Category Archives: Student Profiles

Gabe Acevedo

On paper, Junior Gabe Acevedo is a Canfield Business Honors major with plans to double major in finance. But when he’s not in the McCombs School of Business studying, you might find him recording music in a studio or performing at live music venues across Austin. As the rhythm guitarist for West 22nd, an upstart band made up of five UT Austin students, Gabe has spent the past year pursuing his passion for both business and music.

Gabe came into college wanting to start a band after attending a small sports-oriented high school in Atlanta. In fact, one of the reasons he picked UT was Austin’s reputation as a vibrant music city with large events like South by Southwest as well as many smaller live music venues. During his freshman year, Gabe focused extensively on singing, playing his guitar, and songwriting, and he played at open mic nights to meet other people in the local live music scene. From these open mic nights, Gabe met another student from the Atlanta area, Logan Madsen, who became West 22nd’s lead singer.

During the summer after their freshman year, Gabe and Logan spent time riffing off the top of their heads, writing lyrics, and developing chord progressions. By August, Gabe and his friends had filled out the remaining positions for their band, and they created a name—West 22nd—based on the street they all lived on during their freshman year. Then, by promoting West 22nd on social media, the band started to take off and become a regular presence around the UT Austin campus. Fast forward to today, and West 22nd has recently released an original single, Sunburns, and an EP, All the Way Home. The songs are now available on major streaming platforms, such as Spotify and Apple Music, which was a major goal the members of West 22nd had originally set for themselves.

Gabe says you can find West 22nd performing anywhere there is a crowd that wants to hear live music, so the band has played at fraternity events, philanthropy shows, South by Southwest, and 4th Street. West 22nd has also traveled to College Station and Oklahoma to perform. One of Gabe’s favorite West 22nd memories is performing in front of the famous UT Tower as the opener for Remi Wolf during Forty Acres Fest. West 22nd had won the opportunity to open for Wolf after successfully performing in UT Austin’s Battle of the Bands, and Gabe enjoyed this chance to blend his passion for music with his identity as a UT Austin student by performing in front of the tower. 

While Gabe has been pursuing his musical goals, he has appreciated the support of the Canfield BHP program, which allows him to explore his dual passions for business and music. Gabe said Canfield BHP is the reason he ultimately decided to commit to UT Austin, and he enjoys the tight-knit community. From the Canfield BHP advisors helping him build out his degree plan to Mr. Phil Canfield ‘89 and Mrs. Mary Beth Canfield hosting Gabe and other students for dinner at their home, the personalized attention has made Gabe feel right at home.

As for the future, Gabe has ambitious goals for the band but is also focused on finishing his degrees and graduating from UT Austin. In five years, Gabe said he would love for West 22nd to sign a record deal and go on tour across the country during the summer. In the meantime, Gabe is concentrating on making new music with his bandmates, completing his coursework, and exploring the entrepreneurial aspects of his band. In particular, Gabe likes being involved in the marketing and finances associated with West 22nd. 

Even with all these goals, Gabe says West 22nd tries to live in the moment, and the band takes things one week at a time. Wherever Gabe and West 22nd go, his Canfield BHP community will be there cheering him on! 

Cassandra Guzman

During the school week, you’ll likely find Canfield BHP sophomore Cassandra Guzman working and studying for her business classes. But come Saturday, her focus turns to Darrell K. Royal Memorial Stadium and, more specifically, her responsibilities as a member of the UT Longhorn Band (LHB). Through several hours of practicing and performing, Cassandra has made great memories on and off the field with her bandmates, and she loves LHB’s tight-knit community.

Read on to learn more about Cassandra’s experience in LHB and Canfield BHP!

1.) How did you become involved in the UT Longhorn Band?

I have been involved in the Longhorn Band since my first semester of college. I heard about LHB when I was still in high school. I had a friend who had graduated and told me to audition, so I auditioned the week before my first semester in college. We had to send an audition video for the first round in May, and if we passed, we were invited to attend Band Week (a week before college starts) to audition. I’ve been in LHB since!

2.) What does a typical week look like as a member of the UT Longhorn Band?

A typical week as a member of LHB involves lots of rehearsing. We have rehearsal every Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Along with that, Saturdays are for game days, so if we have a morning game, we have to be up and ready by 7 a.m. on Saturday; if the game is at night, we usually have to be ready by 10 a.m.! 

3.) What’s your favorite memory from the marching band?

My favorite memory from LHB was traveling to the Cotton Bowl Stadium for the 49-0 vs. OU game! The energy in that stadium was exhilarating, and I have never been to a football game where it felt SO good to win. In addition to the actual game, the saxes have their own traditions for OU weekend, which involves eating dinner together, staying in our own Airbnb, and getting to know each other better. It was a great bonding experience for the section and one of my favorite memories!

4.) What are some of the major takeaways/lessons you have learned from being a part of the UT Longhorn Band, and how does this experience tie into your broader goals?

One of the major lessons I have learned through LHB has definitely been time management. Of course, with such a busy schedule, you learn to get most things done before game days and to give yourself enough time to practice as well. Furthermore, LHB has taught me to pursue what I love, which has been to continue to play my instrument.  And the last major lesson that LHB has taught me is to appreciate my community and those around me. I know that I can depend on those in my section for anything that I need, and I will always do the same for them!

5.) In addition to your UT Longhorn Band community, how has your Canfield BHP community helped shape your college experience?

The Canfield BHP community has helped shape my college experience by teaching me to be more independent and disciplined with my studies. Additionally, it has shaped my experience by providing many opportunities that are worth attending, like networking opportunities and Canfield BHP events. Canfield BHP has helped me explore many different aspects of business (and beyond) that I was not aware of before!

6.) What has been your favorite Canfield BHP class and why?

My favorite class in Canfield BHP so far has been BA 324H: Business Communication with Dr. Prilipko. It was one of the first business honors classes that I had during my first semester of college, and it made me feel welcome to just be myself. The class was fun to attend, and Dr. Prilipko encouraged us to get out of our comfort zone. Along with improving my presentation and writing skills, I made my closest Canfield BHP friends in that class, and I still study with them for my classes today.

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.