BHP seniors Jed Cole and Phillip Niels started their own custom apparel business, Cole Niels & Co., together in 2011, and have printed close to 50,000 shirts since then and continue to bring on new customers. There were some bumps along the way, but their business has expanded significantly since that time and so has their knowledge of what it takes to run your own business. Jed will go to McKinsey after graduation and Phillip has one more year in the MPA program, but both plan to continue growing Cole Niels & Co. We sat down with them to learn more about the challenges they faced and the lessons they learned.

What is Cole Niels & Co.’s niche?

Phillip: We have positioned ourselves to serve student organizations, fraternities and sororities. They could get the same deliverable from other vendors, but our service is unique and valuable.

Jed: Leadership in student organizations and Greek organizations turns over each year. Our value proposition is that the new person coming in to handle orders won’t have to start from scratch. We tell each girl from the beginning that they can be as creative as possible, and we will take care of everything else. Because we know what they need from their previous orders and have a very high level of service, it is very easy on them to hit the ground running.

How did the idea for this come about? Had you always been interested in starting your own business?

Phillip: BHP brought the two of us together. We both had talked about wanting to start a business. We were on a train in Scotland, studying abroad the summer after our sophomore year, and that is when we really started talking about the business and how it could work. I had familial ties to screen printing shops and there was clear need, so it made sense. Jed got us our first client that August to do a print job for OU weekend.

Tell me more about how you got the business off the ground.

Jed: I called a girl I knew who was the apparel chair for her sorority and asked if we could lighten the burden on her by making their shirts and she agreed to let us do their OU shirts. On our first order we made some mistakes with trademark issues and therefore didn’t get to print all of the items. We learned a valuable lesson with that order to promise less and deliver more. From there I started connecting with other sorority apparel chairs and asking if we could work with them. The first quarter we had only worked with two sororities, but by the end of our first year of business, we were serving more than 10 groups, including fraternities and other student orgs.

Phillip: The business is very seasonal, so in the fall it is a bit slower, but by that spring we had a lot of orders. We have grown pretty drastically.

How did your coursework and BHP community help you in starting the business?

Phillip: Being in BHP, you are surrounded by natural entrepreneurs. The coursework along with the social aspect of it was inspiring. We have learned to be analytical and thoughtful in our decisions.

Jed: We started it in our junior year, so we had built a lot of the skills we needed in our classes. It felt very natural and comfortable to us.

Phillip: We also had to learn a lot along the way about how to start a business – things we hadn’t learned in a classroom. We had family and professors support us and offer advice.

What advice do you have for other students wanting to start a business while also managing school and other commitments?

Phillip: My attitude is that although as a student you will spend a lot of time in class, if you manage your time properly, you can accomplish pretty much anything. We did a lot of planning, and kept each other accountable. It is also crucial to be flexible. I think any student in BHP can accomplish whatever they set out to do, if they really set their mind to it, stay disciplined, and are passionate.

Jed: One of my favorite quotes is “don’t let school interfere with your education,” said by Mark Twain. I think that is very applicable. Starting our business has been an education in its own right. I think it is really fun and exciting and it is great working with a friend. It is like the greatest group project ever.

What were and are the biggest challenges you faced?

Jed: Being able to balance the line between friendships and customers. Our business revolves around the fact that we are friends with our clients and when something doesn’t go right, it is more personal because we feel like we have disappointed our friends. It makes it harder to leave work at work and not take it home with you.

Phillip: Being an entrepreneur, there is never a moment of the day when my work is not on my mind. I am always thinking about what needs to be done next for the business, so that has made it a bit harder for me to manage my time and give time to other projects and organizations.

How do you plan to keep the business growing after you graduate and leave campus?

Jed: Phil is MPA so he will be on campus another year. I will have to take on more of a supportive role since I will be in Dallas. We are going to try to bring a sophomore BHP student into the business next year to keep it going  while we can help facilitate forming relationships with the new apparel chairs before we leave. We hope to then pass off some of the workload to them once Phil graduates. We will always want to be involved, even when we move to other cities.

Phillip: We have done a good job of streamlining our process, so I think we can pass that on pretty easily. With our oversight, I think we will continue to grow and refine our services.

When you reflect upon your time in the BHP and on the 40 Acres, what do you think will stand out most to you?

