Category Archives: Student Profiles

John Mark Grant

John Mark Grant is a Class of 2024 student majoring in the Canfield Business Honors Program (Canfield BHP) and Finance, with two minors Management Information Systems and French. John Mark grew up in Tyler, Texas, a small town in East Texas, before coming to UT. Reflecting back as the current Undergraduate Business Council (UBC) President, John Mark believes UBC has been a pivotal part of his college experience.

The Undergraduate Business Council (UBC) at the McCombs School of Business unifies students and faculty to strengthen the UT community, leads initiatives for positive change, and represents student interests for an engaging campus life experience. John Mark began his journey in UBC when he was elected into the organization by the McCombs student body. He saw UBC as a place for tangible action, and he could “use this space to make sure [my peers’] voices are heard.”

Since joining the organization, John Mark has taken on a variety of leadership roles, beginning as the Faculty Relations Committee Chair in his sophomore year. In this role, he spearheaded initiatives like Faculty Relations Week, where students and faculty got to make meaningful connections outside the classroom. John Mark felt especially proud of how his peers wrote letters to express appreciation for their professors through the event.

In his junior year, John Mark served as the Community Service Chair to ensure McCombs students could serve where possible. However, the pinnacle of his UBC experience was his senior year, where John Mark led the organization as President. The role was a learning process as John Mark navigated through various uncertainties and turbulent times. Through it all, he remained committed to amplifying student voices and opinions through avenues such as engaging with faculty heads and deans. Ultimately, John Mark learned a lot about himself as he steered tough situations, all while becoming a better leader who listens and “turns people’s voices into action.”

Reflecting upon his tenure as President, John Mark is extremely proud of UBC’s significant accomplishments, everything from hosting the CEO of Citadel to taking students to visit company offices in New York. He also found fulfillment in the tight-knit personal connections in UBC, both with old friends and new members who joined the organization. These friendships spill over into his academic and professional life, allowing John Mark to feel a greater sense of belonging in Canfield BHP and the greater McCombs community. Additionally, John Mark takes pride in seeing the growth of new leaders within UBC, which is most evident in how they give back to the community.

To celebrate John Mark’s contribution to UBC, McCombs, and UT at large, he was recently recognized with the President of the Year award. This honor came from the Senate of College Councils, a student legislative body comprising of all campus college councils.

As someone who has contributed significantly to the McCombs community, John Mark shares invaluable advice on how to make an impact. He emphasizes the importance of making your voice heard, acknowledging that it is easy to get lost in the minutiae of college life and feel burnout. John Mark encourages individuals to empower themselves and rise up with their peers, recognizing the collective power in effectuating lasting change. Moreover, he stresses the significance of building a support system amongst peers and not hesitating to reach out to staff and faculty, as they genuinely want the best for students. Ultimately, John Mark underscores that everything starts with you — speaking up courageously is what sparks advocacy.

When asked to describe the Undergraduate Business Council in three words, John Mark took a moment to ponder, before finally settling on “empowering, communal, and gratifying.”

Rishi Menon

Rishi Menon is a Class of 2027 student majoring in the Canfield Business Honors Program (Canfield BHP). Currently, he is also considering majoring in Management Information Systems and Mathematics as well as a minor in the language Malayalam. As an out-of-state student from Naperville, Illinois, Rishi came to UT in search of tight-knit communities and genuine human connections. In both Texas Talaash and Canfield BHP, Rishi has found many like-minded peers and inspiring mentors.

Texas Talaash is a competitive male Bollywood fusion dance team that combines Bhangra, hip hop, Kuthu, and contemporary styles. Alongside around 150 teams across the nation, Talaash is a part of the Desi Dance Network that hosts nationwide competitions. Every team puts on a theme-based performance that narrates a story. This year, Talaash’s theme is zombie infection – through their choreography, production, and acting, dancers transform into heroes who must prevent the apocalypse before it’s too late.

Before joining Talaash, Rishi only danced casually during his high school senior year. By participating in a school-wide competition and performing at graduation parties, Rishi was first exposed to dance. This initial spark soon transformed into something much greater after he learned about the Talaash, however. “It was just a cool community that I wanted to be a part of.” Rishi describes.

