Brandon Walker 2016 Best and Brightest

Brandon Walker: 2016 Best and Brightest by: Jeff Schmitt on December 07, 2015 | 0 Comments Comments 454 Views December 7, 2015Brandon WalkerEmory University, Goizueta Business SchoolHometown: Austell, GAHigh School: Campbell High SchoolMajor: BBA: FinanceFavorite Business Courses: Business Law, Derivative Asset Analysis, Global Derivatives Markets, and Social Enterprise in NicaraguaExtracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles During College: Goizueta Business Scholar, Emory Impact Investing Group – Co-founder/CEO, â€Å"The MIX† Student Radio Station – Co-Host, Goizueta BBA Honor Council, College Council LegislatorWhere have you interned during your college career?  Company NameLocationRoleMorgan StanleyNew York, NYRichard B. Fisher Scholarship; Sales Trading Summer AnalystGoldman SachsAtlanta, GAPrivate Wealth Management Summer AnalystGoogleMountain View, CABold ImmersionerTravelers InsuranceAlpharetta, GAClaims InternDescribe your dre am job: My dream job would be very entrepreneurial. I enjoy the flexibility and ambiguity associated with driving my own projects. My dream job would also involve working in an intimate team of very talented individuals that feel empowered to voice their opinions and speak candidly.What did you enjoy most about majoring in a business-related field? First, business-related majors combine many of the quantitative and qualitative lessons that are offered in a liberal arts curriculum. I also really enjoy learning from and studying with people that recognize opportunity. Most people can do what they are told; I think business-related fields attract people looking to develop the vision to do more than what is expected.Where would you like to work after graduation?  I will be joining the Boston Consulting Group as an Associate after graduation. I honestly can’t think of a better place to begin my career.What are your long-term professional goals? To take a lot of risks.â€Å"I kn ew I wanted to major in business when†¦in middle school, my neighbors started to pay me to cut their grass. I realized then that business was about using my skillset to create opportunity. I also think it is exciting that there is no guaranteed path to success.†Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"If I didn’t major in business, I would be†¦an engineer like my parents.†Ã‚  What was the happiest moment of your life? I really don’t have a definitive answer for this question.Which academic or personal achievement are you most proud of? When I was a sophomore in high school, my dad and I made a deal that he would buy me a motorcycle if I got a full scholarship to college. Now I have zero college debt, and I spend significantly less money at the gas pump each week.What animal would you choose to represent your professional brand?â€Å"A lizard can be caught with the hand, yet it is found in king’s palaces.† Anything is possible with a good plan and even better exec ution.Who would you most want to thank for your success? My family. They truly understand how to enjoy life regardless of the present situation. This mentality helps alleviate the pressure to succeed and encourages me to focus on what I find interesting. It also gives me reassurance when I take risks.Fun fact about yourself: I have had over 6 concussions. I don’t remember the exact number.Favorite book: EcclesiastesFavorite movie: Do The Right Thing: A Spike Lee JointFavorite musical performer: I have been listening to a lot of Travi$ Scott, lately.Favorite vacation spot: My parent’s house.What are your hobbies? I like to play basketball, listen to music, and make impactful investments in micro-entrepreneurs in the Atlanta area (emoryimpact.com).What made Brandon such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2016?â€Å"Brandon is a true renaissance student. As a Goizueta Scholar, he entered the BBA Program on a full scholarship based on his academic and extracurricular achievements in high school. Rather than rest on those laurels, he has worked tirelessly to live up to the expectations that the designation implies. Academically, he is equally gifted in quantitative and qualitative analysis, with a deep passion for critical thinking and a social conscience that is sometimes too rare amongst business students. One defining characteristic is that Brandon goes where his heart and intellectual curiosity lead him without thought to any credentials or accolades that might follow. The most obvious example of the passion he brings to his efforts is the micro investing group he founded that not only provides   financial resources to small entrepreneurs in underserved communities but also offers assistance in envisioning and growing their businesses.   I particularly love the fact that at any given moment he could be helping others with a financial model, interviewing hip hop artists on the Emory radio station, or out in the community raising funds for economic development. He does it all with an ease and an amazing attitude that makes him liked and admired by everyone with whom he comes into contact.†Andrea S. Hershatter   BBA Program Director Senior Associate Dean Goizueta Business School, Emory University   Page 1 of 11