Student Spotlight: Helen Getachew

Helen Getachew

Helen Getachew is a Class of 2025 student majoring in the Canfield Business Honors Program (Canfield BHP), Finance, and Government. Originally from Dallas, Texas, Helen initially found the large campus environment at UT intimidating. Very soon, however, she found communities in Student Government, Canfield BHP, and other campus involvements, igniting her passion for helping others find their place on campus. On March 27th, 2024, Helen will be speaking at the university-wide Women’s History Month Celebration.

Starting from her freshman year, Helen has been heavily involved with the UT Student Government. Beginning as a staff, she then ascended into a representative role. In her junior year, Helen was elected to the 2023-2024 UT Student Body, which was one of the most memorable highlights of her time at UT. Reflecting on the experience, Helen describes it as how all her efforts and dedication “culminate into people believing in [her] enough” to choose her to be the change for the university.

Her time as President has been transformative, where she learned about various university resources and implemented grand visions. Additionally, she learned to understand education from a higher level, allowing her to empathize with both students and the administration to be a better advocate. Helen describes being President as labor-intensive but rewarding, where she got to apply many business management skills to the role. For instance, Helen emphasizes the importance of flexibility and optimism for adapting to changing plans, as long as she can still serve the ultimate purpose of benefitting the student body.

As someone with significant campus involvement outside of the business academic circle, Helen suggests that other students can also look toward different parts of campus. By joining organizations in which they have a genuine interest, students can find their community while meeting people of diverse backgrounds.

Still, Helen greatly appreciates all the support from McCombs and Canfield BHP. As a sophomore transfer into Canfield BHP, Helen quickly formed tight-knit relationships within the program by attending similar classes and events. Additionally, Helen was able to open up much more easily with the personable advisers in the Canfield BHP office. Ultimately, this community helped Helen in navigating both internal conflicts and the larger McCombs environment.

Recently, Helen was invited to speak at the university-wide Women’s History Month Celebration, an event that honors the many women at UT who have made a positive impact on campus and beyond. For her speech, Helen will discuss what UT has meant for her as a first-generation student from a low-income background and as a woman of color. Diving into her personal journey of navigating the university, Helen will touch on everything from her imposter syndrome to her involvement in different student organizations. Helen hopes that her unique story of finding her place and voice can inspire others to do the same.

In terms of careers, Helen’s time at UT and in Canfield BHP have laid a solid foundation for her goal of working in the intersection of finance and government. Through opportunities from interning at a private equity firm for impact investing to working at the Texas Capital on advocacy policy, Helen has expanded her relevant knowledge and skills. Looking toward the future, Helen hopes to find a specific career that merges her interests and passions.

Reflecting upon her time at UT, Helen characterizes her time as overwhelming but exciting. She shares her foundational belief that everyone has a place on campus, whether it be in an academic or extracurricular setting. The campus space is truly what one makes of it, and finding community is of the utmost importance. As a woman of color, Helen has found herself in times of self-doubt. However, finding her people helped her overcome these negative sentiments, and she is now able to utilize these communities to help others carve their unique paths to success.

Student Spotlight: Rahul Sankar

Rahul Sankar

Meet Rahul Sankar, a third-year Management Information Systems (MIS) major and transfer into the Canfield Business Honors Program (Canfield BHP). Armed with a genuine passion for business and technology, Rahul has leveraged his education and connections to thrive in a range of professional roles.

Rahul’s academic journey began with a practical consideration: UT Austin’s McCombs offered the most affordable education among his options. However, he was pleasantly surprised to discover the benefits of a large student body (among other benefits, including living amid the vibrancy of Austin, Texas). Still, Rahul wanted to enhance his business education. Thus, he transferred into Canfield BHP to surround himself with similarly ambitious students, maximize his potential for growth, and gain access to a rich alumni network. 

Joining Canfield BHP introduced Rahul to a different academic landscape, characterized by smaller class settings, repeated interactions with the same group of students, and a focus on group projects and presentations. Enjoying this sense of community, Rahul has formed lasting connections with his peers. Furthermore, the program’s emphasis on group work and public speaking has proven instrumental in honing his skills. 

