“Lots of people say they want to cure cancer. But I believe that Jacob Williams can actually do it!”

Call it the ultimate compliment paid by Dr. Matthew Grennan, an Associate Professor at U.C.-Berkeley’s Haas School of Business. In his experience, Jacob Williams, a senior majoring in Business Administration and Molecular & Cell Biology, is a phenom – a graduate destined for big things due to his talent, passion, and potential.

“Jacob is a natural leader –- he has an ability to quickly assess a situation and create solutions that are strategic, inclusive, and effective, uplifting others and catalyzing substantive change,” writes Emma Hayes Daftary, MSW, Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Programs.

‘YOU CAN BE ANYTHING…AS LONG AS YOU’RE THE BEST AT IT’

Jacob Williams, UC-Berkeley (Haas)

Williams has certainly kept busy during his time at Haas. As a student, he has conducted original cancer immunotherapy research in the DuPage Laboratory and completed internships at the Mayo Clinic, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, and McKinsey & Company. He has collected awards from the National Science Foundation, American Association of Immunologists, and American Society for Microbiology. On campus, he has volunteered as an EMT and a CPR instructor, along with serving in student government. He has even founded a student-run consulting firm, Atlas Strategy Group, to support biotech companies – an effort Williams considers to be his most impactful achievement as a student.

“Serving as co-president for the past year has taught me the power in simply facilitating opportunities for others and the value of community when the culture it’s built within is composed of mutual respect, ambition, and an aspiration to be nothing short of excellent. Every student who has joined has become a leader within our community. From client feedback, they have provided an incredible value-add and asset.”

Long-term, Williams intends to earn an MD-PhD, conduct clinical trials in cancer immunotherapy, and eventually launch a biotech startup. In the meantime, you’ll find him in McKinsey & Company’s New York office after graduation. Here, he’ll continue to draw on the wisdom of his mother – the first person to recognize his immense gifts.

“When I was younger, my mom told me “Jacob, you can be anything you want to be in life, as long as you’re the best at it,” he tells P&Q. “I believe it instilled in me an undying passion and mindset that allows me to be the best version of myself in anything I commit to. It doesn’t matter who you are, where you come from, and why you’re here – it only matters that you relentlessly fight for what you believe in, coupled with a genuine intention to do what’s right.”

60 WOMEN INCLUDED AMONG THE BEST & BRIGHTEST

Williams is one member of this year’s 100 Best & Brightest Business Majors from Poets&Quants. Now in its ninth year, the Best & Brightest honors seniors whose infectious energy and unrelenting commitment to personal growth represent the best of their cohorts. To compile this list, P&Q invited each of the Top 50 undergraduate business programs to nominate two seniors, with participating schools ranging from the Wharton School to the University of Michigan’s Ross School to USC’s Marshall School. Like previous years, business schools chose their nominees using their own selection process and criteria (though P&Q urged schools to weigh factors like academic excellence and extracurricular leadership). As a whole, women account for 60 members of this year’s Best & Brightest class, including seven students from outside the United States.

You’ll find this year’s class in every corner of campus. They acted as ambassadors, teaching assistants, orientation leaders, and peer coaches. They raised funds for startups, led winning teams in case competitions, lived and studied abroad, and volunteered at food pantries and human societies. They were podcasters, athletes, and Excel ninjas who were voted into the homecourt court, performed in chorales and dance crews, and taught yoga and Pilates. In some cases, they were first generation students. In others, they were tapped by school leaders to serve on advisory committees. After graduation, they’ll start their careers at Microsoft, Goldman Sachs, Bain & Company, and Procter & Gamble – if they aren’t starting a business or entering graduate school. While the Best & Brightest majored in business-related fields, they also delved deeply into areas like fashion design, theology, creative writing, and inequality studies.

Jenny Rodriguez, Marian University (Byrum)

What makes a Best & Brightest student? To start, they were the ones who could always be counted on – the constants who were first to arrive and last to leave. On campus, they didn’t just get involved: they were the leaders who held their communities together. They commanded attention with their confidence and enthusiasm, eventually becoming role models who set the bar and inspired others to be their best. Along the way, they always took time to listen and learn, leaving classmates feeling supported and part of something bigger. Starting classes online at the height of COVID, the Best & Brightest understood they would spend their next four years playing catch up. In response, they never took opportunities or classmates for granted. Even more, they adopted a results-driven mindset. These seniors may have reveled in the journey, but they always watched for the possibilities and never lost sight of the destination. When they set their minds to something, nothing could stop them.

