Seniors at The University of Vermont’s Grossman School of Business (GSB) bid farewell to Kalkin and Ifshin Halls this week. We take a moment to reflect on the bright and motivated students who will be graduating this Sunday. Their hard work and dedication the past four years have put them on the path to success. We highlight seven stellar seniors from the GSB Class of 2023.
Drew Bates: Building Bridges and Breaking Barriers
Drew is a senior majoring in Business Administration with double concentrations in Business Analytics and Marketing and a theme in Sustainable Business. Drew has held various leadership positions during her time at UVM, including SG-FECC SLC Media and Communications Chair, GSAC President, UVM Climbing Team Manager and Club signer, and BSAD010 TA for two years.
Drew joined GSAC to make a difference and engage with the Grossman community, "after learning about it at the Professional Business Attire Sale, GSAC empowered me to take the initiative and advocate for students' voices, helping me overcome fears of expressing my opinions as a woman in a male-dominated industry."
Drew's advice to her first-year self is to take risks and get involved. Joining clubs and communities she was passionate about has been a crucial aspect of her college experience.Through these organizations, Drew has found amazing friends and developed her future aspirations, including discovering her interest in digital design by joining the SG-FECC team and working alongside supportive individuals.
One of Drew's favorite GSB memories is TA'ing for Professor DeWitt in BSAD010, where she improved her time management skills and gained a unique perspective on core business concepts. Drew regards Professor DeWitt as one of her all-time favorite professors at UVM, and she will carry the valuable insights she gained into the business world throughout her professional career.
Jaeda Dean: Avoiding Cold Calls and Starting a Hot Business
Jaeda is a senior at UVM majoring in Business Administration with a concentration in Business Analytics and a theme of Global Business. Despite transferring to UVM after the Covid lockdown, Jaeda quickly got involved on campus by joining clubs like Planned Parenthood Generation Action and working for Campus Recreation.
Along with her good friend, she's also a co-founder of a hot sauce business at Tipsy Shark Hot Sauce, which worked closely with the UVM Catamount Innovation Fund to deliver business pitches and accelerate the business. Jaeda competed in the Dean’s Cup this year and earned 2nd place with her team! She also started the UVM Yarn Club.
Jaeda is driven and passionate about networking, which she believes is key to success. She credits several mentors (professors, local entrepreneurs, and her "awesome" advisor) for guiding her through her entrepreneurial and professional journey. Her advice to first-year students is to take advantage of advisors and professors, advising them to network as much as possible: "By building relationships and connections, you can avoid some of the dreaded cold callings."
Zach Dunn: Campus Networking to Community Giving
Zach Dunn arrived at The University of Vermont (UVM) with a goal of networking with peers and professors to gain professional experience in a field of interest. It was in a Leadership & Organizational Behavior course at the Grossman School of Business where he found unexpected inspiration. The President of the Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity (CVOEO) spoke about the issue of homelessness in Vermont, which resonated with Dunn as he had also noticed the increasing homelessness in Burlington, Vermont.
This experience led him to launch his own business, Painting With Purpose, a professional residential and commercial painting business that donates 33% of its profits to CVOEO to support individuals looking to break the cycle of homelessness. With the help of the Catamount Innovation Fund, Dunn was able to develop his pitch for the Grossman School of Business Pitch Competition and receive initial funding for his business.
Dunn's experience serves as a reminder that sometimes, unexpected opportunities can lead to the greatest success. His advice to aspiring entrepreneurs? Seek out the resources available on their own campus. By being open to new ideas and taking advantage of available resources, UVM students can turn their passions into meaningful ventures that benefit both themselves and their communities by doing business for good. Read more about Zach in New England Cable News.
Patrick Faust: Bringing Global Business Lessons Back Home
Patrick Faust is a UVM senior majoring in Business Administration with a double concentration in Business Analytics and Marketing, a theme in Global Business, and a minor in Spanish.
Last fall, Patrick and his team from the Grossman School of Business traveled to the Netherlands to participate in the Rotterdam Carleton International Case Competition (ROCA) where they had the opportunity to network with like-minded students from all over the world and showcase their research findings and presentation skills.
For Patrick, the community at GSB is what sets it apart: "Everyone is willing to help each other, from the professors to the students. It's a truly supportive environment." Patrick's hard work and dedication have paid off, and he's excited to start the next chapter of his journey. After graduation this weekend, he will be returning to his home state of Colorado to work for ADP.
Caroline Jones: Finding Balance on the Slopes
Caroline is a true powerhouse at UVM! With a major in Business Administration and a concentration in Business Analytics, a theme in Entrepreneurship, and a minor in Computer Science, she's making waves in the academic world. But that's not all, Caroline also dominated the slopes as part of the UVM Ski team throughout her time at UVM, and is grateful for the support of her coaches and teammates.
Caroline's advice to incoming students is a valuable lesson in mindfulness: be present in the moment, because the future will come sooner than you think. She's also had a blast meeting inspiring people and working on exciting projects in her Capstone group.
Looking ahead, Caroline is taking her skills to the next level by pursuing a Masters in Business Analytics at the University of Colorado Boulder. Her passion for data and technology is sure to make a big impact on the business world, and we can't wait to see what she achieves.
Zoë Macdonald: Taking the Personal Path to a Dream Job
This UVM senior majored in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance, a theme in Global Business, and a minor in Nutrition and Food Sciences. Zoë is a member of Beta Gamma Sigma and GSAC and has participated in case competitions and served as a TA in SI-MBA's Impact Investing course.
Her advice for first-year students? Get involved in many things to make friends and discover diverse communities beyond school. Don't stress about perfection, and self-discoveries are valuable. Zoë's favorite extracurricular was joining GSAC, where her consulting panel idea built alumni-student relationships.
After graduation, Zoë is moving to Colorado to pursue her dream job at Sparks Financial, where she persevered and put herself out there to find the perfect fit.
Anne Skudera: Global Perspectives
Anne is a senior double majoring in Psychological Science and Business Administration with a theme in Global Business and a concentration in Business Analytics. Anne has been part of Beta Gamma Sigma, participated in SG-FECC, and has represented UVM in several case competitions.
Her advice to her first-year self? Speak up in classes and start conversations, and reach out to alumni to chat about their current roles. Anne's favorite extracurricular is participating in case competitions, which has exposed her to different global business challenges and changed the way she approaches problems. Through networking with alumni, Anne landed an operations internship at Amazon.
Congratulations to all the GSB graduates in 2023!