In college, Rahul wasted no time positioning himself for professional success. Facing initial rejection from on-campus organizations his freshman year, he invested his time in building relationships with upperclassmen, peers, and professionals. These connections eventually led to a summer internship at Deloitte following his freshman year and leadership positions within various UT organizations.

Rahul’s internship journey reflects his dynamic interests. From exploring product management in a startup environment at Gist to consulting at Deloitte, he gained diverse insights into the business world. As a Product Analyst at Capital One, Rahul showcased his ability to develop real-time dashboards and investigate thousands of apps using SQL. His latest role as a Software Engineer at Scraps Audio underscored his commitment to expanding his technical knowledge, particularly in real-world applications. Rahul looks forward to continuing to grow professionally and contribute to real initiatives through his upcoming Product Management Internship at Capital One.

Rahul’s academic choices – studying MIS and Computer Science while being a part of Canfield BHP – have positioned him at the sweet spot where business meets technology, ideal for his preferred role in product management. Engaging with professors and serving as a Teaching Assistant (four times now) has enriched his understanding of certain subjects and helped him garner some notable recommendation letters. Furthermore, his active involvement in organizations like HeadStart and Texas Momentum has also filled in gaps in Rahul’s knowledge. With access to large student networks, Rahul has been able to better prepare for roles and interviews. 

Rahul’s most pivotal college experience, though, has been founding on-campus organizations. By throwing himself into the unknown and trying to build something from scratch, Rahul truly learned how to build relationships with his superiors and effectively manage teams. 

Reflecting on his journey, Rahul emphasizes that there is no singular path to success. In the competitive atmosphere of Canfield BHP, it’s easy to compare accolades, but Rahul encourages his peers to recognize their individual journeys. Consistent self-investment, he believes, is the key to earning one’s deserved success.

In short, Rahul Sankar’s story is one of strategic choices, academic prowess, and a commitment to continuous growth. As Rahul continues his education and professional journey, his drive and experiences are sure to guide him towards a promising future at the intersection of business and technology.

Student Spotlight: Monica Villarreal

 

Monica Villarreal

Monica Villarreal is a Class of 2024 student majoring in Canfield Business Honors and Management Information Systems with a minor in Accounting. Growing up in Harlingen, Texas in the Rio Grande Valley, Monica developed her commitment to giving back. Throughout her time at UT, Monica has combined her impact-oriented perspective with her passion for traveling to take advantage of various international opportunities. As she embarks on journeys worldwide, Monica also journals daily on her trips – a four-year-old habit that immortalizes her vibrant memories.

Her college international experiences began the summer after her sophomore year when she interned in Querétaro, Mexico as a User Experience Designer. Even though she visits Mexico for family frequently, this was a drastically different experience, as it was Monica’s first time working in a foreign country and experiencing the workplace culture. Beyond building tangible skills such as constructing websites with Figma, this internship helped Monica realize her passion for learning Spanish and connecting with her heritage.

Eager to further explore, Monica studied abroad in Bilbao, Spain at the University of Deusto during the spring semester of her junior year. In Spain, Monica took International Business and Cross-Cultural Communication courses, all while practicing her Spanish skills. This five-month period was highly formative for Monica, as the independence of living alone gave her immense courage. Despite the initial stress and fear, she learned to trust and rely on herself.

The pinnacle of her global adventures came during her junior summer in Oaxaca, Mexico, as part of the UT Global Career Launch program. In Oaxaca, Monica consulted for DAVA Artisanal Footwear Co., a group of indigenous Zapotec artisans making contemporary footwear inspired by ancient designs. Working alongside UT students from diverse majors, Monica helped the business develop various solutions regarding scaling production and quality control. Learning to become more empathetic and flexible by adapting her knowledge of business practices with the local perspective, Monica believed her junior summer experience was the “most impactful thing [she has] ever done.” Additionally, Monica also had the opportunity to live closely with an indigenous family and absorbed the vibrant Oaxacan culture. This experience was also instrumental in helping Monica realize that she does not want to work in a traditional corporate job – instead, she much preferred the impact-oriented environment.

Post graduation, Monica will be on the road again through two other Global Career Launch programs. First, she will work in Mindo, Ecuador for six weeks with an association of artisan panela (a type of sugar) producers seeking support to expand their distribution channels. Next, Monica will travel to Hiroshima, Japan, to support an AI image sensory technology startup with marketing for a few months.

