Alumni Spotlight: Dominic Sung

Dominic Sung

Today, we are catching up with Dominic Sung, a Business Honors Program (now the Canfield Business Honors Program) graduate from 2003. Since the 20 years that Dominic has been a student, he now has a wife and two sons (aged 5 and 8). Dominic started off by saying that it is hard for him to believe that some of the current Canfield Business Honors Program students were not born when he graduated from the program. When we last caught up with Dominic, he lived in Houston, where he still resides with his family. In his free time, he enjoys playing sports, tasting different whiskeys and spirits, traveling, and trying different foods. Dominic said where he has found most of his joy in introducing his hobbies to his sons, except the whiskey and spirits tastings, of course.

When Dominic was a student at UT, he majored in finance with a minor in management information systems and a concentration in management and philosophy. Needless to say, he was a very busy student. Dominic attests that the small size of the business honors program, alongside the vast resources available at such a large university, made his choice to enroll at UT a straightforward decision.

Now, Dominic works for CarbonBetter as the Director of Business Development for the Sustainability and Decarbonization Services team. He is responsible for building the business and client base. His work at CarbonBetter offers sustainability services across the entire spectrum – strategic planning, quantification and measurement of emissions, reporting, decarbonization strategy development, and participation in the voluntary carbon market via traded carbon credits and renewable energy certificates.

Dominic says that about the first twenty years of his career, he worked in energy trading and loved the work, but along the way, he decided to retire for a bit. During that time, he learned that there was more to life than career advancement, wealth accumulation, and success measurable in the more traditional business sense. Dominic said that though his time at BP was an incredible one, it allowed him the chance to retire and walk away from the industry for a moment. Dominic had a passion for building something from the ground up and having the opportunity to offer advice and opinions in a way that he could not do at BP, thus he ended up at CarbonBetter with the mission to prove that what can be good for the planet can be good for business as well.

Dominic reflected on his time in the business honors program and found that the program taught him how to assess and analyze a problem and work toward a solution. The ability to adapt to a changing environment and uniquely apply knowledge is paramount to his work. Dominic found it pivotal to recognize where his teammates’ skills augment his work. This skill allowed him to efficiently work collaboratively with a team and gave the opportunity to create something better. This skill of finding people’s strengths has been a fundamental lesson that he has also applied to his personal life. Dominic must also thank the many connections he made on the 40 Acres that helped him throughout his life and career.

We asked Dominic if he had any advice for current Canfield Business Honors Program students, and he said, “Spend time building connections with your fellow Canfield BHP students. They will all become wildly successful in whatever they do and become amazing references and contacts in the future. There are many careers out there; don’t pigeonhole yourself to narrow objectives. Don’t forget to have fun!”.

If you want to read more about Dominic, you can check out our previous blog with him.

Student Spotlight: Shreya Komire

Shreya Komire

As a freshman student this past school year, Shreya gained firsthand experience interacting with Canfield BHP’s extensive network of alumni and corporate recruiters. Her time in Canfield BHP and its official student organization, Honors Business Association, have guided Shreya through her career exploration and helped her earn an internship in the finance industry.

Read on to learn more about Shreya’s freshman year experience, her career exploration, and her advice for incoming freshman students!

1.) How did you get involved with the Canfield BHP community as a freshman?

I got involved with the Canfield BHP community through the Honors Business Association (HBA) by participating on the corporate relations committee. The committee gave me the opportunity to not only meet other Canfield BHP students, but even plan events for the Canfield BHP community.

2.) How have you interacted with Canfield BHP alumni over the past year?

I have interacted with Canfield BHP alumni by attending and hosting HBA events and meetings. Many of the companies who are HBA corporate sponsors bring their employees who are Canfield BHP alumni, so I have had the opportunity to interact and network with Canfield BHP alumni one-on-one at HBA general meetings. Attending HBA events like the Annual Company Dinner (while also planning it!) has given me the opportunity to interact with some alumni over dinner and learn more about their Canfield BHP journey. I also recently hosted an HBA event, and through that I met with quite a few Canfield BHP alumni to invite them to our event.

3.) How has Canfield BHP helped you in your career exploration and prepared you for the professional world?