MISTAKEN FOR FACULTY PEERS

This spirit left an impression on their professors. At Marian University’s Byrum School, Dr. Lori Rumreich marvels at Jenny Rodriguez – a senior she says makes the faculty better “by challenging us to give our best, stay relevant, and laugh at ourselves when we admit that we do not know everything.” Shimul Melwani, the associate dean of undergraduate programs at the University of North Carolina’s Kenan-Flagler School, describes Andy Jin as both a “deep thinker and a proactive doer” – the kind of student who is “so well-read that I sometimes feel like I am talking to a faculty peer.” To Jim Bryan, associate dean of undergraduate programs at Southern Methodist University’s Cox School, Mohan Desai is a walking advertisement for the school

“No matter where he goes after graduation, I want Mohan wearing SMU Cox gear,” says Bryan. “There can be no greater advertisement for SMU Cox’s student body than Mohan Desai. We have been proud to have him as a student, and we will be proud to call him an alumnus.”

Together, the Best & Brightest have been great ambassadors for their business schools – both on campus and beyond. Take the Wharton School’s Xavier Shankle. He was elected as student body president at the University of Pennsylvania, where he represented 10,000 undergraduate students. Hult International Business School’s Tom Kinast organized four TEDx events that sold out and attracted speakers such as the Head of UN Women UK. At the same time, he won multiple awards from the Model United Nations for his “exceptional debating, public speaking, and negotiating skills.” Kinast wasn’t alone in collecting awards, Marian University’s Jenny Rodriguez led her team to top three finishes in the National Team Selling Competition, Amazon Prime Student Case Competition, and the Wall Street Journal Case Competition. Similarly, Paige Parsons earned the MVP Award at the National Team Selling Competition.

“This award was given to the individual who had stood out against the student competitors in their ability to establish rapport, overcome objections, and lead their team in the competition,” writes the University of Richmond senior who’ll be joining Johnson & Johnson’s sales training rotation after graduation. “I have always aspired to move into upper management in my professional career, and this award reinforced my passion and ability to lead others while being a team player.”

ALWAYS BUSY, ALWAYS PRODUCING RESULTS

Elizabeth Vaughn, Villanova University

…and balance a heavy workload and a variety of activities too.  At the University of South Carolina’s Darla Moore School of Business, Jordan Fowler co-founded four businesses, including a hedge fund, entertainment company, consulting firm, and online women’s clothing platform. Texas A&M’s Isaiah Thomas, a philosophy minor ticketed to the Boston Consulting Group, founded the Aggie Venture Fund…when he wasn’t busy studying abroad in Southern Africa, completing Harvard Business School’s Summer Venture in Management program, or being a cast member in Amazon Prime’s The College Tour. Not only was Elizabeth Vaughn part of Villanova University’s champion cross country and outdoor track teams, but she also mentored over 30 women pursuing finance careers. On top of that, Vaughn served as the student representative to the OPUS Prize Oversight Committee, which doles out $1.2 million dollars in humanitarian prizes each year.

Wondering which student had the most on his plate? Think Binghamton University’s Daniel Croce. He served on seven student boards – not counting being the CFO, VP, or Director in six more student organizations. Add to that, he founded a business assistance group, worked as a consultant, and completed six internships!  Maitri Ajmera enjoyed five internships at the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School, including stints with Microsoft, Lazard, and Ernst & Young. The University of Michigan’s Nicole Lopez spent time as a constituent services director and legislative aide in the Michigan State House of Representatives, while Matthew Hovelsrud worked for U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar as a Congressional intern. At Northeastern University, Samantha Davidson turned to LinkedIn to find alumni members who could help her with the program’s required co-op. In the process of conducting informational interviews, she developed a side hustle.

