For Charlie Carrasquillo, a sophomore studying Canfield BHP, Finance, and Media & Entertainment Industry at UT Austin, joining Canfield BHP wasn’t just about academics—it was about finding a sense of belonging. Growing up in San Antonio, his parents were his biggest supporters, encouraging him to apply and go for it. But it was a brief, impactful connection with Canfield BHP senior Diego Robbins that sealed the deal. “We didn’t know each other that well,” Charlie admits, “but he made me feel like I had someone in my corner before I even got to UT.” That small gesture meant a lot—and ultimately set the tone for the welcoming, tight-knit community Charlie would find in the program.
Outside the classroom, Charlie is involved in Consult Your Community (CYC), Texas Blazers, Texas Travesty and Latinx Community Affairs (LCA). Through CYC, he works with local small businesses which remind him of his own family members who have tried their hand at entrepreneurship. He enjoys helping other small businesses succeed. He’s also a member of the Texas Blazers, where he’s been part of efforts to raise funds and deliver care packages to residents of elder care homes with dementia. As Special Events Co-Chair for Latinx Community Affairs, Charlie helped plan a bilingual graduation ceremony designed to honor both students and their families. “It’s about making sure your loved ones can understand and celebrate what you’ve achieved, even if English isn’t their first language.” Creativity and humor is an important component of Charlie’s college experience. Charlie has been with Texas Travesty since his freshman year. He finds it a good outlet and a good community outside of McCombs. Now an editor, he plays a role in shaping the publication’s creative direction and finding humor in everyday student life.
Professionally, Charlie’s journey has been shaped by curiosity and meaningful connections. The summer after his freshman year he interned at JW Marriott. There, Charlie analyzed ways to cut costs, and presented findings to hotel executives. While the experience gave him new confidence in his ability to work with professionals, it also clarified something important: he didn’t want to work in the hotel industry long-term. He felt good about making an impact but realized this industry was not for him. Looking for something new, he was mock interviewing Neil Thakkar, a sophomore in Canfield BHP, who landed an internship with KPMG, Charlie decided to look into the firm himself. He joined KPMG’s Inspire to Hire program, a virtual mentorship experience that helped him build relationships and earn a referral. After rounds of interviews and connecting with partners, he got an offer in KPMG’s San Francisco office as an Embark Scholar Intern. This summer, he’ll be working with clients across private equity, biotech, and startup sectors.
Inside the classroom, Charlie found that Canfield BHP wasn’t just rigorous—it was deeply personal and engaging. A standout moment for him was taking MAN 336 H abroad in Copenhagen with Professor Tom Rauzi. Rather than just lecturing content, he told stories from his diverse industry experience “honestly—he laughed at all my jokes, which helped a lot.” In addition to that, being abroad in Copenhagen helped a lot with his imposter syndrome. Charlie admits to feeling anxious for a lot of freshman year and worrying about classes, interviews, and internships. But being in Denmark helped him reset. “It forced me to be fully present” and he came back with a calmer mindset about school, recruiting, and life.”
Looking ahead, Charlie sees himself working in consulting, with an eventual pivot into the media and entertainment industry working in strategy, ideally in Los Angeles. His Media & Entertainment Industry minor is helping him explore that direction. Conversations with other students in Canfield BHP encouraged him to explore non-traditional Business pathways.
If there’s one thing he wants future Canfield BHP students to remember, it’s this: “If you don’t get into a big organization or club right away, it’s not the end of the world,” he says. “I stressed so much about that freshman year.” But the truth is, there’s no one path to success. Find what you love and go from there. Reflecting on his journey, Charlie says Canfield BHP has expanded his worldview. Coming to Austin and meeting people from all over exposed him to people with different perspectives and backgrounds.