Bridget Dougherty

Miami University, Farmer School of Business

“With a sunny disposition, brightening the business world, blending innovation, hard work, and sustainability.”

Fun fact about yourself: I am running the Chicago Marathon in Fall 2024

Hometown: Columbus, Ohio

High School: Bishop Watterson High School

Major: Supply Chain and Operations Management, Master of Environmental Science

Minor: Sustainability

Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles During College:

• Business Student Advisory Council (Held the position of Vice President & Vice President of Recruitment)
• Miami University Student Foundation
• Business Honors Cohort Member
• Honda Supply Chain Scholarship Winner 2022 & 2023
• Farmer Week Lunch Packing Service Event Lead
• Information Systems TA
• President’s List
• Beta Gamma Sigma Member

Where have you interned during your college career?

West Monroe, Chicago, IL, Energy & Utilities Consulting Intern

IGS Energy, Columbus, OH, Strategy Management Intern

Where will you be working after graduation? West Monroe as an Energy & Utilities Consultant

Who is your favorite business professor? Jan Taylor is a marketing professor and administrator of the business honors cohort. I became close with Jan when I first entered the business honors program in my sophomore year after taking her Introduction to Marketing Principles class. I admire Jan for the amount of personal time and attention she puts into her students’ growth. Whether discussing career goals or personal decisions, Jan is always willing to listen and provide support for me. I look forward to keeping in touch with her post grad and stopping by her office whenever I visit!

What is the biggest lesson you gained from studying business? The biggest lesson I’ve learned from studying business is the importance of being a lifelong learner. Technology and consumer behavior trends are constantly evolving, pushing the business industry to adapt. To remain relevant in the business world, I learned that embracing these changes and staying informed about industry trends is essential. Lifelong learning not only has professional advantages, but also allows for personal growth and a sustained interest in one’s field of study. Having always enjoyed the academic environment, I hope to discover ways to continue my education as I transition out of college.

What advice would you give to a student looking to major in a business-related field? The people in your business school act as your family for the next four years, so get involved and start networking! Since much of business is interpersonal, I would recommend finding a mentor early in your business school experience. They could be a professor or an upperclassman, but make sure it is someone who is invested in your growth. I had a few close mentors that I met through clubs, and they completely changed my college experience. As you get older in your schooling career, don’t forget to give back to younger classmates as well!

What has surprised you most about majoring in business? One thing that has surprised me is the vast number of opportunities and career routes for business majors. My dad often told me, “everything is a business”, which helped me not limit myself to the opportunities I could have when looking for a future business career. Four years later, I feel prepared and empowered to use my two passions of business and environmental sustainability. Business is welcoming of career changes and exploration to help people find their passion, which is much different from the rigid mindset of business that is often perceived.

Looking back over your experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently in business school and why? One thing I would have done differently in my college journey is getting involved in the Business Student Advisory Council earlier. Serving as the liaison between the dean of the Farmer School of Business and the student body, the council is responsible for developing and implementing student-led initiatives, overseeing all business organizations, and coordinating school-wide events. This organization served as my true home within Farmer, providing me with opportunities for significant personal and professional growth in the various executive positions I held. I am beyond grateful for the three years I spent in this organization, but one more would have been even better!

Which academic, extracurricular or personal achievement are you most proud of? The achievement I am most proud of is graduating with both an undergraduate business degree and a master’s degree in environmental science. Through the help of academic advisors and professors, I was able to complete both degrees in my four years. This has been one of the best decisions I have made, allowing me to view both business and the environment in a whole new way.

Although I take pride in the hard work required to make this happen, my greatest source of pride lies in the connections I forged between my two departments. There are very few students at Miami who study both business and environmental science, despite the subjects being extremely connected. Through various school projects and conversations, I have established connections between these two departments that I hope will stay long after I leave Miami.

Which classmate do you most admire? The peer I admire the most is Emilia Lloyd. Emilia and I met in a business communications class freshman year, but we really grew close when she served as the President of the Business Student Advisory Council when I was the Vice President. During this time, Emilia and I saw each other almost daily while meeting with leaders of Farmer, other Farmer students, or preparing for upcoming events. Although tiresome at times, Emilia always had a smile on her face and brings positive energy to everything she does.

I’ve seen Emilia grow tremendously as a person throughout college as she exudes a quiet confidence and humility that is so needed in business leaders today. Emilia is the sweetest, down-to-earth, and hardworking person I know and I can’t wait to see all that she accomplishes in the business world.

Who would you most want to thank for your success? I want to thank my parents for the success I have achieved in college. Education is the number one thing my parents value and they endured many sacrifices in order for me to complete my college degree. Although my parents have always strived for me to be high achieving, I have never felt pressure to be perfect. They trusted me to find my own path in college and have supported every decision that I made. I love you both!

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

– Become a CEO of a sustainability-based organization

– Write a memoir about my life (even if it’s only shown to friends and family!)

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

“Bridget is a member of Honors College and Business Honors at Miami University. She is graduating in May with a Bachelor of Science in Supply Chain Management along with a Bachelor of Science in Sustainability and a Masters of Environmental Science while maintaining a 3.92 grade point average. Bridget, however, is leaving the Farmer School having made a huge impact with her contribution to the Student Advisory Council, which serves as the liaison between the Farmer students and the Dean’s suite. During the 2022-2023 academic year, Bridget served as the Executive Vice President and in this role she managed and orchestrated a successful 175-meal lunch-packing service event in collaboration with Talawanda-Oxford Food Pantry and Middletown’s Hope House.

Bridget is the epitome of a servant leader who has honed her skills in the Farmer School and will be taking these skills to West Monroe Partners as an Energy and Utility Consultant upon graduation.”

Jan Taylor
Senior Lecturer, Director of Business Honors Program
Department of Marketing | Miami University

DON’T MISS: 100 BEST & BRIGHTEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS MAJORS OF 2024