Talaash is a significant time commitment. Beginning with practicing three times a week for four hours per day, the intensity increases to five times a week for six hours every day as the number of competitions ramps up. While his dedication to Talaash means sacrificing time for his professional and social life, Rishi is learning the important lesson of finding balance. Moreover, through countless hours of practicing, traveling, and competing together, Talaash became more of a brotherhood than a dance team. As he develops his passion for dance, Rishi has also developed trust and dependability in his 30-plus fellow members.

Additionally, his time in Talaash has also given Rishi many unforgettable memories. The team won first place, in Cleveland, Ohio, and more competitions are on the horizon throughout the rest of the spring semester. Beyond competitive placements, many highlights on the dance team lie in spontaneous social outings. Rishi greatly enjoys seeing his teammates outside of the context of dancing and getting to know them through events such as bake-offs.

When reflecting on the lessons he learned through dance, Rishi emphasizes the importance of helping others and accepting one’s imperfections. Many logistical tasks need completion for Talaash to run smoothly, and Rishi has begun to help out upperclassmen with the little things to ensure they do not feel overwhelmed. Such proactivity can go a long way, and Rishi has also implemented this perspective in his other student organizations. On the other hand, having little experience, Rishi initially found it scary to perform in front of everyone else. However, after internalizing that his peers in Talaash only want to see his growth and success, he found it much easier to get past his fearful mindset. Moving on, Rishi also hopes to prioritize fostering an environment in which everyone can feel safe to try new things even if they are not confident.

Beyond Talaash, Rishi is also very thankful for the community he found in Canfield BHP, as the program gave him an immediate community of friends. This was especially valuable for Rishi as an out-of-state student, who did not know many people coming into UT. Additionally, upperclassmen in the program are very supportive in helping Rishi define his career goals.

In the future, Rishi hopes to get more involved at UT by finding additional communities, whether it be professional or social organizations. He is excited about the prospect of meeting more people with different interests and majors to develop strong relationships with them. Rishi will prioritize interest and fun in his new organizations, as he believes that is much more beneficial than dedicating time only toward professional development.

In terms of Talaash, Rishi plans to continue being involved throughout his college career, and he may run for captain eventually. Regardless of his decision, Rishi knows that his Talaash family will always be by his side.

You can watch Rishi’s performance through this link.

Helen Getachew

Helen Getachew is a Class of 2025 student majoring in the Canfield Business Honors Program (Canfield BHP), Finance, and Government. Originally from Dallas, Texas, Helen initially found the large campus environment at UT intimidating. Very soon, however, she found communities in Student Government, Canfield BHP, and other campus involvements, igniting her passion for helping others find their place on campus. On March 27th, 2024, Helen will be speaking at the university-wide Women’s History Month Celebration.

Starting from her freshman year, Helen has been heavily involved with the UT Student Government. Beginning as a staff, she then ascended into a representative role. In her junior year, Helen was elected to the 2023-2024 UT Student Body, which was one of the most memorable highlights of her time at UT. Reflecting on the experience, Helen describes it as how all her efforts and dedication “culminate into people believing in [her] enough” to choose her to be the change for the university.

Her time as President has been transformative, where she learned about various university resources and implemented grand visions. Additionally, she learned to understand education from a higher level, allowing her to empathize with both students and the administration to be a better advocate. Helen describes being President as labor-intensive but rewarding, where she got to apply many business management skills to the role. For instance, Helen emphasizes the importance of flexibility and optimism for adapting to changing plans, as long as she can still serve the ultimate purpose of benefitting the student body.

As someone with significant campus involvement outside of the business academic circle, Helen suggests that other students can also look toward different parts of campus. By joining organizations in which they have a genuine interest, students can find their community while meeting people of diverse backgrounds.

Still, Helen greatly appreciates all the support from McCombs and Canfield BHP. As a sophomore transfer into Canfield BHP, Helen quickly formed tight-knit relationships within the program by attending similar classes and events. Additionally, Helen was able to open up much more easily with the personable advisers in the Canfield BHP office. Ultimately, this community helped Helen in navigating both internal conflicts and the larger McCombs environment.

