBA program.
Hometown:
Swainsboro, Georgia
Undergraduate School and Degree:
B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Southern University
M.S. in Finance, Auburn University
Describe yourself in 15 words or less:
Devoted husband and dog dad. A problem solver who enjoys the challenges in the day.
Where was the last place you worked before enrolling in business school?
My last full-time role was serving in the United States Army. I also had the opportunity to work in a corporate finance internship at The Home Depot, and a wealth management internship at NovaPoint Group.
What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career?
I’m incredibly proud of the journey I’ve taken and the experiences and people I have worked with along the way. Some of my most gratifying moments came from completing rigorous military schools, like the Special Forces Qualification Course and Dive School, which tested my resilience and bonded me to certain life-long friends.
To pick a specific situation, one of my proudest moments was when I was deployed in rural Afghanistan. I had the opportunity to run an austere medical clinic providing care for American soldiers, the Afghan soldiers serving alongside us, and at times, their families. The experience was challenging in every way—logistically, emotionally, and culturally—but it provided me with an opportunity to impact a lot of people in a positive way. The memories from that time, the people I was able to help, and the lessons I learned will always stay with me.
Why did you choose Scheller?
I chose to apply to Scheller for many reasons, but the most impactful factor was the community and culture of Georgia Tech. From the very first conversation I had with the MBA ambassador team, I was struck by how welcoming, professional, and genuinely supportive they were. That first impression wasn’t just a one-time experience, it set the tone for everything that followed.
Now, as I complete my second year, I continue to meet people from the Georgia Tech and Atlanta community who embody those same qualities, reinforcing my choice. Being surrounded by people who inspire and energize me has always been a key driver in my decision-making, and Scheller has proven to be exactly that kind of place.
Community Work and Leadership Roles at Scheller:
I actively seek out opportunities to give back to my communities and affinity group. My most active role is in an organization called SOFtoSOM which helps Special Operations members transition into medical schools across the country. The long-term goal is to improve healthcare, and we believe that leveraging the experience and leadership of Special Operations members is an important step towards achieving that goal. I am the volunteer director of finance and am impacting multiple aspects of the nonprofit.
I also engage in local Atlanta veteran and business events as well as being an active member of the 51 Vets Atlanta chapter, which brings together Veterans transitioning into the private sector. At Scheller, I am a Veteran Club representative and an MBA ambassador with primary responsibilities of aiding prospective MBA candidates in recruitment. I also was active in the Consulting Club where I helped train first year MBA candidates in casing, which MBA candidates know, is an instrumental step in their internship recruitment process.
Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during your time at Scheller?
One of the most meaningful experiences during business school has been helping with the MBA recruiting process for prospective applicants. Coming from a non-traditional background, I understand how daunting the application process can feel, so I’ve truly enjoyed giving back. This takes many forms, including casual coffee chats, resume feedback, and, my personal favorite, participating in admission interviews.
What makes this experience special isn’t just offering guidance; it’s the privilege of hearing people’s stories, understanding their aspirations, and supporting them through such a pivotal moment in their lives. When they get that admission offer, sharing in their excitement and knowing I played a small role in their journey is incredibly rewarding.
Who was your favorite MBA professor?
The best professor that I have had the privilege of learning from was Dr. Samuel Bond who taught a Consumer Behavior course. His energy, intelligence, and passion for his subject created an exceptional learning environment. He was able to take complicated concepts and ideas and express them in digestible ways. He is a phenomenal instructor, and I would recommend future Scheller cohorts to enroll in his classes.
What was your favorite course as an MBA?
The best course I have taken is Consumer Behavior taught by Dr. Samuel Bond. With very little marketing experience, this course was accessible and highlighted how strategic and impactful the field of marketing can truly be. It was a cross between sociology, psychology, analytics, and marketing. My biggest takeaway from this course was more awareness of my personal and observed consumer behaviors and how impactful different strategies and tactics are on all of us.
What was your favorite MBA event or tradition at Scheller?
My favorite activity thus far is engaging in the recruiting process for new applicants. I recall my experience interviewing and applying to Scheller and how impactful the MBA ambassadors, admissions team, and Scheller culture was on my decision to apply here. Being able to pay it forward and help facilitate the process has been very rewarding.
I also enjoy working hand-in-hand with the admissions staff as they are energizing and personable people. As I sit in the interviews, I enjoy listening to the backgrounds and experiences of the applicants getting to see how diverse and capable the future cohort will be. I think the integration of MBA candidates into the recruitment process has had powerful implications and is a testament to the transparent and engaged culture at Scheller.
What is the biggest myth about Scheller?