Canfield BHP has helped me in my career exploration and prepared me for the professional world by giving me insight into different careers and industries. Canfield BHP has classes and events that have opened my eyes about recruiting, networking, interviewing, and interning. For example, through the Professional Development and Career Planning Honors class (BA 101H), I had the opportunity to learn about the various recruitment processes specific to different industries. Having insight into the recruitment process for finance, for example, helped me determine the preparation I needed to do going into the interview stage, which led me to land a 2024 summer internship at a financial corporation. Gaining that valuable insight has been significant to understanding the intricacies of the recruitment/networking process and learning what workplace etiquette looks like.

4.) As the Corporate Relations VP for the Honors Business Association, how are you planning to help connect Canfield BHP students to corporate recruiters during the upcoming school year?

I’m planning to help connect Canfield BHP students to corporate recruiters by not only bringing on a diverse array of corporate sponsors, but hosting various corporate events. I hope to host social events and networking events for Canfield BHP students to connect with corporate recruiters in a more intimate setting. An idea that I hope to further expand on this year is working to highlight career opportunities that connect students’ passions with their career aspirations, whether that be in the entertainment, sports, retail, healthcare, law, startup, service, FinTech, etc. industries. My goal is to give Canfield BHP students more exposure to the networking and recruitment process by trying to connect students’ passions with their futures, and I hope the events and meetings we put on can help bridge that gap!

5.) What was your favorite memory from your freshman year at UT Austin?

My favorite memory from my freshman year at UT Austin was attending the Canfield BHP Leadership Kickoff. Although I was nervous to attend the retreat, by the end of the trip, I had made new friends and had a whole new set of experiences. The Leadership Kickoff ended up being a great time to have fun playing the games, compete with other students, and build genuine connections with our respective groups. As a result of the kickoff, my group had built a bond that carried over into our class, making each interaction in the classroom just as memorable.

6.) What advice do you have for incoming freshman students to help them make the most of their Canfield BHP experience?

My advice for incoming freshman students to help them make the most of their Canfield BHP experience is to take advantage of opportunities and try new things. There are many unknowns coming into freshman year and, at times, the loads of resources that are available may be overwhelming. Taking the time to explore different opportunities whether that be related to student organizations or career aspirations is beneficial to make the most of the Canfield BHP experience. Exploring all opportunities will help freshmen not only find their passions, but meet lots of their fellow Canfield BHPeers, who might just become their friends!

Canfield BHP takes Copenhagen!

Bright blue skies, bike-filled city streets, and a bit of homework. It’s the beginning of Canfield BHP’s annual study abroad program as a group of about 30 students are adjusting to their new lives in Copenhagen, Denmark for the next five weeks.

After getting settled in on June 1, the students have already started their two courses: Organizational Behavior (MAN 336H) and Doing International Business the Scandinavian Way (IB 340S). The students’ Organizational Behavior course is typically held twice a week on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, and it is taught by McCombs Lecturer Dr. Tom Rauzi. Meanwhile, their International Business course is taught by two local faculty members of the Danish Institute for International Studies (DIS), an educational institution overseeing the students’ study abroad program. Both courses involve group work and class discussions, both of which help create an interactive learning environment.

When these Canfield BHP students are not in class, you can find them checking out local restaurants, shopping with friends, and visiting many of Copenhagen’s landmarks. Mila Nenadic, a rising sophomore, says she has already had an incredible experience. She has especially enjoyed biking around the town center with her friends and trying out smørrebrød, a type of open-faced sandwich in Denmark. “I have loved getting to know the city with friends,” she explained.

DIS has also arranged for the students to go on a walking tour of Copenhagen, a tour of the city’s picturesque canals, and excursions to Rosenborg Castle and Christiansborg Palace. Additionally, many of the students are excited to plan trips to other European cities on the weekends, such as Milan, Dublin, and Amsterdam.

Many of the students are rising sophomores who used UT’s dining halls during their first year of college. But while they are in Copenhagen, they have been busy meal planning and cooking for themselves. The entire Canfield BHP cohort is living together across five stories of an apartment complex, with each floor having a kitchen. This has led to many community meals, which has so far included pizza and pasta—with many more sure to come!

Overall, the students are looking forward to a month of learning, adventure, and memories with their Canfield BHP community. Stay tuned for another update from Copenhagen!