Recently, Helen was invited to speak at the university-wide Women’s History Month Celebration, an event that honors the many women at UT who have made a positive impact on campus and beyond. For her speech, Helen will discuss what UT has meant for her as a first-generation student from a low-income background and as a woman of color. Diving into her personal journey of navigating the university, Helen will touch on everything from her imposter syndrome to her involvement in different student organizations. Helen hopes that her unique story of finding her place and voice can inspire others to do the same.

In terms of careers, Helen’s time at UT and in Canfield BHP have laid a solid foundation for her goal of working in the intersection of finance and government. Through opportunities from interning at a private equity firm for impact investing to working at the Texas Capital on advocacy policy, Helen has expanded her relevant knowledge and skills. Looking toward the future, Helen hopes to find a specific career that merges her interests and passions.

Reflecting upon her time at UT, Helen characterizes her time as overwhelming but exciting. She shares her foundational belief that everyone has a place on campus, whether it be in an academic or extracurricular setting. The campus space is truly what one makes of it, and finding community is of the utmost importance. As a woman of color, Helen has found herself in times of self-doubt. However, finding her people helped her overcome these negative sentiments, and she is now able to utilize these communities to help others carve their unique paths to success.

Monica Villarreal

Monica Villarreal is a Class of 2024 student majoring in Canfield Business Honors and Management Information Systems with a minor in Accounting. Growing up in Harlingen, Texas in the Rio Grande Valley, Monica developed her commitment to giving back. Throughout her time at UT, Monica has combined her impact-oriented perspective with her passion for traveling to take advantage of various international opportunities. As she embarks on journeys worldwide, Monica also journals daily on her trips – a four-year-old habit that immortalizes her vibrant memories.

Her college international experiences began the summer after her sophomore year when she interned in Querétaro, Mexico as a User Experience Designer. Even though she visits Mexico for family frequently, this was a drastically different experience, as it was Monica’s first time working in a foreign country and experiencing the workplace culture. Beyond building tangible skills such as constructing websites with Figma, this internship helped Monica realize her passion for learning Spanish and connecting with her heritage.

Eager to further explore, Monica studied abroad in Bilbao, Spain at the University of Deusto during the spring semester of her junior year. In Spain, Monica took International Business and Cross-Cultural Communication courses, all while practicing her Spanish skills. This five-month period was highly formative for Monica, as the independence of living alone gave her immense courage. Despite the initial stress and fear, she learned to trust and rely on herself.

The pinnacle of her global adventures came during her junior summer in Oaxaca, Mexico, as part of the UT Global Career Launch program. In Oaxaca, Monica consulted for DAVA Artisanal Footwear Co., a group of indigenous Zapotec artisans making contemporary footwear inspired by ancient designs. Working alongside UT students from diverse majors, Monica helped the business develop various solutions regarding scaling production and quality control. Learning to become more empathetic and flexible by adapting her knowledge of business practices with the local perspective, Monica believed her junior summer experience was the “most impactful thing [she has] ever done.” Additionally, Monica also had the opportunity to live closely with an indigenous family and absorbed the vibrant Oaxacan culture. This experience was also instrumental in helping Monica realize that she does not want to work in a traditional corporate job – instead, she much preferred the impact-oriented environment.

Post graduation, Monica will be on the road again through two other Global Career Launch programs. First, she will work in Mindo, Ecuador for six weeks with an association of artisan panela (a type of sugar) producers seeking support to expand their distribution channels. Next, Monica will travel to Hiroshima, Japan, to support an AI image sensory technology startup with marketing for a few months.

Reflecting upon her college experience, Monica believes that the Canfield Business Honors Program has been extremely beneficial in supporting her academic and professional ambitions. Monica says she has found a family in Canfield BHP filled with great friends and helpful academic advisers.

Monica emphasizes the value of studying and working abroad. Additionally, she wants students to do their best to enjoy their time in college, saying that “it is easy to get lost in trying to do well for your career and academics, but it is the journey that matters.”