Our alumni have gone so many different paths with their business degrees, we cannot possibly list them all here. Management, accounting, sales and marketing, finance, non-profit administration, government or law are common choices. But here are a few stories that might inspire you.
“In 2016, I completed my first internship with Northwestern Mutual as a College Financial Representative intern and gladly accepted a full-time offer upon graduation in 2018. Bob Cunningham’s finance classes made the Series 7 exam a breeze! Alma College expects excellence, while also believing in your potential to achieve more than you previously thought possible of yourself. My experience balancing a rigorous academic and athletic schedule prepared me to stick with it when things have gotten tough. The same level of responsible stewardship that is instilled in students at Alma has carried on for me professionally and allowed me to positively impact individuals and families with sound financial planning.”
Hannah (Ropp) Conkle ’10
Vice President, Global Compliance Division, Goldman Sachs & Co., LLC
“After graduating from Alma, I worked at the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), our nation’s derivatives regulator. At the time, the Dodd-Frank Act had just passed and I spent the next almost seven years drafting and implementing regulations impacting derivatives markets. After leaving the CFTC, I joined Goldman Sachs, where I started in the Operations division before moving to my current role as a compliance officer, covering Dodd-Frank regulations for the firm. I’m most proud of finding ways to serve my community and promote diversity and inclusion in every role, values that were developed and encouraged during my time at Alma.”
Jadon House ’20
Senior Analyst, Goldman Sachs & Co., LLC
“After graduation, I immediately started working for Goldman Sachs after wrapping up a banking internship at Mercantile Bank. I’ve been at the firm for almost two years now and am helping grow a new business line called Transaction Banking. The main thing I took away from Alma that helped me in my current role is time-management. Balancing multiple extracurricular activities, a varsity sport, and a full course load every semester prepared me for long work days and the mental toughness needed for this role.”
Misty (Godley) Pollack ’15
Senior Tax Analyst, Kelly Services, Inc.
“My time at Alma transformed me from a shy high school student to a confident and personable business employee. While at Alma, I interned at Plante Moran, where I later accepted an offer to work full-time upon graduation. In between graduation and starting my full-time position, I was able to complete the four-part CPA exam in one attempt. I worked in the tax department at Plante Moran for 2 1/2 years before accepting an offer at Kelly Services as a senior tax analyst.”
Hunter Nash ’21
Project Data Analyst at Aon, PLC and co-founder of We Are Hobbii, LLC
“My day-to-day is working with the some of the largest companies in the world to consult their multi-million and billion-dollar construction projects, helping them to mitigate different commercial risks and liabilities. I also co-founded my own company that I have been able to help grow with my business knowledge with my two other partners. Alma College helped give me a well-rounded learning and view of everything I came into contact with. I was always encouraged to look at something more than just one way in the classroom and on the field.”
