Help, support, advice, guidance, assistance and info crossroad signpost business concept
By most measures, Cristina Grace Liberto enjoyed a successful first year at Indiana University. She had racked up scholarships and boasted a high GPA. Heavily involved in various campus organizations, she had even locked in a coveted legal research internship in Chicago. Behind the scenes, Liberto describes herself as a “burnt-out overachiever” – someone who had neglected her “social and spiritual life” in the process. It forced her to ask a question often reserved for seasoned professionals:
‘Where should I invest my time and energy right now?’
This soul-searching exposed Liberto to a key business concept: Alignment. Call it a conscious consistency, where every aspect of an organization feeds into a larger mission. In a job, Liberto says, that alignment harmonizes skills and roles with actions and values. In life, it connects who you are with what you love. To be a successful student, she continues, alignment means clearly defining what matters so you know where to invest your energy.
KNOW WHAT YOU’RE WORKING TOWARDS
Cristina Grace Liberto, Indiana University (Kelley)
“My advice to business students is to use college not only to build your resume but define your values and mission statement so you can make decisions about your time and energy more easily,” writes Liberto, who joined the Boston Consulting Group after graduating from the Kelley School of Business. “That might include a meaningful career—but also strong relationships, a rich spiritual or faithful life, and time to pursue your passions. Your career alone won’t provide those things unless you intentionally work for them on a regular basis.”
More than that, Liberto urges students to never forget what makes the college experience so fundamental to their future. “College is one of the last periods of life where you have the time and space to reflect, experiment, and grow personally. Take advantage of it. Work hard for the career you want but work just as hard to define and work towards the life you want.”
Alignment is just one of the takeaways gained by the Class of 2026. As part of honoring this year’s 100 Best & Brightest Business Majors, P&Q asked graduates to share the best advice they would give to future students. From embracing failure to studying improv, here are 10 proven ways that business majors can maximize their college experience.
1) Get Involved and Gain Experience: “If I could give one piece of advice to a prospective business student, it would be to proactively seek out hands-on experiences to supplement their coursework. While classes help build foundational knowledge, the experience gained through leadership roles, case competitions, and honors programs immerse you in environments that more closely mirror the realities of the professional world.
Through leading the Management Consulting Group, for example, I developed valuable skills in public speaking, time management, and team leadership that no lecture alone could replicate. Through case competitions I learned to think quickly on my feet, solve problems in a creative manner, and collaborate under pressure. These are skills that directly translate into jobs and internships and provide compelling stories to share in interviews. From my experience, business acumen is best learned by doing, so find something that you’re passionate about and give it all you have.”
Eve Kogan, Binghamton University
“I truly believe the time of students looking to major in a business-related field is best spent getting involved in whatever they can. Whether that be student organizations, going to professors’ office hours, or saying “yes” to every opportunity that arises, the return on investment of surrounding yourself with people who hold similar ambitions and interests is invaluable. With this said, I am a huge proponent of the idea that you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. I cannot count how many times I have gotten a “yes” back from something I felt I shouldn’t ask for. Don’t say no to yourself on behalf of someone else! Ask the question, reach out, apply, whatever it may be – but don’t be idle.”
Gregory Durgin, Boston University (Questrom)
Steven Preval, Rutgers Business School (Newark)
“Get involved early. Apply to programs, talk to professors, join clubs, take leadership roles, and attend networking events. Use every resource your school provides, especially career services and alumni connections. University is truly what you put into it. The students who gain the most are usually the ones who raise their hands, send the email, submit the application, and show up even when they are unsure of the outcome.
Do not disqualify yourself from opportunities before anyone else does. I have earned opportunities that once felt out of reach, but I would not have received them if I had not put myself out there. Business school rewards students who step outside their comfort zone, take initiative, and trust that growth comes from action.”
Steven Preval, Rutgers Business School (Newark)
2) Engage With Professors Outside Class: “Learn from your professors. Especially at William and Mary, professors are an extraordinary and often underutilized resource. On the first day of class, introduce yourself. Go to office hours. Ask about their journeys, not just the course material. Many of our professors have had extensive professional careers and bring incredible life perspective to their roles as educators. When I was trying to discern what I wanted to pursue after graduation, I had deep, honest conversations with several former professors about my goals and uncertainties. I am proud to say there are five to ten professors on campus whose offices I could walk into today, even if I am no longer in their classes, simply to ask for advice. Those relationships have been invaluable to me, and they are ones I intend to continue long after I leave William and Mary.”
Chloe Ausburn, College of William & Mary (Mason)
3) Consciously Build Your Network: “You are only as strong as your network. I wouldn’t be where I am today without the mentors who guided me throughout undergrad. Contrary to the perception that business is cutthroat and competitive, I have found my journey defined by community at every step. Upperclassmen paved the path for me to succeed and uplifted me in moments when I lost confidence in myself. For any student majoring in a business-related field, I would encourage you not to just schedule coffee chats, but to genuinely invest in relationships. Get to know upperclassmen, professionals, and underclassmen on a personal level. Networking does not have to be transactional. What has been most meaningful about my experience is that when you truly click with the right people, it stops feeling like networking at all. You’d be surprised how many people are willing to go out of their way for you. That generosity has shaped my journey—and I hope to carry it forward by mentoring others and building the kind of community that once shaped me.”
Ellie Hwang, U.C. Berkeley (Haas)
“Be proactive about building relationships. Business education extends far beyond lectures and exams. The most transformative opportunities come from office hours, mentorship, internships, and leadership roles. Those opportunities rarely find students who wait. They find students who ask, follow up, and demonstrate initiative. If you need help, seek it. If you want responsibility, volunteer. If you see an opportunity, pursue it. Business rewards initiative, and the earlier you develop that habit, the greater your growth.”
Josh Mizrahi, Loyola Marymount University
© Copyright 2026 Poets & Quants. All rights reserved. This article may not be republished, rewritten or otherwise distributed without written permission. To reprint or license this article or any content from Poets & Quants, please submit your request HERE.
