2017 Best & Brightest: Kevin Andrews, College of William & Mary

Kevin Andrews

Raymond A. Mason School of Business, The College of William & Mary

“I pursue my passions to the fullest: Career, relationships, travel, exercise.”

Fun fact about yourself: In between graduating mid-year and working full-time, I am traveling alone for 4 months around Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, Singapore, and South Korea. It should be a new and eye-opening experience!

Hometown: Truckee, CA

High School: Bishop Manogue Catholic High School (Reno, NV)

Major: Finance, plus an Accounting concentration

Minor: Computer Science

Favorite Business Courses: Student Managed Investment Fund, Advanced Financial Reporting and Analysis

Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles During College:

  • President of Howard J. Busbee Finance Academy (2016)
  • President of Mason Investment Club (2015)
  • Vice President of Howard J. Busbee Finance Academy (2014-2016)
  • Portfolio Manager of Mason Investment Club (2014-2015)
  • W&M CFA Investment Research Team (2014-2015, 1st at Virginia Competition)
  • 1st in W&M Carlyle Case Competition
  • NCAA Division I Men’s Golf (University of the Pacific, 2011-2013)
  • Ministry Partner of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship (University of the Pacific, 2012-2013)
  • Beta Gamma Sigma
  • Dean’s List

Where have you interned during your college career?

  • Summer Analyst (Summer 2016), Morgan Stanley, Investment Banking Division, Global Services Group, New York, NY
  • Summer Analyst (Summer 2015), Perella Weinberg Partners, Investment Banking Advisory, New York, NY
  • Summer Analyst (Summer 2014), Northgate Capital, Venture Capital and Private Equity, Danville, CA
  • Investment Analyst Intern (Fall 2013), Carrington Capital Management, Mortgage and Real Estate Investment Management, Greenwich, CT

Describe your dream Job: I would like to be in a leadership position of an organization, for example as a CEO of a company, where I can work with people to make a positive impact in society. While I played college golf, I enjoyed the challenge of managing and improving all areas of my game. Fast forward to being President of Finance Academy, where I enjoyed even more so working with people to help students prepare for careers in finance. These experiences helped me realize how much I enjoy working to drive positive change with a team of people.

Who is your favorite professor? I was blessed to develop such great relationships with many professors at W&M, so it’s hard to say one was the best. To highlight one, though, I must thank Professor Julie Agnew. Her professional experience in finance, academic experience as a professor, practical way of teaching, enthusiastic personality, compassionate character, research initiatives, and vast network of relationships make her such a uniquely helpful professor. All of us at the Mason School of Business are tremendously fortunate to have her!

Which executive or entrepreneur do you most admire? I was fortunate to be old enough to see my father co-found and develop a real estate valuation company from its start in 2001 to where it is now with about 500 employees. He did so with his primary focus on people — his clients, employees, and other stakeholders. The company is primarily located in Truckee, a small mountain town near Lake Tahoe, where it is an ideal place for people with college degrees looking for work in an active outdoor area. As a service company, the enthusiastic nature of the employees makes for better customer service and office culture. Additionally, his work ethic in recreational triathlons showed me the benefit training can bring to one’s broader lifestyle in and out of the office. His “people first” character and outgoing approach to life have certainly influenced who I am today.

What did you enjoy most about majoring in a business-related field? A business education has provided me with both the skill set to “hit the ground running” in the business world and the ability to connect with people at a professional level. In my internship at Morgan Stanley this past summer, I felt well-prepared to tackle some of the more technical tasks because of the best-in-class business education the Mason School of Business offers. Additionally, the Boehly Center for Excellence in Finance in the business school provided countless opportunities for me to learn how to connect with professionals one-on-one and speak in front of groups of people.

Where would you like to work after graduation? I am looking forward to working for Morgan Stanley in New York in their Global Services Group within the Investment Banking Division. This is the team I interned with this past summer.

What are your long-term professional goals? I have learned of the importance to work hard at something that is fulfilling. For me, that is working to make the lives of those around me better. And this doesn’t mean I need to work for a non-profit; I can still benefit society working for a for-profit firm that provides an enjoyable work environment for employees, operates under strong values, makes customers happy, and gives back to the community. The key is to keep my eyes on others or else the success becomes about me, which I believe is meaningless and dangerous. I hope to come to the end of my life and be confident that I enriched other people’s lives.