“I created my own Marketing Lead position with local Boston entrepreneur Mark Ostow,” Davidson tells P&Q. During co-op at his two cafes—Café Zing and Kickstand Café—and photography studio, I identified and created business opportunities based on market analysis, designed marketing materials, built an original company website, printed postcards, and more. While on co-op, I established my own marketing consultant firm with three real-world clients and over 100k views on social media so far.”

BUILDING UP CAMPUS CLUBS

The Class of 2024 also possesses a certain talent for building up their campus clubs and communities. As the philanthropy director for her sorority, Georgia Tech’s Kalieann Wetherington raised $39,000 to support the Ronald McDonald House Charities through a silent auction and 5K run. Atharva Mhatre headed up the Finance and Investment Club at Boston University’s Questrom School. Here, he boosted club membership by 50%, increased assets under management to $1.1 million dollars, and produced speaking events whose attendance sometimes exceeded 300 students and faculty. At the University of Virginia’s McIntire School of Commerce, Manish Dahal became program director for the Creating Assets, Savings, and Hope (CASH) program, which provides free tax preparation for lower income families in the Charlottesville area. For Dahal, delivering these services in his hometown has been a “bittersweet” experience.

Manish Dahal, University of Virginia (McIntire)

“My first year at CASH, I was able to work closely with an immigrant family and help them receive a $16,000 refund,” Dahal explains. “Throughout the process, I was able to hear about their struggles adjusting to a new community and the language. Hearing their stories reminded me of my family’s own hardships when we first moved to the United States from Nepal…While it saddens me that I will eventually have to step down from my role, I’m excited to implement initiatives that will maximize the impact CASH volunteers have on the greater Charlottesville community.”

Andy Jin was elected by classmates to be undergraduate Consulting Club president. After taking the reins, he organized treks to Charlotte and Atlanta to meet with top firms in-person. Later on, he put together a consulting bootcamp featuring 11 consulting firms and attracting 250 students. For the past year, Kobe Zagon has served as the president of Tulane University’s Green Bull Group, which provides mentoring to underclassmen aspiring to work in finance. Since he joined, the group has mentored over 50 students, while developing a freshman track and instituting an annual networking trek to New York City. When Amber Lao was told the business school wasn’t the best place to find social impact opportunities, she went to work creating Better Business Week, which she describes as the “annual, student-led, social impact career event” at Cornell University’s Dyson School – an event that includes an alumni panel, networking event, and educational series.

“BBW is heading into its fourth year. For the past three years, I have expanded BBW’s influence across Dyson and mentored new generations of leaders to make BBW a self-sustaining tradition. I’ve worked with students and faculty to form partnerships across the school, integrated the event into the syllabi of Dyson courses, and garnered thousands of dollars in funding to elevate BBW’s visibility and programming. It’s gratifying to hear positive feedback from younger Dyson students who feel inspired to pursue a career in social impact after attending BBW events.”

Of course, not every effort is centered around business. Exhibit A: Sarah Ackels, who rolled out Georgetown University’s Survivor Club. “After my friends and I felt discouraged by some of the competitive academic clubs on campus, we decided to start a club that was all about inclusivity and fun,” Ackels shares. “We brought our shared interest in the CBS show Survivor to life by founding the Survivor: Georgetown club. Georgetown students are now on their 4th season of participating in Survivor play, gathering for watch parties, and connecting with other campuses’ Survivor clubs. It is so rewarding to have a vision for something and see it come to life.”

Go to Pages 3-4 for 100 in-depth profiles of the 2024 Best & Brightest Business Majors

ARTISTS, ADVOCATES, AND ENTREPRENEURS

The influence of this year’s Best & Brightest extend far beyond campus. Florida Southern College’s Happyson Kaunda Jr. plans to build his two startups after graduation, thanks to attracting over $250K in investment. As part of an experience abroad program sponsored by Lipscomb University, Audra Hochgesang supported entrepreneurs in Ghana with financing and scaling their ventures. Last year, the University of Michigan’s Roman Rhone spearheaded the planning of the BlackGen Capital National Conference, which attracted talent from the likes of Morgan Stanley and Evercore to judge a stock pitch competition and conduct workshops. Likewise, Amina Shafeek-Horton has been rubbing shoulders with some of the world’s most accomplished women through being part of the Council of Women World Leaders.

