2024 Best & Brightest Business Major: Amanda Hubert, Purdue University (Daniels)

Amanda Hubert

Purdue University, Daniels School of Business

“Optimistic, joyful Michigan-born Boilermaker with passions for adventure, card games, and connecting people.”

Fun fact about yourself: I was an Irish Dancer for 12 years growing up and joined the Purdue Irish Dance Team during my time in college!

Hometown: Dexter, Michigan

High School: Dexter High School

Major: Industrial Management

Minor: Data Analytics

Favorite Business Course:  Financial Management with Alexander Boquist has been my favorite business class. Professor Boquist taught this class with a focus on real-world applications. While most of the class centered around analyzing market data and making decisions based on financial records, we also discussed important personal financial decisions such as loans, mortgages, and investments. I like that this course had tangible applications to both my personal and professional life.

Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles During College: During my time at Purdue, I have been actively involved in student organizations. I currently serve as the President of Purdue Women in Business. Before accepting this role in the organization, I held the positions of Vice President of Professional Development and Vice President of the Monarch Leadership Conference. I am also an Ambassador for the Daniels School of Business and the Director of Membership Development for the organization. My previous roles with Business Ambassadors include the Director of Recruitment and Director of Communications. Additionally, I attended the Doster Leadership Conference as a Team Leader for two years and served on the executive team for Delight Ministries, a women’s Bible study on campus.

Where have you interned during your college career? My first internship was with Avery Dennison. I worked as a supply chain intern out of their headquarters in Mentor, Ohio. This past summer I interned with PepsiCo in Albany, New York as a supply chain intern in manufacturing and warehousing.

Where will you be working after graduation? Crowe

Who is your favorite business professor? Cara Putman has been my favorite professor during my time at Purdue. Although Business Law was not a course I anticipated enjoying, Professor Putman’s teaching style and the engaging classroom environment she created made it one of my favorites. Professor Putman also serves as the advisor for Purdue Women in Business, so I have had the opportunity to continue to collaborate with her outside of the classroom as we continue to develop the organization. I am grateful for the time and support that Professor Putman has dedicated to my professional growth during my time in the business school.

What advice would you give to a student looking to major in a business-related field? Business programs provide both technical and communication skills in the classroom. To take your degree to the next level, I encourage every student who is looking to study business to take advantage of opportunities to practice and enhance these skills outside of the classroom in student organizations, case competitions, and internships. Some of my greatest learning moments came from applying my classroom knowledge to real-world situations, and I encourage all students to take advantage of these development opportunities.

What has surprised you most about majoring in business? Majoring in business does not lead to one career path. During my time at Purdue, I have had the chance to hear from many successful professionals, and none of them have the same story to share. Although they all might have a business degree, each person has unique career aspirations and paths to get there. Even in conversations with my peers, I am inspired by the wide variety of internships and full-time opportunities that everyone pursues despite each majoring in business. I am excited to see what I choose to do with my business degree!

Looking back over your experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently in business school and why? I wish that I had taken advantage of experiential learning opportunities (such as study abroad, case competitions, and company visits) earlier in college. These experiences were some of the most transformative in determining my passions and developing my confidence. I am grateful to have had these experiences toward the end of my time in college, but I think I would have greatly benefited from them during my first year on campus.

Which academic, extracurricular, or personal achievement are you most proud of? During my junior year, I won the National Women’s Case Competition. Although the outcome was fantastic, I am most proud of the final product that the team put together. I look back on the week preparing the case fondly because of the way our team navigated the uncertainty of the case, tackled challenges, and utilized each other’s strengths. The case competition experience was vital to the confidence that I developed in myself and my work, and I am proud of myself for stepping outside of my comfort zone and competing.

Which classmate do you most admire? Katarina Nikolovski is a peer whom I admire as a learner, leader, and friend. Ever since our freshman year at Purdue, Kat has set goals for herself and taken actionable steps to achieve them. I admire how she confidently knows when she is ready for a new challenge and takes it on with excitement. With her success in the classroom and her professional life, Kat remains humble and kind. Her optimistic energy lights up every room she enters, and she spreads joy through every conversation she has. I am thankful to have Kat as both a friend and role model in my life!

Who would you most want to thank for your success? I usually follow directions down to a T, but I am breaking that trend with this answer by saying that both my mom and dad have played an instrumental role in my success, and I can confidently say that I would not be where I am today without their support.  My parents model sacrificial love, humility, and selfless generosity every day of their lives. Thank you for encouraging me to take risks outside my comfort zone, providing guidance through challenging decisions, and continually reminding me of my worth. Mom and Dad, you are my greatest role models, and I am forever grateful for the love and support you give me that have made me who I am today.

What are the top two items on your professional bucket list?

1. At each conference I attend, I am amazed by the speakers at the events and am grateful for their willingness to share their experiences and lessons. Speaking at a leadership conference like those I have attended is at the top of my professional bucket list.

2. I have enjoyed leading teams during my time in the business school at Purdue and have found joy in supporting and equipping others around me. I hope to have a team of my own to lead during my career.

What made Amanda such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2024?

“Amanda Hubert is the epitome of a Daniels student leader. From the moment I had her in class I knew she was an energetic go-getter, but then I worked with her on the Monarch Leadership Conference. She had a key leadership role as a sophomore that elevated the student-run conference and let me know this was a conference we could take to the next level.

When Amanda shows up, she brings her all and elevates those around her. She brings positivity, passion and drive. Whether it’s taking a prospective student and his or her family on a tour or leading the Women in Business student organization, Amanda does everything with excellence and attention to detail. She’s also been a stellar representative of our student body in case competitions, participating as a key piece of the team that won the undergraduate section of the 2023 PowerShift and the team that won the 2023 National Women’s Case Competition. She will thrive in her next stage as a consultant at Crowe. I’m delighted I get to spend more time with her through the Confident Transitions Pathway this year as she prepares to launch into her career with all the tools she needs to succeed at the top of her game.”

Cara Putman
Clinical Assistant Professor
Director, Brock-Wilson Center for Women in Management

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