Phillip: I was so excited when I got in to the program, but didn’t really know what it was going to mean to me. Now, I feel very fortunate to have been in the BHP and received such a strong education. I don’t think we would be where we are with the business without BHP. We are used to doing things at a high level. More than anything, the friendships will stand out along with having created a business that is successful. It is fun walking around campus and seeing everyone wearing a shirt that you helped make. We have made more than 50,000 shirts now.

Jed: It has been fun to start a business that meshes so many of our interests. We have gotten to meet so many new people, make new friends, and help organizations. It is the same thing we are doing in other orgs we are involved in, but it is also a business. It is also fun to see people happy when they receive their orders.

What are you most looking forward to about this new phase of your life?

Phillip: I am excited about starting another business in the future that is bigger, but also merges my interests like this one did.

Jed: We are both going to see what it is like to work for large businesses. I am going to Mckinsey and Phillip is interning at Bain this summer. I am excited to get back together after we have worked in this new big business environment and look at starting a business through a new lens. I think we would both like to start another business together again in the future. I never imagined that I would have a business capable of putting me through college and so it’s exciting to think of how high the ceiling can be 4 years from now as we expand our horizon’s and ambition’s.

You have said that being a recruiter for the BHP was your favorite thing you did. Why?

Yes, there are two things that stick out to me about the experience. Being a recruiter has really made me feel like I am giving back to a program that gave me so much. I like to recruit the type of students who are going to make this program and the value of my degree even better. I also like interacting with the students. It gets me excited about school and has helped me push through all I do for my classes and extracurricular activities. In order to recruit the best students, I have to be on top of my game too. In order to sell BHP to them, I have to be able to tell them what I love about the program and all of the things I am doing.

How did you find your path of which organizations to be involved in?

I was drawn towards the people in the Undergraduate Business Council from the start. That was the vehicle through which I got involved in a lot more at McCombs. I had to pick and choose what was most meaningful and which I could give back to the most. I got involved in things my mentors were involved in. Michael Daehne and Bhargav Srinivasan were probably my greatest mentors in terms of how to be a leader and connect with people and how to choose which organizations to get involved in. My work this year on the Legacy campaign was motivating and I felt I could really make an impact on that campaign and improve it. I had a wide range of experiences at UT, which helped me explain to people why giving back to McCombs is important. A lot of the success of this year’s campaign was due to the strength of the committee and their network. We hit 28% participation, which was more than double the rate of any past campaign.

What lessons have you learned from all of the leadership positions you held? Were there any common themes?

I have always been good at managing tasks and getting things done, but I learned how to better manage people. Leading by example is very important, especially when interacting with underclassmen. I never approached them with the idea of me mentoring them, but I found that if I was open to learning from them and was open to answering any questions they had, that sort of mentorship relationship naturally progressed. I think it is important to always been kind to people and take time out of your day to develop relationships, and not just constantly ask people to do things.

What will you remember most when you look back on your time at UT?

Being a part of the VIP Distinguished Speaker series was amazing. I got to hear from C-level executives, including Indra Nooyi, CEO of PepsiCo. I learned so much from them. I have also really enjoyed being involved in Make a Mark and reconnecting with all of my classmates who I haven’t had classes with in a while. Going to the football games is great and I have also enjoyed checking out the Austin food scene.

What are you most proud of and why?

I am most proud of the relationships I have built with not only those in my class, but also underclassmen. I have really enjoyed the mutual opportunities for learning from these relationships. Being a cheerleader for other’s success is so much more rewarding than just being successful yourself. I really enjoy helping people succeed and again, I think that is part of why I enjoyed being a BHP recruiter and helping students see how BHP can help them accomplish their goals.

If you could go back and give advice to yourself as a freshman, what would you say?

I would say not to give up anything that you are passionate about.  I was really passionate about band and music in high school and that is my greatest college regret that I didn’t pursue it further once I got here. I probably would have joined Longhorn Band if I had it to do over again.

What are you going to be doing after graduation?

