Lillian Chang

Like many Canfield BHP students, Lillian Chang is used to the Texas summer heat. But for just over five weeks in June and July, Lillian received a brief reprieve from triple digit temperatures in the form of a study abroad program in Copenhagen, Denmark, with 30 of her Canfield BHPeers. While abroad, Lillian explored Copenhagen on walks and bike rides, visited historical landmarks with friends, and gained deeper insights into the cultural differences between the United States and Denmark.

Read on to learn more about Lillian’s study abroad experience in Copenhagen!

1.) Why did you decide to study abroad in Copenhagen with your Canfield BHP peers?

I decided to study abroad in Copenhagen because I wanted to explore a new city and see what one possibility of life outside the U.S. is like. As a born-and-raised Texan, I grew up in a singular culture. The idea of leaving the country for more than a month was intimidating, but I decided to go and be open to a new experience.

2.) What did a typical day in Copenhagen look like for you?

A typical day in Copenhagen started with feeling like I was late because the sun was already glaring through the windows at 7 A.M. However, I enjoyed the long days, and it felt like you could fit a thousand activities into each day. Each day was different, but here is a rough outline of what a lot of days entailed:

1. Morning run – These were so peaceful, and I got to experience the quiet city before everybody woke up and started their day
2. Breakfast – I am now a master at fried eggs
3. School – We took a management class and an international business class for 4-8 hours per day
4. Lunch – One of my favorite places was Fresh Bagel, and, hence the name, they had AMAZING fresh bagel sandwiches
5. Explore – Copenhagen has a lot of great attractions, and Google’s suggestions also came in handy when I was looking for somewhere to go

3.) What was the biggest difference between your life in Denmark and your life in the U.S.?

In terms of lifestyle, I enjoyed that Denmark has a large biking and walking infrastructure. Biking took some getting used to, but it was usually faster to get somewhere on a bike than a train, bus, or car. The difference that I noticed the most was the norms of Danish culture in contrast to American culture. For example, anywhere we went, we were always the loudest ones. In America, I guess people are used to shouting over one another because every time there was a pause in our conversation, the volume level went down by about 200%. Also, I heard that the Danish people are trusting, but I did not fully believe it until I saw for myself that people will leave their strollers with babies outside while they run quick errands.

4.) What was your favorite part of your study abroad experience?

As I am currently taking shelter in the A.C. because of triple-digit Texas temperatures, the first thing that comes to mind is the weather. Copenhagen was always in the high 60 to low 70-degree range, and that is the aspect that I am currently missing the most. Aside from being able to go outside and not immediately breaking out into a sweat, I miss the feeling of exploring the unknown. Every corner I turned in Copenhagen held something new, whether it was a small boutique, a vibey café, or a huge palace. Towards the end of the trip, I thought I got to know the city well, but even then, I would go for a walk and notice a new building that I had not seen before.

5.) What was the biggest lesson you learned from studying abroad?

I learned that it is important to make the most of what you have in the present moment. Before I went to Europe, I was bouncing off the walls excited to live my European life. When I got to Denmark, I was still excited, but I also missed my family and friends and some of the places I used to go to all the time. After I got to the U.S., I found myself missing spontaneous walks around Copenhagen and the apartment that we lived in. Spending time longing for the past takes away from the joy in the present, and since being back home, I have put more effort into spending time with the people around me and appreciating the smaller blessings I have been given.

6.) How do you think your study abroad experience ties into your future goals?

My study abroad experience helped me realize that not everybody is coming from the same place and one decision that I think is a no-brainer could be a no-brainer in the complete opposite direction for someone else. In our management class, we learned about psychological safety (not having to worry about judgment if you say something incorrect), and I think this concept is important to foster, especially because the “right thing” is not the same for everyone. The workplace facilitates the coming together of people from many different backgrounds. I will need to seek to understand others’ perspectives and vice versa in order to work together effectively.

Kutay Gokcen

Kutay Gokcen’s first two years in Canfield BHP have been a formative experience, allowing him to take part in career development events and build meaningful relationships with alumni. Kutay’s experience helped him realize that management consulting was the right path for him, and this past year, he successfully applied for Boston Consulting Group’s (BCG) Growing Future Leaders internship program.

Read on to learn more about Kutay’s BCG summer internship experience and his advice for Canfield BHP underclassmen searching for internships!

1.) How has your time in Canfield BHP and McCombs helped you explore your career interests?

Canfield BHP and McCombs have been instrumental in my career exploration. Coming into college, I had no clue what career I wanted to pursue. Through the Breaking into Consulting session provided by McCombs, one-to-one chats I had with supportive and engaged Canfield BHP alumni, and corporate leadership development programs, I came to the realization that management consulting would be a good fit for me by the end of my freshman year.

2.) How did you become interested in BCG’s internship program, and what did the application process involve?

Once I determined that I wanted to pursue consulting, BCG’s Growing Future Leaders program came to the forefront of sophomore internship programs. Chatting with upperclassmen who went through the recruiting process and internship helped me gain invaluable insights about what the actual experience would entail. The application process was fairly typical—starting with a resume/cover letter submission, then a first round “fit” interview and online case, followed by a decision round of two back-to-back interviews.