What advice would you give to a student looking to major in a business-related field? Get to know older students studying business and attend professional informational and networking events early on to learn about the various paths. Relationships take time to cultivate properly and preparation for some industries begins earlier than many realize.

“I knew I wanted to major in business when…I interned at Carrington Capital Management in Greenwich, CT full-time for 4 months in the fall of 2013. I decided to take a detour from collegiate golf to give finance a try at the internship. I found that I loved working with such bright and hard-working people in a realm of business that is both qualitative and quantitative. I simply felt like I fit in. I was confident I could succeed in business, and I was excited for the opportunities ahead. While golf is no longer my career focus, I still absolutely love to play!”

“If I didn’t major in business, I would be…a computer science major. I would still be involved in business-related student organizations while developing a technical skill set from a computer science degree.”

“Before I entered business school, I wish I had known…of the benefit of being a well-rounded person. I am much more positive and outgoing when my identity is not solely in finance. It is important for me to exercise and be social. It is necessary to have people in my life – people lift each other up and help each other excel.”

What was the happiest moment of your life? While I didn’t realize it at the time, choosing to head towards finance rather than professional golf was the best decision I have made. It has led to not one really happy moment, but even better, a consistent excitement for each day. I genuinely enjoy learning and working with people. I look forward to the opportunities ahead.

Which academic, extracurricular or personal achievement are you most proud of? Receiving the offer to intern with Perella Weinberg Partners my sophomore summer kickstarted a career in investment banking in New York. After feeling the pressures of landing a good internship in investment banking before graduation, I felt incredibly fortunate to intern with such an accredited firm my sophomore summer.

What animal would you choose to represent your professional brand? The wolf best represents my professional brand. They are creative, hard workers, natural leaders, and interested in the well-being of others.

Who would you most want to thank for your success? I’d like to thank my parents, first-and-foremost, for my accomplishments. As driven business-minded people themselves, they have provided incredibly helpful advice in times of opportunity and difficulty. I emulate them in many ways.

What would you like your business school peers to say about you after you graduate from this program? He not only worked hard for his own success, but others’ success as well. He is someone who has potential to make a positive impact because he genuinely cares for the well-being of others.

Favorite book: Golf’s Sacred Journey by David Cook

Favorite movie: The Pursuit of Happiness

Favorite musical performer: Mat Kearney

Favorite vacation spot: Bora Bora

What are your hobbies? Golf, CrossFit, Snowboarding, Snowmobiling, Surfing

What made Kevin such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2017?

“Kevin Andrews represents the best of the best at William and Mary. First, he is an exceptional student known by the faculty for his keen intelligence, insightful comments in class and unmatched work ethic. Kevin actively seeks challenges and pursued a rigorous course load in computer science and finance as a student. He also excelled outside of class. He represented the College in numerous finance competitions including the CFA Investment Challenge, where his team proudly won the state of Virginia’s competition. In addition, he was selected for the most competitive summer internships on Wall Street every year and upon completing them earned rave reviews from his employers. Finally, he was an effective ambassador for the Boehly Center for Excellence in Finance frequently giving speeches to outside constituencies. After every talk, people noted his professional polish and his infectious enthusiasm.

Despite his heavy academic and professional commitments, Kevin is renowned for his service contributions to College, as well as his warm and outgoing personality. During his time at William and Mary, Kevin was elected to many top leadership roles in the Raymond A. Mason’s Business School’s clubs, including President of the Howard J. Busbee Finance Academy and the Investment Club. In these high profile roles, Kevin organized large events including our annual “From DoG Street to Wall Street” symposium that brings top finance professionals to campus to interact with students interested in finance. To the benefit of his peers, Kevin dedicated hundreds of hours organizing every detail of this high profile event, as well as many others. While this would certainly be enough of a contribution to the Class of 2017, Kevin also devoted time to helping his fellow classmates on an individual basis. I have referred countless students to Kevin for resume reviews, mentoring and career help.  As a result, I daily hear stories from students about how Kevin has personally made a difference in their lives. While Kevin is a clear standout across numerous dimensions, he is extremely humble and a team player endearing him to all that know him. William and Mary is very fortunate to call Kevin a graduate!”

Dr. Julie Agnew
Associate Professor of Finance and Economics
Raymond A. Mason School of Business, The College of William & Mary

DON’T MISS: THE FULL HONOR ROLL: THE BEST & BRIGHTEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS MAJORS OF 2017

 

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