I will be working for Exxon Mobil in Houston. My role is yet to be determined there, but I did my internship there last summer in their Internal Audit Division and really liked it. I feel confident in saying that I will stay with the company for many years. I hope that will afford me the opportunity to live and work in other countries. The travelling and study abroad experiences I did in college really opened my eyes and I would like to continue to broaden my world view and experience how business is conducted in other countries. I am actually going to be travelling this summer before I start my job and will be doing an internship in Shanghai, China. I found a program through the UT International Office and decided it would be a great opportunity. I will be working for an energy think tank, the China Energy Fund, doing research about the energy needs of China. That research will then be passed on to oil and gas companies operating in China. I am excited to start a new phase in my professional and personal life, but am also looking forward to staying connected to UT through my involvement with the BBA/MPA Alumni Advisory Board.

Written by Stephanie Morgan

This past Saturday, MIS 301 professor Ashish Agarwal, hosted the much-anticipated annual MIS DWAP (Dinner With A Professor). When we walked through the threshold of Professor Ashish Agarwal’s house, we were greeted by a burnt orange kurta pajama clad Agarwal and his MIS 301 colleague, professor Prabudev Konana, wearing his standard business casual.  After chatting with the professors and their families for a bit, they invited us to partake in delicious appetizers of Gobi Manchurian, samosas, a mango salsa, and, for those less adventurous students, bean dip and chips.

After stuffing our stomachs on the first course, we were treated to the entrée consisting of rice, yogurt, Shai paneer, chole, and the crowd favorite, naan.  The meal didn’t end there—we also enjoyed a custard-style dessert.  The Agarwals fed the 60-some students with a combination of homemade specialties and catered dishes from a local Indian restaurant.

Freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors alike enjoyed dancing to popular Indian music and learning some Bollywood moves.  Agarwal enjoyed hosting the DWAP for the first time and said that he plans to continue participating for years to come.  He enjoys keeping the tradition alive, and he was excited to get to know students outside of class.

Agarwal stressed that the DWAP is “a nice time to get together when everyone’s so busy and stressed out at the end of the semester.”  Students also enjoyed merrymaking with their classmates and professors.  Saloni Naik, a BHP/pre-med junior, exclaimed, “I really like that HBA gives us such fun opportunities to get to know our professors.  How else would I have known that Agarwal owns a disco ball?”

The Honors Business Association (HBA) coordinates DWAPs twice a year. The events offer students the opportunity to connect with their professors outside of an academic setting, on a more personal level.

Greg Gerstenhaber

Tell me about your career progression coming up to what you are doing now.

I started with Bain as an associate consultant right after graduation. I did that for three years, then left for two years to get my MBA from Harvard. My business school tuition was paid for by Bain with the expectation that I would come back, and I did. When I returned, I was a consultant for two years, then was promoted to a manager and did that for four years. I was promoted again in 2008 to partner. Now my time is mostly spent on strategy work as well as performance improvement.   I also lead our MBA recruiting efforts for Texas as well.

You consult with a number of different industries. Which type of industry do you enjoy working with the most and why?

There isn’t any one industry. I have the most fun when I am working with industries that are going through a lot of change and the work we are doing has significant impact on our client’s business. In 2008, I was working with home building and there was so much change taking place with home prices falling dramatically that it was really challenging and exciting work.

What is most challenging about the work you do?

It is fast-paced. It is always a challenge to learn a new industry. To learn a new industry you have to really dig into analyst reports and other industry materials to try to absorb as much knowledge as possible. We have found over time that one of the key ways of delivering value to clients is integrated expertise. By being able to work in different industries and different types of companies, we develop our expertise in a certain industry, but we also bring new ideas and perspectives from having worked with other industries and clients. There is a threshold level of expertise that we bring to a client, but we also know that we create a lot of value by bringing a broader perspective to the table.

How do you approach the strategy work you do?

We have a tried and true approach that we use for strategy work. We start with the same core sets of tools. We first make sure we understand the current situation and have a data driven factbase.  . We then work closely with our clients to identify strategic options and then evaluate them with data. We will come up with a hypothesis of what the answer might look like, then collect the data and do the analysis to prove or disprove the hypothesis.   Through all of this, we use a methodology called “profit from the core”. Companies should define and understand what their core is, and look for opportunities that are as close to the core as possible. We have a very tried and true core strategy approach that is very effective at creating value for our clients.  .

How can students prepare themselves to do something similar to what you are doing?

