As part of our Countdown to Commencement series, we interviewed a few soon-to-be graduates from our undergraduate and MBA programs to learn about their backgrounds, why they chose Scheller College, and what they plan to do after Fall 2018 Commencement.
Meet Hannah Todd:
Hannah is from Peachtree City, Georgia, and completing her undergraduate Business Administration degree with a concentration in Business, Operations, and Supply Chain.
During her time here at Scheller, Hannah has had the opportunity to intern with Atlanta giants Chick-fil-A and The Home Depot. She has also had quite an eventful final semester: not only is she the fourth woman driver of the Ramblin’ Wreck, Hannah was also crowned 2018 Ms. Georgia Tech at Homecoming. (Oh, and, she also met Scheller College’s benefactor, Ernest Scheller Jr.)
Fun fact about yourself?
Surprisingly, I never knew how to drive stick shift until I learned how to drive the Ramblin’ Wreck.
Hobbies?
Reading, traveling, exploring Atlanta coffee shops, and spending time with friends.
Where did you intern/co-op and when? What projects did you work on during your internship?
I interened at The Home Depot (for two summers) on the Pro Operations team. The first summer, I assisted with the rollout of a new application to help associates in-store better serve pro-customers. The second summer, I helped with strategy to support pro-customers having issues with the loyalty program. I also interned for Chick-fil-A (Corporate) on the International Team, where I created an international playbook as a guide for future market entries.
Why did you choose Scheller College of Business?
I chose Scheller because its a place where the professors know your name and actively help students reach success. I stayed because being a Scheller student opens doors to endless possibilities with internships and because the community here has never failed to encourage me to be my best while also supporting me whenever I've failed.
Who was your favorite professor and why?
My favorite professor has been Bill Todd (no relation, I promise). As a Professor of the Practice, he has taught me about the health care industry and opened my eyes to the challenges it faces. He taught me how to think for myself and encouragesd active discussions in each class, so we gain insights from fellow students. I also loved how he showed football highlights every Monday after a winning-Saturday and he truly loves the Georgia Tech community! He is passionate about helping every Yellow Jacket get to the place they want to be, and I am extremely grateful to have been his student.
I am a Ramblin' Wreck from Georgia Tech and proud of it!
What was your favorite course and what was the biggest insight you gained about business from it?
My favorite course was Introduction to Strategy and Innovation with Professor Pian Shu. I learned about the strategic decisions businesses face every day and how to critically evaluate those decisions. Professor Shu also taught me how to use critical thinking to evaluate business decisions, and I feel much more prepared to enter the business world having taken her class. The course is also discussion-based, so in every class we were able to have interactive and engaging discussions with each other.
As a business student in the heart of Tech Square, how do you think Scheller College embodies the intersection of business and technology?
Scheller College of Business is perfectly positioned at the intersection of business and technology in Tech Square. Business students who study here can understand how business and technology must interact to make an impact. Many courses often have a technology focus, and being a Tech student in general prepares you to work with anything technology-related in your subsequent career.
What is the biggest myth about Scheller College?
I think the biggest myth about Scheller College is that we are all just focused on networking, which is not true. Scheller students are passionate about forming relationships (and we are good at it, too!).
Who most influenced your decision to pursue business in college?
When I was a junior in high school, I read the book "Start Something That Matters," by the founder of TOMS, Blake Mycoskie. The book discusses the founding of TOMS, the one-for-one movement, and how business has the ability to change the world. Reading how business could have a positive impact on others motivated me to look into being a business major. My mom, who studied business and worked in the industry for over 25 years, was ecstatic to hear this and also encouraged me to pursue business in college.
How did the extracurricular offerings at Scheller College help you during your time here? Is there anything Scheller didn’t offer that you feel would’ve helped you succeed?
The only extracurricular offering I took part in at Scheller, specifically, was being a Scheller Business Ambassador (SBA). I loved being a part of SBA for multiple reasons. First, I enjoyed helping the Scheller community as a part of various events to raise moral around the college. SBA also helped me find mentors and friends who were able to help me with internships and other challenges I faced at Tech.
What activities were you involved with on or off campus, and did your business education impact those activities in any way?
I was a part of The Ramblin’ Reck Club, where I was the Wreck Parade Chair, Public Relations Chair, Homecoming Chair, and the Wreck Driver during my final semester. My business education definitely helped me in these various leadership positions by teaching me problem solving and general leadership skills. (I was also a member of Alpha Chi Omega, a FASET Leader, and Tech the Halls.
Did you end up working or interning for one of your top choice companies?
Yes; The Home Depot and Chick-fil-A are both companies I have long admired and getting to intern for them was a dream come true
Did you travel abroad during your time at Scheller? What were some of your key takeaways from the experience?
Yes;. I spent a summer in South America (Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay) and a semester in Milan in the Bocconi Exchange Program. I learned more than I could have imagined during these experiences. I learned that the world is so much bigger than the “just” the U.S. and every country, every city has something special to offer to the world. I learned that every culture has different traditions that make them unique, and it is important to take the time to learn about these different cultures. I learned how to be on time for trains because they actually leave on time! I learned how to be independent in a country where I did not know the language and was often alone. But, luckily, I also learned to believe the universal truth that people are inherently good, so I was never truly alone.
“If I hadn’t gone to business school, I would be…"
If I hadn’t gone to business school, I would be a tour guide in Prague during the week, then spending all my tips on the weekend traveling to new places!
What are the top two items on your bucket list?
To visit every continent and to learn a new language.
In one sentence, how would you like your peers to remember you?
I just want to be remembered as someone who was kind to everyone she came into contact with and made a positive impact on this campus.