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 Natalie Mack who is graduating with a concentration in leadership and organizational change and a certificate in business law & ethics.
Where are you from?
Tampa, Florida.
Where did you attend high school?
Bloomingdale Senior High School.
What is the biggest lesson you gained from studying business?
You don’t have to be a shark to win – in fact, stepping on others on the way to the top is a surefire way to lose. Authenticity and pursuit of passion generate far better results than a focus on money, money, money.
What advice would you give to a student looking to major in a business-related field?
A business education is truly versatile. If you are unsure of what you want to do or you have a passion but are looking for ways to channel it into your reality, you have something to learn in the business field. Forget about the spreadsheets and the boardroom lingo. A business education provides you with the tools to create and inspire, as well as real-world examples of those who stumble and those who rise. It teaches you to take leadership, accept stretch roles, get uncomfortable, and bring others with you. What impact do you want to have? Go chase it.
As a business student in the heart of Tech Square, how do you think Scheller College embodies the intersection of business and technology?
Scheller’s location brings it into touch with the newest innovations in our country, with both start-ups and massive corporations right next door. Students dive into case studies on companies such as Amazon, Netflix, and Alibaba to understand the modern players. Additionally, Scheller students are surrounded by incredible minds in the fields of computer science, aerospace, neuroscience, architecture, and many more. Everyone who attends the Institute has the mind of an engineer, no matter their major. This amalgamation of skills and knowledge allows Scheller students to meld the best of technology with the best of business to create the leaders of the future.
What was your favorite business course?
Business Ethics taught by Steve Salbu.
Who was your favorite professor?
Lucien Dhooge is my favorite professor because of the love he has for his subject matter, his dynamic and engaging teaching style, and how his courses revealed to me that no matter how harshly you may judge the title of a course, it may just become your favorite.
What has surprised you most about majoring in business at Scheller College?
I was surprised by how much the College invested in my individual growth and in my career. I had never experienced the level of support that Scheller provides and was blown away by how accessible it was to seek counsel, get involved, and unlock opportunities.
What were some of your extracurricular activities, community work, and leadership roles during college?
The Provost’s Academic Excellence Award, Georgia Tech Suncoast Alumni Network Scholarship, Society of Women in Business: vice president of Finance, Georgia Tech Ambassador, Alpha Delta Pi: director of Ritual Education, Georgia Tech tour guide, Christian Campus Fellowship, Presidents Council Governing Board, Women’s Club Volleyball, Grand Challenges Living-Learning Community, Casas por Cristo in Juarez, exchange student at Universita Bocconi in Milan, Italy.
Which academic, extra-curricular or personal achievement are you most proud of?
I am most proud of having had the tenacity to achieve my extracurricular goals without having to compromise my academic performance or my sense of self.
Where have you interned during your college career?
Customer & user experience design intern at Cox Communications (Atlanta, GA) and management consulting intern at PricewaterhouseCoopers (Chicago, Illinois).
Where will you be working after graduation?
I’ll be a management consulting associate at PricewaterhouseCoopers in Chicago.
Looking back over your experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently in business school and why?
I would have spent less time trying to figure out what I wanted to do for my career and worrying about being underqualified, and spent more time following my instincts and pursuing the subjects that excited me, knowing that in the end, I would absolutely figure it out.
Which classmate do you most admire?
I most admire Maddie Rohrer. She took an unconventional route in business school and committed her time to working with small start-ups, rather than chasing the same large companies that most students do. She ended up taking on great responsibility in those organizations and doing more challenging and impactful work than can be achieved in large internship programs or even Tech extracurriculars. Her pioneering mindset and her passion to make change is something I truly admire, and I am lucky to call her a friend.
Who would you most want to thank for your success?
It’s cliché, but my mom. She raised me with the idea that the letter grade isn’t what matters, as long as you did your best. If I've done my best and gave it all I could, then I’ve made her proud. She instilled perseverance, work ethic, and optimism in me, as well as the ability to truly reinvent yourself at any age.
What are the top two items on your professional bucket list?
To work overseas for a few years and to feel that through my work, I have enacted positive change in the world.
Fun fact about yourself:
I sang in a mass at the Vatican!