We look for people who are passionate about what we do and have a track record of being challenged and doing well academically. We also want people who have been involved on campus and have taken on leadership roles on campus. Strong analytical skills are important in this job.  We utilize a case interview method which is a very effective way for testing fit for the associate consultant job.

How have things changed at Bain over the 16 years you have been there?

I will tell you what has and hasn’t changed. What has changed is that we have grown at a very high rate. We are substantially larger now vs when I started in 1997. We have probably grown about 10 percent a year since I started working here. We have also moved towards more of a practice area focus. We have developed and advanced IP, while still enabling people to have a variety of work experience. The biggest thing that has not changed is our core mission and our core values of how we work with and deliver for our clients. We take the time to periodically reevaluate our mission and priorities, but we always come back to the same core set of values.  Our business is all about our ability to deliver for our clients and help them to achieve results.  Our entire DNA as a firm revolves around that.

The one constant at Bain no matter what level you are at is that you will always feel challenged.  The type of work you do and roles and responsibilities will change overtime. I am less involved in the analytics and spend more time with the actual clients now. Someone coming into Bain could expect that their responsibilities will continue to grow over time, as they have for me.

How do you think your BHP education prepared you for what you are doing now?

I think it prepared me really well. The emphasis on case studies really helped to lay the ground work for the variety and the types of cases I see. The curriculum was challenging and it prepared me well. BHP has so much respect within Bain. We know that people in BHP are being prepared well and coming from a respected program. The program has benefited me in such a tremendous way.  We are truly excited to come back to campus each year and meet the BHP students.

Do you have any regrets from your time on the 40 Acres? Anything you wish you would have done differently?

I wish it didn’t go as fast as it did! I feel so fortunate to have been in the BHP. I was really involved in the business council and was president of that my senior year. I was in HBA and the Cabinet of College Councils as well. These experiences were incredibly valuable to me and gave me real practical experience in working with teams to accomplish something. It was also just a lot of fun. I made friendships that have really stayed with me.

I have had a lot of good networking opportunities with my BHP classmates since graduation. When I started by MBA at Harvard, there were a couple BHP grads there who I connected with. I have also kept in touch with BHP grads in the Dallas area who are in prominent positions that I can call upon when I need advice or help.

Do you have any advice for current students?

Your time in the BHP is one of the best times you will have to learn. Take advantage of the variety of great learning experiences you get to have. Get involved in various activities on campus and have fun.

What have you enjoyed most about being in the BHP?

I come from a small high school, TAMS, and was used to having a close-knit community and it has been nice to have that experience again in the BHP. I transferred in my sophomore year. I really wanted to be a part of BHP and take advantage of the small class sizes and great community. BHP students are eclectic and high-caliber. It is refreshing to be around people that are so driven.

You are also a computer science major. How do your degree plans complement each other and what do you plan to do after graduation?

Both degrees challenge me in different ways and the culture of both majors is very different. I feel like I am having a very holistic experience doing both majors. In computer science, everyone is very focused just on that, but in business, there is a lot more career diversity. In computer science you are thinking very logically and technically, but it is not strategy like it is in business with the cases we work on. Computer science is almost all theory. After graduation I would like to go into consulting or tech management.

Tell me about Loku, the start-up that you are involved in?

Loku is a website and a mobile app. Their moto is helping you live local and they aim to connect people with every local aspect of their community. It was started by a BHP alumnus and I heard about them my freshman year. They reached out to me and asked me to help them with their business development. I ran the sales team for a month, helped with user acquisition strategies, helped with the PR and social media, and much more. Being at a start-up you get to wear multiple hats. I learned so much that summer – from management to sales, to marketing, and even some engineering.

What is the Texas 4000 for Cancer and why did you get involved in it?

It is a group of about 70 students who bike from Austin to Alaska to raise money and awareness for cancer. We ride for 70 days, for a total of 4,500 miles. All proceeds go to cancer research at MD Anderson, and last year they raised $350,000. The non-profit has raised around $4 million since its inception in 2004. I really wanted to do something outside of the business school and learn more about non-profits. Leadership is stressed at McCombs, but this program has helped me learn how to really connect with people and be a better leader. The people in Texas 4000 have different ways of thinking, yet we all do it for a common cause. I think the program has helped me learn how to motivate people and connect with people on an emotional level.

What is your role in it this year and what are your personal goals related to it?

