Greg Stringfellow
University of Missouri, Trulaske College of Business
“Outgoing, coffee loving, sports junkie from Texas who loves spending time with family and friends.”
Fun fact about yourself: I fractured my back in 3 places playing football in high school and my X-rays have been used in several medical schools across the country.
Hometown: Southlake, Texas
High School: Southlake Carroll
Major: Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with an emphasis in Finance and Banking
Favorite Business Courses: Investment Strategies of Warren Buffett, Regulation of the Financial Industry, and Investment Fund Management
Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles During College:
- Cornell Leadership Program- Class Coordinator
- Cornell Leadership Program International Service Trip Advisor- Leon, Nicaragua
- Trulaske College of Business Ambassador Program- Senior Leadership Team and Off-Campus Outreach
- University of Missouri Football Team- Gameday Logistics Manager & Equipment Operations for 2013 SEC East Championship and Cotton Bowl Championship team and 2014 SEC East Championship and Citrus Bowl Championship team
- Selected to receive the Omicron Delta Kappa Top 14 Freshmen award
- Omicron Delta Kappa- Distinguished 14 Programming Chair
- Beta Gamma Sigma
- Dean’s List
- Matt Rose Leadership Scholarship Recipient
- Bruce and Pam Walker Leadership Scholarship Recipient
Where have you interned during your college career? J.P. Morgan Private Bank, Summer Analyst, Dallas, Texas
Describe your dream Job: My absolute dream job would be to work in the front office for a professional sports team. I think that being able to combine my love of athletics with my finance background would be such a blast.
What is the biggest lesson you gained from studying business? Sometimes, there isn’t a “right” answer to a question. There can be multiple solutions for the same problem set, and you have to weigh the pros and cons of each possible decision before coming to a conclusion. This is where your own personal judgement and experience comes into play, and where it is important to surround yourself with people who can help you make these tough decisions.
Where would you like to work after graduation? I feel extremely fortunate to have accepted a full-time position with J.P. Morgan’s Private Bank in Dallas as a Banking Analyst.
What are your long-term professional goals? To be completely honest, I don’t exactly know what my long term professional goals are. I have thought about getting my MBA, but am extremely excited to begin my career at J.P. Morgan in my home city. As long as I am doing something that I am passionate about and trying to give back, I will be happy with whatever life throws my way.
What advice would you give to a student looking to major in a business-related field? Raise your hand for as many different experiences as you can! Business is truly something that you learn by trying different things and learning from others experiences as well as your own. Don’t be afraid to push your limits.
“I knew I wanted to major in business when…I was in middle school and went with my Dad to our local Edward Jones office for a meeting. They began talking about finances and the stock market as I quietly sat there and listened. When they started talking about a “diversified portfolio,” I looked up and asked what that meant. Our advisor handed me a single sheet of computer paper and told me to rip it in half, which I easily could. He then handed me a notebook and told me to rip that in half, which of course I couldn’t. He explained to me that each piece of paper represented an individual stock, and that being diversified meant that you had more paper which made it more difficult to tear and lose your money. After that meeting I moved what little of my own savings I had into an investment account and haven’t looked back since.”
“If I didn’t major in business, I would…probably have gotten my major in Sports Management and gone into the athletic operations industry.”
“Before I entered business school, I wish I had known…that it’s not only ok, but actually encouraged, to have ideas that go against the status quo. Programs and businesses alike are made better when people raise their hands and ask questions about the way things are done. I wish that I had been more comfortable doing that when I came in as a freshman.”
What was the happiest moment of your life? I don’t know if it is the happiest moment of my life, but one of the most amazing experiences that I have ever had was being on the Mizzou football staff my freshman year when we won the SEC East. My family all drove up to Columbia, MO for the game against Texas A&M that clinched our spot in the Championship game in Atlanta and rushed the field along with all of the students and fans. It was really amazing to be a part of the moment and see the program that I had put so much time into be successful.
Which academic, extracurricular or personal achievement are you most proud of? I am most proud of being asked to return to our annual Tigers on Wall Street trip as the Senior Advisor. We put on a trip through the Cornell Leadership Program, where 14 students are selected to spend a week in New York and meet with top Wall Street executives. Each year, one student is asked to go back on the trip to help teach the new participants about the financial services industry and facilitate class discussions. Having gone on the trip as a junior, being asked to return and be entrusted to prepare a group of students for their trip was such an honor and a great way to give back to a program that has done so much for me.
What animal would you choose to represent your professional brand? I would choose an Eagle to represent my professional brand. Eagles are known for their speed, alertness to their surroundings, and their ability to handle their power with tremendous grace. I feel that all of these qualities are things that I am currently and will continue to drive for in my personal and professional life. On a personal level I also feel a connection to the Eagle, having attained the rank of Eagle Scout.
Who would you most want to thank for your success? How much room do we have for this section? There are so many people that have helped me get to where I am today. Dr. Mary Beth Marrs for being my “mom away from home” and for taking a chance on me when I was a freshman by selecting me to be a Class Coordinator for my Cornell Leadership Program class. Dr. Bruce Walker and Dr. Andy Kern for their nonstop support and mentorship while at Mizzou. My friends, for being so supportive and keeping me grounded and sane at my craziest times. I also can’t even begin to thank my parents and sister enough for their endless support. They encouraged me to go to the University of Missouri, a school in the middle of a state where I didn’t know a soul, and gave me every tool that I needed to be successful. There is no way I could have done it without all of your help!
What would you like your business school peers to say about you after you graduate from this program?I think the most rewarding thing for me would be for my peers to say that I was always trying to lend a helping hand and give back to the program that provided me with so much. I’ve always tried to be available and approachable, whether that be through helping prepare students for trips though the Cornell Leadership Program, or simply getting coffee with an underclassman and letting them pick my brain about my experiences. If I could have made a difference in just one student’s experience at Mizzou, that would honestly be the best feeling.
Favorite book: American Icon– Bryce Hoffman
Favorite movie: Remember the Titans
Favorite musical performer: Tim McGraw
Favorite vacation spot: Orange Beach, Alabama
What are your hobbies? Any time spent with family and friends is time well spent in my opinion! I love working out, participating in any and all sports, being outdoors, and traveling with my friends.
What made Greg such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2017?
“Greg is one of those students who greets everyone with a smile! While he has excelled academically at Mizzou and in Trulaske, it will be his contributions outside the classroom that will leave his greatest impact on our campus. Greg’s contribution to Mizzou was recognized early on when he was identified as one of the top 14 Freshmen on campus and inducted into Omicron Delta Kappa. Greg has developed his leadership through the Cornell Leadership Program (CLP). He has served as a class coordinator of CLP providing input to the directors on corporate visit locations, helping plan international trips, and mentoring younger students on the CLP’s annual Tigers on Wall Street trip.
I work most closely with Greg in his position as an Ambassador for our college. In this role Greg meets with prospective students and their families as well as alumni and other guests of the college. He shows these individuals around our college and campus as well as sharing with them information about our degree programs professional development opportunities. Now, as a senior, Greg is mentoring new Ambassadors and taking the lead in our presentations. Greg’s impact on our college will carry on well beyond his years as a student.”
Jeff Wiese, PhD
Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Programs and Student Services
Robert J. Trulaske, Sr. College of Business
University of Missouri
DON’T MISS: THE FULL HONOR ROLL: THE BEST & BRIGHTEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS MAJORS OF 2017
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