Nick Kerr
Brigham Young University, Marriott School of Management
“I am an amateur guitarist, novice weightlifter, neophyte philosopher, dilettante music critic, inexperienced business leader, expert seat-of-the-pants flier.”
Fun fact about yourself: My greatest aspiration as a child was to one day become a garbage truck driver. I’m still trying to figure out how to break into that industry.
Hometown: Taylorsville, UT
High School: Cottonwood High School (Murray, UT)
Major: BS Information Systems
Favorite Business Courses: Management Communications (MCOM 320); Database Systems (IS 402); Systems Analysis (IS 401); Business Ethics (BUS M 390)
Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles During College:
Marriott School Student Body Vice President (March 2016 – Present) – Led a council of 45 individuals with a focus on improving the overall Marriott School student experience, participating in meaningful community service, and providing rich professional development opportunities to students of all majors.
Management Consulting Club Resource Specialist (November 2016 – Present) – Created and improved upon various resources designed to help students obtain offers from top management consulting firms.
BYU Heritage Scholarship – Four-year, full tuition academic scholarship awarded to the top 3% of incoming freshmen.
- Tom Perry Leadership Scholarship – Extracurricular scholarship awarded to exceptional leaders in the Marriott School.
1st Place – Marriott School Interdisciplinary Case Competition (team leader) – Led a team of six members to create an innovative and implementable solution in response to the prompt: “How can the Marriott School help its professional clubs in their efforts to recruit and retain members, eventually placing them in top firms?” This solution is in the process of being implemented in the school.
2nd Place – Google Fiber Case Competition (part of a five-member team) – Created a solution to help Google Fiber increase their revenues in a scalable manner.
2nd Place – Bain & Company Case Competition (team leader – 4 members) – Created a solution to help Comcast increase their profitability.
Where have you interned during your college career?
Goldman Sachs – Technology Summer Analyst – Saved $90K a year in costs by leading a project to design and build a replacement for an essential legacy system
Contrary Capital – Founding Student Partner – Worked with a team of four student partners to provide funding and guidance to student entrepreneurs at BYU.
ōEvent – Chief Operating Officer – Designed and led the development of an event management product anticipated to launch in June 2017.
Prodigix Software, LLC – Project Manager – Improved company processes and managed key client relationships.
Describe your dream Job: I live with two general aims: (1) improve the world around me for the benefit of others; and (2) stretch my abilities and live outside my comfort zone. My dream job is whatever enables me to do those two things while earning enough to buy a pair of audiophile-grade headphones.
What did you enjoy most about majoring in a business-related field? Working with inspiring individuals—both peers and professors—who constantly pushed me to be better and shared my same drive to make a positive impact in the world.
What is the biggest lesson you gained from studying business? People matter most. The most admirable companies are those that respect and develop their employees and work to provide real value to their customers; the greatest leaders are the ones who work to improve those around them rather than elevate their own status.
Where would you like to work after graduation? I’ve accepted an offer to work as a Business Analyst for McKinsey & Co. in Dallas, TX
What are your long-term professional goals? Always be in a profession and position that gives me the opportunity to (1) significantly improve the world around me for the benefit of others; and (2) constantly stretch my abilities and live outside of my comfort zone. (similar to my answer to “Describe your dream job”)
“I knew I wanted to major in business when…my wife told me she expected me to make a lot of money someday. #kidding – sort of.”
“If I didn’t major in business, I would be…either a philosophy major or a neuroscience major. I love the study of how we think and what motivates our actions.”
“Before I entered business school, I wish I had known…that getting an “A” in a class is nowhere near as important or rewarding as getting involved in meaningful extracurricular activities.”
What was the happiest moment of your life? Two-way tie between my wedding day and the time I was reunited with my family after completing a two-year church mission in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Which academic, extracurricular or personal achievement are you most proud of? I’m most proud of obtaining full-time offers from both McKinsey & Company and Bain & Company. It’s not necessarily the act of passing the interviews itself that makes me proud, but the fact that it symbolizes the culmination of all the hard work I had put in up until that point (e.g., maintaining a high GPA, making an impact in any position I had served in prior, going for an industry that was well out of my comfort zone, etc.),
What animal would you choose to represent your professional brand? The Lion – Winston Churchill has been referred to as “The Last Lion,” and I would love to develop into the caliber of leader that could be associated with that same type of animal. For me, it embodies fierce boldness of action and steady, confident leadership.
Who would you most want to thank for your success? My mother—I wouldn’t be where I am today without her constant support throughout all phases of my life.
What would you like your business school peers to say about you after you graduate from this program? That I inspired them to be better, achieve more, and give back to others.
Favorite book: Meditations by Marcus Aurelius
Favorite movie: Warrior (2011)
Favorite musical performer: Dustin Kensrue
Favorite vacation spot: Cancun, Mexico
What are your hobbies? Playing the electric guitar, running, weightlifting, reading books, listening to podcasts, and writing reviews of headphones and music albums.
What made Nick such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2017?
“Nick Kerr is one of the Marriott School’s most effective student leaders. He is a vice president on the Student Council and represents the Council on major initiatives. Nick is very effective in working with faculty, staff, and other students and his ability as a presenter is always in high demand on committees and special project teams. Always gracious and pleasant to work with, Nick Kerr exemplifies student leadership at its best.”
Michael Thompson
Associate Dean
Brigham Young University, Marriott School of Management
DON’T MISS: THE FULL HONOR ROLL: THE BEST & BRIGHTEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS MAJORS OF 2017