I am on the program committee, so I am the program lead. We host programs in every city we stop at along the way. We share information about why we are riding, cancer statistics, and encourage people in the local community to get cancer screenings. I am in charge of that programming. I train our riders on how to connect with people when presenting and be memorable. If more people get screened earlier and donate to the cause after hearing the program, I will feel we have been successful.

Every rider is required to raise a dollar for every mile we ride ($4,500), so we have all been reaching out to our friends, families and communities. Riders in the past have raised as much as $20,000. I would love for anyone who wants to donate to the cause to help support us. No amount is too small. Every day we share stories about how cancer has affected people, so people who donate whose life was impacted by cancer can let me know and I will share that with the group. My donation site is Bit.ly/donatetojay.

You have participated in multiple case competitions during your time here. Why do you enjoy doing them?

Case competitions are great because you get the chance to apply what you learn in the classroom to real life examples. It isn’t just about how strong of a solution you have, it is also about how well you can convey your ideas and how strong of a speaker you are. It is also a great creative outlet, where you can take what you learn and find new ways to apply that information to solve problems. I find it interesting to learn how companies critique ideas to help prepare for the workplace. Judges will ask certain questions that you never really thought about. It is also a great way to work with a team and learn more about your personal strengths and weaknesses.

written by Rachel Solomon

On Thursday, April 11, 2013, Accounting Professor William O’Hara and his wife, Beverly, took a group of 80 BHP students to Dave & Busters for a night of food, games, and bonding. After feasting on a delicious (and unlimited!) buffet of salad, chicken, salmon, rice, and an enormous plate of desserts, we rushed over to the arcade and started competing against each other in games of trivia, Dance Dance Revolution, and much more. Professor O’Hara challenged a group of students to a game of trivia and ended the night with a round of Doodle Jump on a giant screen.

As a small thank you to Professor O’Hara, we decided to follow the trend started by last year’s DWAP (Dinner With A Professor) attendees and pool our tickets together to win a giant teddy bear, musical tie, camcorder, and several other prizes for O’Hara.

While leaving Dave & Buster’s, I overheard many of my friends talking about how much fun it was to just be a kid again. Running around in an arcade and racing cars, throwing basketballs, and beating each other in air hockey was just the escape we needed from the stress of midterms, recruiting, and securing our summer plans. On behalf of everyone who attended the DWAP, we want to thank the O’Hara’s for providing us with the opportunity to relive our childhoods, if only for a couple of hours.

Undergraduate Business Council Awards

George Mitchell Business Leadership Award – Jacob Spangler ’15 & Dennis Thankachan ’14

This award recognizes students who have exhibited strong leadership within the McCombs School.

Barbara Jordan Business Leadership Award – Jeffrey Stevens ’13

This award recognizes outstanding seniors who have shown great initiative, strong leadership, and outstanding motivation through their activities within the McCombs School.

Texas BBA Program Awards

Outstanding Service Award – Michelle Moon ’14 & Christopher Schulze ’13

This award recognizes students who have made a significant contribution through dedicated service to the Texas BBA Program.

Student Leadership Award – Robert Belanger ’14 & UZ Zhan ’13

This award recognizes excellence in student leadership.

McCombs BBA/MPA Alumni Advisory Board Award

Rising Star Leadership Award – Jeffrey Stevens ’13

This award is presented to a graduating McCombs undergraduate or MPA student who has proven an established commitment to service within the McCombs School through outstanding scholarship and achievements, as well as exemplary leadership and community involvement. The recipient demonstrates significant growth potential as a future leader in the McCombs community.

You didn’t begin your career in the entertainment industry. Why did you decide to venture into it?

It was a progression. My first job was in New York City at Lehman Bros. When I was at UT, I minored in Classics and Art History, so I decided to take an internship with a museum on the weekends. I knew I loved both art and business, and soon realized that a better merge of the two disciplines actually existed in the entertainment industry. I decided to move to Dallas to work for Arthur Andersen’s Consulting arm, and started learning about the work we did for entertainment clients. I also volunteered with a Film Festival in Dallas during my spare time, and I loved it. My mentor suggested that I move to Los Angeles and work for a studio if I really wanted a career in the entertainment industry. A connection from the Dallas Film Festival helped me get my job in LA.  After 5 years in LA at Warner Bros. and Sony Pictures, I decided I wanted to move to London and I thought consulting would be a good way to put my core skills to use and develop as a Manager.  I got a job with Deloitte Consulting with the help of a strong referral from a friend I’d met back at Arthur Andersen training 6 years before. During those years that I was in LA and then in London, I continued to do projects with the people I had met through the Dallas Film Festival.  I produced some events for them and helped bring a few films to the festival. When I moved back to the States in 2010, I started FilmMatters with one of the women I’d been working with on and off for 10 years.

