As part of the Georgia Tech Scheller College of Business Countdown to Commencement series, we interviewed a few soon-to-be graduates from our Undergraduate program to learn about their backgrounds, why they chose Scheller, and what they plan to do after the Fall 2021 commencement.
Meet Elizabeth Glass who is graduating with a concentration in operations and supply chain management and a certificate in international business.
Where are you from?
Camilla, Georgia.
Where did you attend high school?
Westwood Schools.
What is the biggest lesson you gained from studying business?
The biggest lesson I learned is that there is not one right answer when it comes to business problems, and that’s okay. Many times, professors would ask a question in class and the answer would be “it depends.” Through my time at Scheller, my professors challenged me and were able to teach me not what to think, but how to think about business problems and solutions. This new way of thinking has helped me to be more open-minded in my problem solving and to have a mindset of constant innovation and improvement. Because there is not one right answer, there is always more you can do or another way of looking at things, and it has helped me to become a more creative problem solver in my work.
What advice would you give to a student looking to major in a business-related field?
Do it! Majoring in business, especially at Scheller, can open so many doors for you. You are not limited to certain industries or companies because of your major, and you can tailor what you learn to what interests you the most.
As a business student in the heart of Tech Square, how do you think Scheller College embodies the intersection of business and technology?
I think there are two big ways that I have seen this intersection play out. The first way is in the classroom. I have not been in a single class where I wasn’t learning some new technical skill or learning how to leverage technology to solve the business problems that I may face one day. We are also at an extremely successful technology school, so having classmates and friends in other technical majors such as computer science and engineering has taught me how to work with people who look at things differently than I do as a business major. The second way is in our physical location. We are surrounded by start-up technology firms, and too many business incubators to keep track of! Many of us have gotten internships at these companies through the help of Scheller faculty, and without our foundation from Scheller, we would not have been able to succeed in such a fast-paced, technical environments.
What was your favorite business course?
My favorite course would have to be Supply Chain Modeling. I loved that it was a very hands-on class and that the professor brought real world techniques and situations to the topics he was teaching us. The simulations that we got to do as a part of the course also helped me realize how complex this topic truly is and how much fun it is to solve business problems like this. It was also enjoyable because I took it with my twin brother Mark, and our competition to have the best simulation results really helped to challenge me in the class.
Who is your favorite professor?
There are so many to choose from, but Professor Tim Martin is hands down my favorite professor that I have had here at Tech. He understands how we learn and teaches in such a way that you can’t help but remember the concepts. I came into class every day excited to hear what he had to say and loved his sometimes unconventional methods of teaching concepts to us. Look up the marshmallow challenge if you want to see the fun way he taught us about design thinking and the importance of prototyping! He would use real world situations from his career to teach us, and he genuinely cares about the students. I loved his classes so much that I took him three semesters in a row just so I could continue learning from him.
What has surprised you most about majoring in business at Scheller?
The thing that surprised me the most was how approachable and helpful the faculty and staff are at Scheller. Coming from a tiny rural high school to a huge university, I wasn’t sure that I would be able to form connections with my professors like I did in high school, but they definitely proved me wrong. My professors have been invaluable resources for me throughout my time at Tech, and I know that they genuinely want me to succeed both now and in the future.
What are some of your extracurricular activities, community work and leadership roles during college?
Vice president of recruitment, Collegiate Panhellenic Council; chief panhellenic officer and recruitment data assistant, Kappa Alpha Theta; Fall 2020 supervisor of the semester; member of the CRC Student Advisory Council; competitive sports supervisor and intramural referee, Campus Recreation Center (CRC); GT 1000 team leader; student mentor and volunteer, the Boys and Girls Club of Atlanta; mentor, Tech the Halls; vice president of administration and recruitment, Wreckless; volunteer, Campus Kitchens.
Where have you interned during your college career?
Project management intern, Coordinated Care Inc.
Where will you be working after graduation?
As an associate with Health Care Program Advisors in Marietta.
Looking back over your experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently in business school and why?
If I could change one thing, I would have gone on a study abroad program. I love learning about and traveling to new places and even got an international business certificate as part of my degree program. I think studying abroad would have been a really fun experience but also very eye-opening for me, especially since I hope to one day work for a global company. More and more companies are having a global footprint and with increased connection to other parts of the world, a study abroad program would have been a great way to learn about other cultures and practice working with people who have a different background than I do.
Which academic, extra-curricular or personal achievement are you most proud of?
The extra-curricular achievement that I am most proud of is the impact I was able to make as part of my chapter’s executive recruitment board. When I joined Kappa Alpha Theta, it was not even two years old and did not yet have a house. We were still very small and did not have as many members as the other chapters on campus. After joining, I became a member of the executive recruitment board, and I helped recruit four new member classes. In my last semester in this role, we finally reached the maximum number of members for the first time, which is a huge milestone as a chapter, and we did it during Covid-19 through a completely virtual recruitment, which had never happened before. I’m pretty sure I cried when I called my advisor to tell her the news! It was amazing to see all of the months of planning, long hours, and hard work culminate in such an awesome group of women joining our organization. When my time was done, I looked around and realized that I had had a hand in recruiting 80% of the current active members. To leave knowing that I have had a part in helping to build this organization from the ground up and lay the foundation for future members is an absolutely amazing feeling.
Which classmate do you most admire?
The classmate that I admire the most is Jolie Fouts, and obviously I’m not the only one that thinks she’s great since she was chosen as this year’s Ms. Georgia Tech. I most admire her for her ability to form connections with people from many different backgrounds. She has this uncanny ability to make everyone in a room feel comfortable and important. She’s such a dedicated and hard worker, and her commitment to philanthropy and service is wonderful to watch as we serve together on the Collegiate Panhellenic Council Executive Board. She’s a wonderful friend, and I’ve loved getting to share my time at Tech and Scheller with her.
Who would you most want to thank for your success?
I would like to thank my dad, Mark Glass Sr., for my success so far. He encouraged me on the tough days, pushed me to challenge myself, and gave me great advice when it came to college and career decisions. But most importantly, it was his example of hard work, leadership, and entrepreneurial spirit that inspired me to get where I am today. He graduated from Georgia Tech in 1989 with a business degree, and I’ve had a front row seat to his success. He built his own business from nothing and is constantly innovating and working to make things better. He taught me the value of a hard day’s work, and to not settle for anything less than my best. My dad is one of my greatest role models, and I’m so thankful for his example and support throughout my time at Tech.
What are the top two items on your professional bucket list?
The top two items on my professional bucket list are to work abroad in a company’s global supply chain operations, and to manage a Lean Six Sigma process improvement project from start to finish.
Fun fact about yourself:
I’m a farm girl, and I used to have a pet peacock named Henry.