Madison Long
Purdue University, Krannert School of Management
“Always focused on the five P’s of life: prayer, people, persistence, passion and pizza.”
Fun fact about yourself: My parents let me name my little sister (Mackenzie) and my dog (Ringo).
Hometown: Indianapolis, Indiana
High School: North Central High School
Major: Accounting
Favorite Business Courses: Business Law with Cliff Fisher
Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles During College:
Extra Curricular Programs
- Purdue Student Government – Executive Director of Diversity & Inclusion
- 2016 Doster Leadership Conference – Co-Chair
- Krannert School of Management Council – Vice President
- Barbara Cook Chapter of Mortar Board Senior National Honor Society – Inductee
- Society of Minority Managers – Mentor
Leadership Development Programs
- Harvard Summer Venture in Management Program – Class of 2017
- Management Leadership for Tomorrow – Career Prep Class of 2016
- JumpStart UGrad Diversity Forum – Class of 2015
- Goldman Sachs Discovery Camp
Community Work
- United Way Read to Succeed, advancing child literacy – Weekly Volunteer
- Beck Lane Boys and Girls Club – Weekly Volunteer
Awards & Honors
- Business Opportunity Program – Award of Excellence
- Purdue University Emerging Leaders Scholar
- Direct Admittance into the upper division of the Krannert School of Management
Where have you interned during your college career?
- 2014 – Amway, Financial Planning and Analysis Intern – Grand Rapids, Michigan
- 2015 – Deloitte Consulting, Human Capital Summer Scholar – Chicago, Illinois
- 2016 – Microsoft, Global Sales Finance Intern – Redmond, Washington
Who is your favorite professor? My Honors College Professor, Dwaine Jengelley. I really appreciated how he engaged the students in the classroom and outside through activities such as going to Cincinnati’s National Underground Railroad Freedom Center.
What did you enjoy most about majoring in a business-related field? The exposure I had to top executives throughout programs in Krannert, my internship experiences, and my various organization involvements.
What is the biggest lesson you gained from studying business? Effective collaborative leadership.
Where would you like to work after graduation? I have accepted a full-time position at Microsoft for their finance rotational program in Redmond, Washington.
What are your long-term professional goals? To pursue my MBA and become an entrepreneur working in childhood development.
What advice would you give to a student looking to major in a business-related field?
Know that business is in everything: in every industry, interest and sphere of influence. Continue to be creative and do not mold who you are to fit a perceived “business student” personality because there is a space for you as long as you stay passionate and perseverant.
“I knew I wanted to major in business when…I participated in a case competition as a sophomore in high school and spent a week putting together the presentation. It was my first introduction to strategic thinking and I never looked back.”
“If I didn’t major in business, I would be…pursuing a PhD in education in hopes of becoming a superintendent.”
“Before I entered business school, I wish I had known…a little bit more about accounting!”
What was the happiest moment of your life? When my little sister was born (I was 6).
Which academic, extracurricular or personal achievement are you most proud of? Volunteering with the kindergartners every week at Klondike Elementary School. They are so smart and full of energy. It is refreshing and joyous each time I go.
What animal would you choose to represent your professional brand? A parrot, because they have a good sense of humor, are intelligent, quite social and colorful.
Who would you most want to thank for your success? My Mom, Anita Victorian, for always allowing me to pursue what I love and encouraging me to stay diligent, grounded, and grateful for all I have been able to do.
What would you like your business school peers to say about you after you graduate from this program? No matter how busy, Madison always took time to motivate and support individuals in their personal growth, as she, too, worked diligently to pursue her own goals.
Favorite book: Olive’s Ocean
Favorite movie: Hidden Figures
Favorite musical performer: Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter
Favorite vacation spot: Bermuda
What are your hobbies? Playing with my new puppy, running and eating
What made Madison such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2017?
“I met Madison two years when I became the advisor for the School of Management Council. Madison has served as the vice president of the group, which serves our students, faculty and staff. She oversaw the 25-person council, ensured the committee heads and members were in working order, and managed their deliverables to make sure they were on track to achieve their semester goals. Madison personally met with each committee chair to make the committee’s goals aligned with the organization’s goals. She also took time to learn about each member of the council and worked with them to see where they could contribute to the council and serve the school.
After serving as the vice president of the council, Madison made a strategic decision to move to the role of co-chair of the Doster Leadership Conference, a student-led conference for the top students in the school. Madison saw it as an opportunity to lead with her strengths and serve others within our school by leading, coordinating and executing the annual conference. In both roles, Madison led and served with a personal touch while ensuring the overarching goals of the school and council were met.
Madison is an effective communicator, activator and has the utmost integrity. I have been impressed with her ability to convey a message clearly to a wide range of listeners and make sure each individual has a clear understanding of the message or task. Madison is also an activator and has an amazing ability to take thoughts and plans and turn them into action. She is a woman of action! I believe the most endearing quality Madison possesses is her integrity. She is one of the hardest-working students I know and always goes above and beyond.
Madison serves the Purdue community within the Society of Minority Managers, where she mentors incoming students during a week-long orientation program. She introduces new students to the Purdue community and the Business Opportunity Program. She also empowers young women of color on campus through her involvement with the Strong Sister, Silly Sister organization, where she unites them and lets them know that they have a support system throughout their education journey. She volunteers for Read to Succeed at a local elementary school and at the Boys and Girls Club. Madison’s Honors College team organized a campus 5K race, where she was in charge of raising funds.
In every situation, Madison takes her leadership and looks for areas where she can give back to her fellow students and the Purdue community. Because of this leadership and service, Madison was one of 40 top seniors inducted into the Mortar Board Class of 2017, which recognizes her as one of Purdue’s top student leaders in the senior class.
I have enjoyed watching her grow in the few short years I have known her and have enjoyed watching her develop into a fine young woman worthy of this honor.”
Sharlee Lyons
Director of Krannert Leaders Academy
Purdue University, Krannert School of Management
DON’T MISS: THE FULL HONOR ROLL: THE BEST & BRIGHTEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS MAJORS OF 2017
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