Tell me more a bit more about FilmMatters.

My friend Melina McKinnon and I started FilmMatters because we just love filmmakers that are trying to change the world for the better.  For years, we had both been counseling super passionate filmmakers who often had a nearly completed film but had no clue about distribution options or how to take that film through the system and actually achieve their desired impact. Sometimes they hadn’t even defined the impact they wanted so there’s your first problem. I think the root of a lot of missteps – especially for young filmmakers – is just a lack of education.  The film industry is deliberately opaque, so that’s not surprising.

Our team decided to put together panel discussions that deal with what we call “Movies with a Mission” and stated key goals “To educate, entertain and inspire”.  We bring in people like PBS execs, TV and Film Producers and Filmmakers ranging from novice, to Oscar nominated Directors to share their experiences and offer advice.  We just had our 3rd event last week at the Dallas International Film Festival and each one just gets better.

You have had many different types of roles in your career. What skill sets do you think have been most transferable?

I think the ability to listen and dig down into the detail to find the source of problems is one of the best skills I’ve honed and put to use in a variety of situations.  A lot of times you discover that a problem is people-related instead of process-related and if you want to fix something, you have to sell the person on “the new way” and make sure they are capable of doing it.  The other obvious one is project management and people management.  Last week one of our great interns thanked me for giving him context about what his tasks, which are fairly dry, would be used for. I had great managers along the way reinforce things like that.

How did your career changes come about? Were they intentional, or were they more related to opportunities that came your way?

They were all very intentional. I thought a lot about what I wanted to do next and I always had a through line in terms of my actions and goals.  Working at a bank, I realized I would be better in consulting, learning transferable skills. I wanted to understand the business of making films, so I moved to an entertainment company. At this point I had a team working for me, but not much skill at how to manage teams. I still wanted to work in the entertainment space, but I also wanted to learn to be a better manager, so I went back to consulting in the entertainment industry. That job was always going to be for a short period as an opportunity to transition. Once I had my first child, I wanted the ability to choose my projects and be involved in the creative side of the business.  By then I had built the reputation and skill sets I needed to do just that. Each move I made was because I wanted to round out my skill sets or work in a specific industry.

Which project or job have you enjoyed the most?

Working for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Really Useful Group” was possibly my favorite role. It was so intensely British. My job there was what I know how to do best. I was the jack of all trades project manager and I diagnosed problems and fixed them. Musical theater is like nothing else; you encounter very interesting, passionate personalities. I was the middle man between creative and business types, which I really enjoyed. Andrew Lloyd Webber was producing music for Phantom of the Opera 2 in the next room, so that was really amazing, and I got free tickets to all the shows!

What advice would you offer current students?

Do something in your spare time to learn more about an industry you enjoy. When I left Arthur Andersen it was 2001 and a manager I knew told me he didn’t understand why I would leave such a secure job on a wild hair. Three months later Enron exploded, and a lot changed for everyone at that firm.  If you aren’t enjoying what you are doing, don’t stay where you are just because you think it is a sure thing, because it may not be. Nothing is anymore.  Push yourself in that first job as hard as you did when you were a student. You are never going to have less responsibility than at the beginning of your career, so it is a great time to pour your energies into work and build a solid reputation. That said, set goals for yourself outside of work and don’t lose that other part of your life. Whether it be physical goals, travel plans, learning a new language, or something else, just don’t lose the other layers that make you fulfilled and stimulate you. In every job you do, if you see your boss’s job and don’t want that for yourself, then you are probably in the wrong place. As long as you know you are only there for a short period of time, it is okay, just make sure you know your exit strategy.  One of my greatest friends in BHP, Carrie Rippstein Show, sent me an email that first year of work when I was an analyst and absolutely in the thick of what felt like complete drudgery – long hours of detailed boring work.  Of course I now realize the skills I learned on that job were very important and helpful later, but none-the-less, it was a tough time.  The email included a quote that said, “He who masters the grey every day is a hero.” I really loved that line and it got me through some long afternoons.