“[It is] a network, affiliated with the United Nations Foundation, consists of 90 current and former female prime ministers and presidents whose mission is to mobilize the highest-level women leaders on issues of critical importance to women,” Shafeek-Horton adds. “I am serving as the sole intern and have had the opportunity travel to Reykjavík, Iceland to facilitate and present at Council’s Annual meeting, interview the former president of Lithuania, Dalia Grybauskaitė, and attend the Reykjavík Global Forum.”

Pratika Katiyar, Northeastern University (D’Amore-McKim)

Pratika Katiyar and Samantha Davidson garnered their share of notoriety at Northeastern University’s D’Amore-McKim School of Business. Katiyar made HerCampus Media’s 22 Under 22 List, in honor of her activism and writing around student free speech and technology policy. In contrast, Davidson was featured in Northeastern’s literary magazine, Artistry, over her songwriting and music.

“The article represented the culmination of my successes and growth as a disabled student artist. I am also in an activist rock band where we collaborate to write songs that call for inclusivity and accessibility for all. In my solo work, I have over 3.6 million streams to date, a testament to other disabled artists that there is both space and an audience for us all. Through my lyricism and voice, I hope to raise awareness and inspire others who are suffering to advocate for themselves and share their voice. Songwriting is a creative outlet for my perseverance and strength.”

BEATING THE ODDS TO FINISH THE NEW YORK MARATHON

The Class of 2025 also includes its share of unsung heroes. At Syracuse University, Haig Chakamian persuaded administrators to fork over $10K to start his Career Closet, where students can get professional attire for interviews and internships. The program was so successful, he says, that administration doubled his budget this year. Pirmin Christian Brechbühl plays baseball for Wake Forest University, which competed in the College World Series and ultimately ranked 3rd last year. And let’s just say Ruben Garcia has developed a skill that even seasoned professionals still struggle to master: managing their inbox.

“If 90% of a business career is being organized, 80% of that organization is managing, writing, and sorting your email,” cracks the University of Michigan senior. “While initially this seemed like a common-sense task, once I reached 2,000 emails in my inbox sophomore year, I knew something had to change. Not only have I learned to make excessive use of folders and the delete button, but how to diplomatically tell a superior to get back to you after two weeks of silence in twenty words or less.”

In many cases, this year’s Best & Brightest represent stories of perseverance. Take Lauren Grace Perry. A senior at TCU’s Neeley School of Business, Perry grew up with a congenital hip defect, one that restricts most from ever becoming an athlete. Thanks to surgeries, Perry eventually competed in two sports. While an ACL tear set her back as a college freshman, she came back to run the New York Marathon last fall.

“I devoted myself to a rigorous training schedule and learned what it means to be adaptable, confident, and strong,” Perry writes. “After dealing with joint inflammation caused by my Perthes for the last month of my training, I began to doubt my ability to complete the race. However, on race day, a miracle occurred: I had no pain whatsoever. Although incredibly difficult and refining, the race was easily my greatest accomplishment, and a reminder that I can do hard things. I am proud to be a part of the 1%, and the 50,000+ finishers of this year’s race.”

A 360-DEGREE MOMENT

Xavier Shankle, Wharton School

Last year, the Wharton School’s Xavier Shankle sent a letter to the White House on the Supreme Court’s affirmative action decision. Soon enough, he was being included in discussions on the topic with the Department of Education and White House officials. At the University of Houston’s Bauer School, Alim Maknojia has already bought her first house. True to form for a finance major, he joined classmates in renovating and flipping it for a profit! Despite majoring in Organizational and Strategic Management, Yoelle Gulko won’t be starting at a prestigious consulting firm this summer. Instead, she’ll continue working on her documentary, Our Subscription to Addition, which explores phone addition and digital well-being. Thanks to her business background, she has launched a production firm to manage its development and release. In addition, Gulko’s efforts will be supported by a grant from the Responsible Technology Youth Power Fund, which is supported by luminaries ranging from Melinda Gates to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

“The possibilities we unlocked with that grant completely transformed my documentary,” Gulko notes. “I invested part of the funds in a professional industry production team, including cinematographers, a sound mixer, a producer and an editor that elevated the film quality to a whole new level. It was also an honor to connect with and amplify other youth-led initiatives by capturing their work for my documentary.”