Reflecting upon her college experience, Monica believes that the Canfield Business Honors Program has been extremely beneficial in supporting her academic and professional ambitions. Monica says she has found a family in Canfield BHP filled with great friends and helpful academic advisers.

Monica emphasizes the value of studying and working abroad. Additionally, she wants students to do their best to enjoy their time in college, saying that “it is easy to get lost in trying to do well for your career and academics, but it is the journey that matters.”

Alumni Spotlight: Katherine Chen

Katherine Chen

Katherine Chen is a Senior Business Analyst at McKinsey & Company, currently on secondment at One Acre Fund in Nairobi, Kenya. Katherine is from Plano, TX and graduated from UT Austin in 2021. Katherine has lived and studied across the world ranging from Latin America, Europe, and Africa. In her free time, you can find her hiking, taking photos, learning a new language, practicing yoga, or curating Spotify playlists.

Katherine has been working in Nairobi, Kenya for the past seven months through One Acre Fund. One Acre Fund is an NGO (non-governmental organization) that supports over 4 million smallholder farmers in Africa with asset-based financing and climate-smart agricultural training services. Katherine has admired this organization since she watched the CEO of the organization, Andrew Youn, speak in his Ted Talk titled “3 reasons why we can win the fight against poverty.” In her current role, Katherine designs and implements large-scale change management projects to strengthen the organization’s performance. She is currently leading a goals campaign alongside the incoming CEO to help staff connect their work to the organization’s 2030 Impact Vision of serving 10 million farmers annually. In October and November of last year, she traveled to rural western Kenya and spent time in the field visiting the farmer families. She recalled this trip as an eye-opening and humbling experience, being able to talk with the farmers and learn about their aspirations for the future.

During her time at UT, she majored in Finance and Iberian and Latin American Languages and Cultures (Spanish), with a certificate in Social Entrepreneurship and Nonprofits. Katherine says that she has always been interested in how businesses can be forces for good and was drawn to Canfield BHP because of the freedom it gave her to explore this path.

Katherine reminisces on her time as a student in Canfield BHP and says that she most cherishes the lifelong friends she made through the program. “It’s rare to find a community in which everyone is so bright and ambitious, yet incredibly caring and supportive of one another. Whether it be causing mayhem in our freshman dorms, watching the World Cup while abroad in Buenos Aires, bracing our first “winter storm” together, or graduating in a global pandemic, I’m grateful to have had these people beside me through it all.”.

Katherine says her academic journey at UT helped her conceptualize the type of career path she wanted to take after graduating. Her business classes helped her discover her passion for strategic problem-solving and innovative thinking. Through her classes in the School of Social Work, she realized she wanted to use these skills for the purpose of impact. She was pleasantly surprised to find how much intersectionality exists between the private, public, and social sectors. Outside of the classroom, Katherine was involved in leading the university’s student philanthropy organization, the Student Foundation. As President, she spoke across lecture halls and meetings to rally support for students affected by food insecurity, mental health crises, family emergencies, and natural disasters. Through this work, she learned the importance of human empathy combined with storytelling to inspire others.

Katherine recalls one of her favorite experiences from college, NOLS: “Besides sleeping next to (our favorable CBHP advisor) Steph in a tent and getting caught in an unexpected snowstorm, one thing I did not expect to learn from the trip was the concept of Type 1 vs. Type 2 fun. Type 1 fun is pure fun in the moment. Type 2 fun is challenging in the moment, but rewarding in retrospect. NOLS was both, but I realized I found much more fulfillment in the latter. It’s hard to describe the feeling of accomplishment after spending eight days in the mountains – it shattered my perspective of what I was truly capable of. Because of NOLS, I now actively seek opportunities to push myself outside of my comfort zone, including my career decisions.” She continues telling us how NOLS has impacted her interests: “Since NOLS, I can admit that I’ve developed an addiction to multi-day treks. The summer after graduating, I flew to Europe to hike the Tour du Mont Blanc, a 105-mile loop that crosses through France, Italy, and Switzerland. Now that I’m in East Africa, I’m lucky to be surrounded by the most beautiful treks. I hiked Mount Kenya in October of last year, and summited Mount Kilimanjaro, the tallest freestanding mountain in the world, on Christmas Day.”

