Austen Jeter, MBA ’20, was recently named McCombs Dallas Alumni Chapter Leader
Growing up in Dallas, Austen Jeter developed a deep love for his Texas roots. Aside from a short –stint as an undergraduate student at The University of Kansas, he has called the great state his home. Returning to Texas to pursue his MBA was one of the best, and easiest, decisions he says he has ever made. Now back in Dallas, he is giving back to McCombs as a newly appointed Dallas-area McCombs alumni chapter leader.
Q: Tell us about yourself. Why did you choose McCombs?
A: The decision to attend McCombs was an easy one for me. When I set out to apply for MBA programs, I did a lot of soul searching on what I wanted out of my degree and ultimately settled on three things: First, I wanted a school with a strong network; second, I wanted a competitive yet not cutthroat culture; and third, I wanted a program that was well-respected. McCombs offered all three of these in spades.
After graduation I moved back to Dallas with my wife, Meredith, to start a family and restart my professional career. We now have two kids, Zoe, 3, and Hudson, 1, a dog, and a cat. You can find me on the Northaven Trail, at Home Depot, or lounging in the backyard.
Q: What organizations were you part of while at McCombs, and what leadership roles did you hold?
A: I spent most of my time with two organizations at McCombs – the Graduate Business Council (GBC) and the Partners Club. Within the GBC I was elected as the VP of Finance, which meant I was responsible for all the money the GBC raised and disbursed. We hosted the tailgates in front of Rowling Hall, put on formal dances, and managed the lockers in the building.
The Partners Club is focused on helping integrate the partners of students into the McCombs experience. Students at McCombs had the benefit of spending the day in the classroom meeting and interacting with new friends, while their partners were often left out of that experience. It was important to me to help create a place for them to meet other partners and students, discuss life as part of Cohort 5, and have a safe space where subjects like recruiting, strategy, or investments weren’t the sole topics of conversation.
Q: Do you have a McCombs memory you’d like to share?
A: My favorite time at McCombs was the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) Patagonia leadership course. The Center for Leadership and Ethics worked with NOLS to create a 10-day program where students hike through the backcountry of southern Chile while developing and practicing leadership skills.
We crossed rivers, climbed overpasses, and survived the famously unpredictable weather of Patagonia with only minor injuries. I returned from the trip with a better understanding of leadership principles and a renewed sense of calm and confidence that I would be able to conquer whatever challenges lie ahead.
Q: Tell us about your professional career and how you got here.
A: I started my career as an accountant at a healthcare company in the Dallas area, United Surgical Partners International. After a few years I realized that I was more interested in understanding the decisions that went into the numbers on the page, so I moved into a financial analyst role at another healthcare company, Cardinal Health.
At Cardinal I was more exposed to the management team and had a seat at the table to model out the financial impact that executive decisions had on the company. That exposure to management made me realize how interested I was in strengthening my own leadership abilities.
From there, the choice of getting an MBA and where to get it was easy. Today, I’m in Growth and Analytics at Intuitive Health. The skills and practice I got at McCombs have been instrumental in my continued professional success.
Q: What induced you to become a Chapter leader?
A: One of my favorite things from my time at McCombs was the sense of community present on campus. I loved getting to meet new people and make connections with others in my network. When I graduated in 2020, community felt like something I had taken for granted in the past.
Between COVID and having a newborn, I was fairly locked down. Becoming part of the Dallas Chapter Board has been a great way for me to build that sense of community with the school again and to build new connections in Dallas. After a year or so of board membership, I put my name forward to lead the chapter in the coming year.
I know I have my work cut out for me, but I am dedicated to rebuilding a great group here in Dallas. Whether it is making a helpful connection between Longhorns or providing a way for us to sustain relationship with the school, I am enthusiastic about the challenges ahead.
Q: Can you please share your goals and objectives you have for your chapter while you are at the helm?
A: My goals for 2024 boil down to maintaining the momentum and consistency of this past year while increasing scale and participation. Dallas has innumerable Longhorns who want to get connected and engaged – my goal is simply to make that happen. To that end I’m hoping to accomplish four main objectives through our events this year:
- Help people get jobs by offering a place for networking and mentorship.
- Build a stronger connection with the school and what’s happening on campus.
- Give back to the community to build the brand of McCombs in the local area.
- Have some fun!
Q: Is there anything you’d like to share with future chapter leaders?
A: Ask for help when you need it. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting so many people and they always say the same thing: “Let me know how I can help.” It’s something that I struggle with personally, but I’m working on it!