In some cases, the Best & Brightest experienced full circle moments as they neared the final months of business school. After becoming president of TAMID – the consulting and finance club run by students at the University of Miami’s Herbert Business School – David Allen couldn’t help but look back to childhood – and the progress he has made since suffering from a speech impediment. By the same token, Caleb Yarbrough marveled at how much he’d grown when he was asked to speak to prospective students at Georgia Tech’s Scheller College – at the same event he’d attended as a high school student.

“I remembered…feeling like the biggest imposter in the world. I remembered thinking that the rest of the students in that room were way more deserving to be at Georgia Tech than I was, and I thought that the impressive accomplishments of the students leading the panel were outside the realm of possibility for me. Three years later, I was able to sit at the front of the room at the same event with three of the most accomplished students that I know.”

FUN FACTS ABOUT THE CLASS OF 2024

Amanda Hubert, Purdue University (Daniels)

Outside of class, Miami of Ohio’s Yiyang Fu is “proficient” with six musical instruments, while Ross’s Roman Rhone plays a mean steel drum. Amanda Hubert devoted a dozen years to Irish Dancing – and continues on as a member of the Purdue Irish Dance team. These days, you’ll find Cornell University’s Hali Dietsche performing with The Touchstones, her a cappella group.

Dietsche’s classmate, Amber Lao, visited 15 countries over her study abroad experience – and Georgia Tech’s Kalieann Wetherington has already set foot in 48 out of 50 American states. At Florida Southern College, Allison Pascarella has a twin sister who is also a sorority president. According to Fordham University’s Grace Maietta, she once learned how to take a perfect selfie…from Bill Nye the Science Guy! And how is this for a perfect day…

“I have met the Prime Minister of Australia and swam with sharks in the span of 24 hours,” writes the University of Pittsburgh’s Logan Ryan.

A TRIBUTE TO PARENTS AND FACULTY WHO MADE A DIFFERENCE

Successes all – and in many cases they credit their parents for setting the example and laying the groundwork for their achievements. That is certainly true of Zainab Maniya, a University of North Carolina senior whose mother taught her to “embrace risks” and “never accept no.” When Loyola Marymount’s Samuel Sprute was a boy, his mother would drive he and his brother on cross-country trips for academic conferences – events that reinforced a sense of curiosity as much as a love of living. For Keri Gilligan, her mother was the ultimate tone-setter.

“My earliest memories are of my mom celebrating all of my small wins and teaching me that hard work is paramount.” Gilligan writes. “As a single parent, she set an example of what it meant to be a hardworking person, both personally and professionally, while always putting family first. Not only did she serve as my role model, but my mom has continuously shown up for me whether it was cheering in the audience at my dance recitals, patiently watching alongside the court at my tennis matches, or congratulating me as I found out about my acceptance to Bucknell. She has created an environment full of love and support that has allowed me to have the mindset to thrive here at Bucknell.”

Winston Zha, Carnegie Mellon University (Tepper)

Fathers also served as cheerleaders, confidantes, and counselors for the Best & Brightest. Pirmin Christian Brechbühl’s dad served as a military officer. Here, he learned to value everyone and maintain poise – lessons he passed onto his son. Before studying business and finance at Carnegie Mellon University’s Tepper School, Winston Zha drew similar inspiration from his father.

“My dad once told me, ‘People often say motivation does not last. But neither does a shower – that is why we need it daily.’ And my dad continues to serve as my daily source of motivation, pushing me forward and believing in my abilities and character, even in times when I myself did not believe in them. He has taught me more about being a leader, and being a good human than anyone else.”

In some cases, faculty members made all the difference for the Class of 2024. At Villanova University, Dr. Shelly Howton has opened her doors to the befuddled, weary, and homesick pupils who have come to her office for the past 27 years.