3.) What does a typical day at BCG look like for you?

It’s hard to say what a typical day looks like since every day can be so different, but here’s an example of what many of my busier days have looked like. Keep in mind that it also varies greatly from case to case.

• 8:30am: Arrive at office, get settled, and individually prioritize tasks
• 9:00am – 9:30am: Check in with project leader for case updates and discuss tasks for the day
• 10:30am – 11:15am: Client working group meeting
• 12:30pm – 1:15pm: Lunch with other interns
• 3:30pm – 4:15pm: Case Team Meeting with MDPs
• 5:00pm – 5:30pm: Check with project leader to discuss what was done during the day and what needs to be done before next day
• 6:00pm – 8:00pm: Personal time (getting home, eating dinner, working out, etc.)
• 8:00pm – 9:45pm: Back online to wrap up tasks for the day

All unblocked time is spent doing individual work (e.g. preparing slide decks for client/case team meetings, Excel modeling, optimizing Alteryx workflows, etc.).

4.) What has been your biggest takeaway from your internship?

My biggest takeaway from this internship has been how essential it is to develop strong time management and task prioritization skills. Observing full-timers with years of experience, it was initially shocking to me how many of them have families and time-consuming hobbies 

5.) What are your plans moving forward? Will you stay on a consulting path?

Yes, I was already pretty set on consulting as a career path before this summer, and this internship solidified in my mind that I want to pursue it full-time (at least for the first few years upon graduation!). I still want to get an MBA, and I really have no clue what I’ll be doing after that…

6.) What advice do you have for Canfield BHP underclassmen searching for summer internships?

Utilize Canfield BHP’s alumni network and all the resources that this program has to offer. My conversations with Canfield BHP alumni were often the most meaningful in my career exploration and recruitment efforts. We’re super lucky to have such an intimate, diverse, and engaged alumni network, yet few students develop relationships that could prove to be invaluable in professional endeavors.

Aidan Christensen

For rising sophomore Aidan Christensen, Canfield BHP is all about the community. While he has yet to firmly decide on a career path, Aidan knows the friends he has made in the program–whether through studying abroad or getting involved in a finance organization–will help him achieve his career goals. In today’s blog post, we asked him to reflect on how this community has helped him in his professional development. 

Read on to learn more about Aidan’s career aspirations!

As a UT student, how have you gotten involved on campus this past year to pursue your goals?

Over the course of my freshman year, I have made sure to take advantage of the countless opportunities offered to me through events like organization fairs and tabling at the beginning of each semester. Through these, I was able to learn about the Philanthropy Investment Team (PIT), a finance organization where I currently serve as a senior analyst. PIT is a subsidiary within the University Securities Investment Team, and I cannot explain how much I’ve learned through only one year of being a part of it. I love PIT so much because through its curriculum, I’ve learned concepts ranging from accounting to being able to calculate how much impact a charity has made on the world. With the things I’ve taken away just from my freshman year in this organization, I look forward to the chance of working in consulting or private equity.

What type of career are you interested in?

I am interested mainly in a career in consulting. I love the idea of being able to work on a variety of cases that may require different skills and knowledge for each, as I’m the type of person who likes constantly being on the go, trying new things, and learning as much as possible. The aspect of working with people and meeting personalities that span all across the board is also very intriguing for me. I love collaborating with people, and I believe every new person I meet opens up countless doors of opportunity. 

How has Canfield BHP helped guide you toward meeting your career goals?  

Being in Canfield BHP has helped guide me in so many ways, but especially when it comes to figuring out how I want to spend my life after my undergraduate experience. I would say the people in Canfield BHP have contributed the most impact towards meeting my career goals thus far. A program with students from all over the nation is bound to create lasting friendships, but it’s the opportunities and uplifting culture that these students bring that truly has left the most impact on me. I have my Canfield BHP friends to thank for most of the opportunities in my life today.

What is your favorite memory with your Canfield BHP community?

While retreat is a top contender, I would say my favorite memory with my Canfield BHP community is actually happening right now on my study abroad trip in Copenhagen. Through these past few weeks, I have gotten so much closer with my Canfield BHP peers and friends, and it’s thanks to the countless coffee trips, dinner dates, and study sessions. I think you really get to know people when you live with them, and I have gotten to know everyone on a personal level, which has made for tight-knit bonds that I hope will last for a long time. I will say, going to karaoke with my friends here has been a stand out moment as now I finally know everyone’s go-to song.

What do you hope to accomplish on the Forty Acres for the next three years?

For these next three years, I hope to do more for the LGBTQ+ community, but specifically for McCombs and particularly Canfield BHP. Throughout my freshman year, I felt that there were not a lot of resources for Queer Business students. I want more light shined on LGBTQ recruiting events and conferences for business students, and my ultimate goal is to start a queer committee within the program. I want future students, especially in Canfield BHP, to feel seen and heard within the business field, as it can be a daunting environment at times. If I can provide a plethora of resources, and uplift the voices of future queer students/professionals working in business, then I’ll be perfectly content with what I accomplished on the Forty Acres.

If you would like to learn more about the Canfield BHP LGBTQ+ Affinity Group or LGBTQ+ resources at McCombs, please feel free to contact us.