The biggest myth about Georgia Tech is that it is just a school for engineers. It’s true that Georgia Tech produces some of the brightest engineers in the country, and they can probably build a robot that runs on coffee, determination, and a new element that they discover. But the idea that Georgia Tech is only an engineering school? That’s the myth. Georgia Tech invests heavily in a range of disciplines, including business. Scheller combines that engineering minded analytical rigor with real-world business acumen, proving you don’t need to know how to code in Python to thrive here (though, let’s be honest, it doesn’t hurt).
What did you love most about Scheller’s location in the heart of midtown Atlanta?
Atlanta is an exceptional city leveraging its expanding resources, human talent, and a level of motivation that’s practically built into the infrastructure. One of my favorite things about being here is the sheer variety of brilliant people and activities I get to engage with daily. Where else can you listen to a Fortune 500 executive speaking engagement, grab lunch discussing startup strategy over some of the best food in the country, and cheer at an event for any sports team or musician you are a fan of? Atlanta isn’t just a city; it’s an ecosystem of innovation, activity, and ambition. Every day, I wake up excited to be part of the action, though I make sure to brew my coffee first.
Where did you intern during the summer of 2024?
During the summer of 2024, I worked at NovaPoint Group, an Atlanta based wealth management firm. I met the founders in the fall prior and would frequent their office to engage in capital market and small business discourse. I enjoyed our discussions and wanted to dive deeper into the industry, so we worked out an arrangement for work in the Spring and Summer of 2024. My biggest takeaways from this experience are: 1. Entrepreneurship is exciting, challenging, and dynamic. 2. Curiosity is important for growth. 3. Always seek opportunities for mentorship because there are many people who know more than I do.
Where will you be working after graduation?
Upon graduating, I will be joining Bain & Company as a consultant in their Atlanta office!
Looking back over your MBA experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently and why?
The MBA experience is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to immerse yourself in a learning environment designed to foster both personal and professional growth. Coming from the military, I initially saw networking as a transactional process to check off a list rather than an organic, relationship-driven experience.
Over the past 18 months, I’ve come to realize that true networking is about community building and meeting people through genuinely listening to and learning from their diverse perspectives. If I could go back, I’d adopt this mindset from day one, focusing less on the mechanics of networking and more on cultivating meaningful, lasting relationships.
What movie or television show best reflects the realities of business and what did you learn from it?
If there’s one show that captures the complexities of business and is a TV-show masterpiece, it’s Billions. While it’s dramatized for entertainment, the series offers valuable lessons about decision-making, risk management, and the importance of understanding human behavior. One key takeaway is success isn’t just about intelligence, it’s about adaptability.
Throughout the show, characters constantly pivot, reassess their strategies, and make tough choices based on incomplete information and deal with uncertainty. That’s a reality in life: no decision is made in a vacuum, and the ability to navigate uncertainty is just as important as having the right data.
The show also highlights the value of having the right team. No one succeeds alone, and Billions makes it clear that surrounding yourself with smart, trusted people who challenge your thinking is just as important as any strategy or market insight. At its core, the show reinforces that business isn’t just about money and power, it’s about making informed decisions, managing relationships, and staying adaptable in a dynamic environment.
What is one way that Scheller has integrated AI into your programming? What insights did you gain from using AI?
Scheller has done an exceptional job integrating AI into our programming. There are multiple newly launched courses that are leaning into the business and AI intersection and use cases. Most of our courses are also encouraging the exploration of AI tools and processes for solving problems, increasing coding efficiency, and graphic design among a myriad of other use cases. Knowing the reputation of Georgia Tech, I have no doubt that we will be pioneering AI into the educational processes.
Which MBA classmate do you most admire?
To start, I have been very impressed with my entire cohort. I recall the first few weeks listening to their backgrounds and thinking how impressive the collective is. To answer this question specifically, one of my colleagues I am very impressed with and admire is Brooke Sharee. She is genuinely one of the best and most capable people I have ever met. I could list all the strong attributes such as her presentation, confidence, demeanor, intelligence, work ethic, kindness, etc. (you get the point). Conclusively, she is an exceptional person, and I am happy to call her a friend.
Fun fact about yourself:
I spent over six years in the United States Army in Special Operations. This was one of the most important development opportunities in my life. I had the pleasure of working alongside highly motivated, capable, and courageous people. It also offered me unique opportunities to learn and challenge myself as I partook in rigorous courses such as Special Forces dive school, HALO school, shooting courses, and a deployment to the Middle East. I wouldn’t be the person I am today without those experiences.
What are the top two items on your professional bucket list?
I don’t have tangible checkpoints identified for my professional career; I see my professional bucket list as a goal of continuously meeting the following values:
- Surround myself with value driven, highly capable, and motivated individuals who challenge and inspire me.
- Continuously learn and apply my knowledge to create meaningful impact. If I can maintain these criteria through self-assessment, I will continue to be happy.