When asked what advice Katherine has for students interested in pursuing a career in consulting, she answered, “Think about why you want to pursue a career in consulting. Though rewarding, it’s not an easy job, and it helps to have a sense of purpose behind what you’re doing. Personally, I saw consulting as the best way to hone my problem-solving and stakeholder management skills that would be critical to a career in the development space. And more importantly, be kind to yourself during the recruiting process. In a program like Canfield BHP where you’re constantly surrounded by other high achievers, it’s easy to get caught up in the rat race. Continue to prioritize your hobbies, your relationships, and your mental health. One of the best pieces of advice I’ve received that I remind myself to this day is, ‘Chill out and enjoy the ride. Life has a way of pushing you to the brightest, shiniest next thing. The race is long, and in the end, it’s only with yourself.’”

Student Spotlight: Parth Thakkar

Parth Thakkar

Texas is a long way from Parth Thakkar’s home in Naperville, Illinois. Yet Parth, a Canfield BHP freshman, quickly adjusted to life as a Texas Longhorn, and he now works as a campus tour guide to encourage prospective students to join us at UT. In this role, Parth enjoys sharing his enthusiasm and UT pride with those on his tour to help them fall in love with the Forty Acres.

Read on to learn more about Parth’s experience as an out-of-state student and his work as a tour guide! 

1.) Why did you initially decide to commit to UT and Canfield BHP?

The first time I visited UT for Discover Canfield BHP, I’d had a rough night’s sleep the night before in my cousin’s dorm room, followed by a long day and another late flight back home. Honestly in that time, I’d been more focused on keeping my eyes open than thinking about the next four years of my life. However, I later got to know more about Canfield BHP’s opportunities and resources, and after talking to several high school alumni currently at UT, I decided to commit. I’m glad to say I did, as I’ve grown to love everything about UT, from the wonderful weather (most of the year) to the lively city, as well as all of the people I’ve been fortunate enough to meet.

2.) What has it been like adapting to college life as an out-of-state student?

I was definitely worried about the social scene coming into college; I knew only one other person from my high school attending UT. However, this worry quickly dissolved during the first week of classes and events as I got to know most of my Canfield BHP class and many other students from around the country, especially Texas. It has also been nice to be able to visit home in Naperville from time to time, as seeing my family and friends has definitely helped with the transition.

3.) What does a typical day as a Canfield BHP student look like for you?

For my first semester, my days would typically be split into four parts. In the mornings and afternoons, I would either go to classes or give tours, depending on the day. In between, I had a two hour break, which is when I liked to hit Gregory Gymnasium, get lunch, and start doing work for my classes. The last block, evenings, entirely depended on the day. It would range anywhere from staying in and reading a book to taking a bus down to Zilker Park to see the lights with my friends.

4.) With one semester done so far, which class has been your favorite?

About a minute into the first day of class, I had decided I was going to drop my UGS. I’d walked in a few seconds late, and it seemed as if I’d already missed an entire lecture on climate change. However, despite my determination to drop, I eventually decided to give it a second chance. That ended up being a great decision, as it soon became my favorite class of the semester. From late night study sessions to remixing “Shut Up and Dance” – Sustaining a Planet version, I made both memories and friends I’ll remember for a long time to come.

5.) You’ve recently started work as a campus tour guide for the UT Office of Admissions. Why did you decide to become a tour guide, and what’s your favorite part of the job?

The energy I’d been met with while touring many different campuses was one I’d grown to truly admire. Whether it was Stanford or UCSB, all of the guides had shown incredible enthusiasm and obvious affection for their school, and it was because of them that I’d fallen in love with the places I’d visited. I knew that I wanted to spread that same enthusiasm and affection to future students no matter where I ended up going, and to this day that remains the highlight of every one of my tours.

6.)  While on tour, what advice do you give to prospective out-of-state students regarding college admissions?

I strongly believe in the idea that everyone ends up where they’re meant to be, which is what I tell high school students who come to visit UT. However, I know decisions also reflect the work students have done, so I advise them to show that work and to let their enthusiasm speak for itself, and I tell them that as long as they allow their excitement to come through in writing, they’ve put themselves in a good position.