“Dr. Howton must have more than 24 hours in a day, because she somehow finds the time to share her wisdom, guidance, and everything in between with so many students,” writes Elizabeth Vaughn. “I can’t help but feel badly every time I stop by and interrupt her, but she makes it seem as if I could stay all day…Dr. Howton has encouraged me to stay strong when times were tough and given me the victorious fist bump over life’s smallest victories. She is someone that I look up to daily and wouldn’t be where I am today without her…[There] is a reason so many alumni keep in touch with [her], and I’m sure it’s because [she] did just as much for them as you did for us: just about everything.”

BUCKET LISTS

What’s next for this year’s Best & Brightest as graduation approaches? In terms of bucket lists, Boston University’s Kelly Shao – who’ll be joining the Boston Consulting Group – hopes to snag an international rotation (or two, she adds). Winston Zha pictures himself as an angel investor someday, while Grace Maietta would love to someday work behind the scenes at an Olympics Games. When Pratika Katiyar isn’t formulating public policy, she’ll probably be authoring a book. And let’s just say that Samuel Sprute plans to hone a business skill that isn’t necessarily covered in the curriculum.

“Learn how to play golf well,” Sprute jokes. “Have you ever met a successful businessperson that sucks at golf? Correlation isn’t causation, but I am going to take advantage of as many correlatives as possible.”

In the coming years, Amber Lao expects to live the dream of many business majors: “Get an MBA and start my own business.” That’s not the only dream common to the class. While Lehigh University’s Keila Seeley intends to boost financial literacy and serve as a role model, she also has something more personal in mind…

“I also want to own an ice cream store at one point in my life.”

SECRETS OF SUCCESS

Melissa Atanasio, University of Pittsburgh

When it comes to business students following in their footsteps, the Class of 2024 offer several pieces of advice. Melissa Atanasio, a University of Pittsburgh grad, suffered from FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) starting out. In her pursuit of being everything to everyone, she held down seven jobs and internships at the same time. It was only after she embraced “self-compassion” (and rest) that Atanasio came into her own.

“If I had the chance to do things differently, I would encourage my past self to take a step back occasionally, to appreciate the journey, and to understand that making mistakes is a natural and invaluable part of learning. I would hope to understand sooner that true success in business school, and in life, is as much about the journey as it is about the destination.”

Maria Falk, a Purdue University accounting major headed to graduate school next fall, lives by a quote: “Growth and comfort cannot coexist.” Her advice: Don’t be afraid to stretch yourself and embrace the unfamiliar.

“It is easy to find a comfortable corner in such a chaotic place where you hear the same things and see the same people,” she adds. “However, there is incredible value in taking a little risk and trying out something you never imagined yourself liking. Go to that event where you don’t know anyone, try out that Python coding certificate class, and talk to the recruiter standing at the table outside your classroom. It’s when you’re curious that you find new hobbies, interests, or meet someone new who could change your life.”

Most of all, Andy Jin writes, judge yourself against your own criteria – not what your peers are achieving.

“Comparison is a double-edged sword. At times, it can serve as a source of motivation, driving us to achieve our fullest potential. However, it can also cause us to feel inadequate and behind. In business, we will naturally look to our peers for inspiration and metrics of success, but viewing success as a finite resource can lead to harmful competition. Rather than peg yourself to external measures of validation such as prestigious internships and job offers, reflect on your individual growth. Define your own success by your personal fulfillment and celebrate each other’s wins.”

Congratulations, Class of 2024! Welcome to the real world. Do better than we have.

Go to Pages 3-4 for 100 in-depth profiles of the 2024 Best & Brightest Business Majors

2024 Best & Brightest Undergraduate Business Majors

2024 Best & Brightest Undergraduate Business Majors

BEST & BRIGHTEST BUSINESS MAJORS: CLASS OF 2023

BEST & BRIGHTEST BUSINESS MAJORS: CLASS OF 2022

BEST & BRIGHTEST BUSINESS MAJORS: CLASS OF 2021

BEST & BRIGHTEST BUSINESS MAJORS: CLASS OF 2020

BEST & BRIGHTEST BUSINESS MAJORS: CLASS OF 2019

BEST & BRIGHTEST BUSINESS MAJORS: CLASS OF 2018

BEST & BRIGHTEST BUSINESS MAJORS: CLASS OF 2017

BEST & BRIGHTEST BUSINESS MAJORS: CLASS OF 2016

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