They were three of only eight McCombs students to be honored with the awards, and were selected from a pool of 51 applicants. The awards will be given during the McCombs BBA Honors Convocation on Friday, April 12, where the school annually recognizes academic, teaching and leadership excellence.

BHP: You are involved in so much on campus. How do you manage all of your commitments?

JS: I am involved in things that I love to do. My activities don’t feel like commitments to me. I am excited to do as much as I can, so I just find a way to make time for whatever is on my plate. I have learned to be smart about what is involved with a commitment before signing on. Before each additional activity, I researched and asked people who were currently in the organizations about the time commitment. I know my limits and I have recognized what I can and cannot do.

BHP: You are in the Longhorn Band. What is it like playing at the football games and what has been your favorite part of being in the band?

JS: Longhorn Band is so much fun; I love serving as a member of such a wonderful organization. I get to see UT traditions and partake in something way bigger than me. Participating in a unique school culture has been such a treat that I know I wouldn’t have gotten at any other school. A particularly poignant memory for me is the Texas vs. OU weekend where I host my entire band section, all forty people, at my house. My friends in band have come to be my family, friends I know I’ll keep for life. Longhorn Band has come to define my college experience. I spend 9 hours over 3 nights a week, plus games, rehearsing: it is a lot of time, but so worth it. I also love being part of the games: football, along with volleyball and basketball, too.

BHP: What has been your favorite class so far?

JS: The Operations Management (OM) class taught by Edward Anderson I am currently taking has been my favorite class. I started this semester not knowing what I wanted to do, but from the very first class session, I knew I had a passion for the subject. I love the operational aspect behind consulting, the field I hope to enter after graduation, and feel this is a great route to get there. There is a science behind helping others find solutions to challenging situations, with never one correct answer. We looked at the restaurant, Benihana, in a case study. It was really interesting to study what the company’s strengths were and how it could use that to express its value proposition, while minimizing its costs.

BHP: You were a peer mentor for BHP this year. What is the best piece of advice you gave your mentees?

JS: I told them to calm down. BHP students are so motivated. It humbles me to be surrounded by such driven students, but I realized in working with them that they need to understand that they can handle the work, and that worrying about it isn’t going to help them. I told them they just need to be prepared and plan, but not spend their time stressing so much. I also reminded them that they don’t have to be perfect in everything, they just need to do what they love and it will all work out.

BHP: Are you doing an internship this summer?

JS: I am going to be working at ConocoPhillips in their supply chain area. I will be working in the procurement and exploration division, particularly in identifying new oil fields. I am taking a class on energy in modern America, which I think will apply to what I’ll be doing this summer. Energy is a hot topic right now, so I am excited to see its applications to industry. I found the internship through OCR and Conoco was so good to me when I interviewed that it made it easy to decide to take the internship.

BHP: Over the break you volunteered with a group of students in Ghana. Tell me more about that.

JS: I went with Global Brigades, a nonprofit microfinance program. There were 40 students from UT who went, and started a community bank. Most community members lived off of about $1 a day. We taught them some basic skills, but they taught us so much more. My experience made me appreciate what I have. The people were so wise and kindhearted. I can’t wait to go back; I plan to visit again next December and help with some of the program’s other initiatives. One key takeaway was the importance of school, that it is such a precious resource that we take for granted. It shouldn’t be a chore; rather, it should be an avenue we take advantage of through which we achieve our goals.

BHP: Do you have a favorite activity that you like to do in Austin?

JS: I like to go to the Master Pancake shows at the Alamo Drafthouse. I think they are hysterical. I also involve myself with Rec Sports whenever possible, and love going to eat on South Congress, especially at the trailers.

BHP: Do you have any goals for the rest of your time here at UT?

JS: I feel like I have already done a lot, and am grateful to the UT community for making that possible. BHP offers so many avenues for involvement. I would like to help coordinate an event for BHP like Discover BHP. I had such a great experience at Discover BHP and really fell in love with the program during that event. I would love to get more involved in tutoring, so that I may give back to the future generations of the campus community. I want to help make learning fun and help students be more excited about school.