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 Spring 2021 commencement.
Meet Grant Lin who is graduating with a concentration in finance and a certificate in business analytics.
Where are you from?
Robesonia, Pennsylvania.
Where did you attend high school?
The Hill School (Pottstown, Pennsylvania).
What is the biggest lesson you gained from studying business?
The biggest lesson I gained from studying business is that there is so much opportunity within the business world that you can uncover. Having a strong work ethic and having an open mind allowed me to gain great experiences that will really help with my business career.
What advice would you give to a student looking to major in a business-related field?
Be open to exploring different fields/concentrations within business. Try interning and participating in clubs in fields that you are interested in to give you insight into what you want to do within your early career. Take classes that you think are interesting and build your network through classmates, faculty, alumni, and so forth. I think that college is a great time to explore and find what you want to do within your career.
As a business student in the heart of Tech Square, how do you think Scheller College embodies the intersection of business and technology?
With Tech Square being in Midtown Atlanta, Scheller provides so many opportunities including internships, co-ops, projects, etc. with great companies within the area, and a lot of these companies want to hire Scheller students. Because of this, students can have part-time internships during the school year and full-time internships during the summer with companies in technology, finance, and a variety of fields. Scheller students can also combine business classes (finance, operations, marketing, etc.) with tech-oriented business classes (information technology, business analytics, etc.) to build a strong foundation in business and technology before starting their full-time careers. Not to mention, there are plenty of opportunities to launch a startup with organizations like Startup Exchange and with resources that come from being in the city of Atlanta.
What was your favorite business course?
GT 1000 (Business Administration Section) with Craig Womack. This course really introduced me to Scheller as a whole. I learned a lot of tips that helped me succeed throughout my time at Scheller and in business, and I am very glad that I took this course.
I also liked Security Valuation (MGT 3075) with Jonathan Clarke. I really enjoyed learning more about financial models, and I think that Professor Clarke did a great job teaching these models through examples and practice. Overall, I thought it was a great course, and I learned a lot about finance.
Who was your favorite professor?
Gary Jones was my favorite professor. Professor Jones was able to simplify complex financial concepts, and he shared his own stories so that his students could fully understand these financial concepts. In his class, we were able to talk with successful alumni and professionals in various fields such as consulting, banking, venture capital, etc. He had his students work within teams and he made sure that his students were better prepared to enter the business world after taking his class. Overall, he inspired me to achieve my career goals and to have the belief that anything is possible if I put my mind to it.
What has surprised you most about majoring in business at Scheller College?
What has surprised me most was the amount of support that I received throughout my college career at Scheller. Whether it was from students, faculty, or alumni, everybody has been very friendly and helpful to me. In classes and clubs, I had friends and classmates who were willing to help. Also, the Scheller Undergraduate Office has always been great to me and I really appreciate all the advice that they gave. Tech alumni have been extremely helpful and friendly, and they want to hire alumni at their companies. Overall, I think that the amount of support that I received has been tremendous.
What are some of your extracurricular activities, community work, and leadership roles during college?
Freshman Servant Leadership Organization finance director, Delta Sigma Pi vice president of community service, vice president of alumni relations, Undergraduate Consulting Club pro bono senior analyst, Investments Committee sector head of consumer discretionary, Dean’s List/Faculty Honors.
Which academic, extra-curricular, or personal achievement are you most proud of?
I think that the achievement that I am most proud of would be landing the internships that I got throughout my time in Scheller. I spent a lot of time preparing for interviews and for the application process. It felt great to know that all the effort I put into classes, clubs, and other experiences was appreciated by companies and resulted in landing the internships that I got. It felt very rewarding to be recognized as someone that can add value within the corporate world.
Where have you interned during your college career?
As a project management intern at InComm, business analyst intern at Coca-Cola, and summer intern at Truist Securities.
Where will you be working after graduation?
As an investment banker with Truist Securities (Formerly SunTrust Robinson Humphrey).
What is the biggest lesson you gained from studying business?
The biggest lesson that I gained from studying business is that there is so much opportunity within the business world that you can uncover.
Looking back over your experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently in business school and why?
When I came to the business school, finance was always something that interested me. I wish I had participated in more finance clubs (like the Investments Committee) and had taken more finance classes a little earlier in my college career. I think that it could have helped me as I start my career in finance.
Which classmate do you most admire?
I thought that Jason Quill was a great student who was heavily involved with many clubs on campus and had many internships in finance. I got into finance later in my college career and he helped me make that transition into that field. I am very appreciative of his help and support.
Who would you most want to thank for your success?
I would like to thank my mom the most for my success. She has always been there throughout my life and she has always been a helping hand whenever I needed one. I can always count on her to support me, whether it be personally, professionally, etc., and I am very grateful for all the time and care that she has given me.
What are the top two items on your professional bucket list?
To run/start a successful business, and to continue to develop my skills and knowledge base.
Fun fact about yourself:
I have a black belt in karate.