2017 Best & Brightest: Zach Miller, Texas Christian University (Neeley)

Zach Miller

Texas Christian University, Neeley School of Business

“I am a fun and easy-going…finance major.”

Fun fact about yourself: I am a Texan who learned to two-step from a Michigan-born girl at a London pub.

Hometown: Mansfield, TX

High School: Mansfield High School

Major: Finance

Favorite Business Courses: Financial Management, Personal Finance, Investments 1 & 2, Foundations in Leadership, Team Leadership Skills

Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles During College:

  • BNSF Neeley Leadership Program
  • Resident Assistant
  • TCU Women’s Basketball practice player
  • CFA Scholarship
  • Habitat for Humanity
  • TCU Intramural Champion (Basketball)

Where have you interned during your college career?

  • Goldman Sachs, Dallas, Private Wealth Management
  • Luther King Capital Management, Fort Worth, Equity Research

Describe your dream Job…I want to be a wealth manager and help professional athletes after they retire.

Who is your favorite professor? Dr. Mo Rodriguez – I took Financial Management as a May-mester with Dr. Rodriguez. The class went by so quickly. Dr. Rodriguez simplified the material and made the class enjoyable.

Which executive or entrepreneur do you most admire? J. Luther King. He is my boss (internship) and is the CEO of Luther King Capital Management. He has encouraged and propelled me and hundreds of other past TCU students toward success through the LKCM internship. He is one of the most thoughtful and hard-working men I know. I owe a great amount of my success to him.

What did you enjoy most about majoring in a business-related field?I had the opportunity to learn with extremely smart individuals at a great facility at TCU. My field is filled with an abundant amount of opportunities and I was able to interview with over 25 Fortune 500 companies because of my degree.

Where would you like to work after graduation? I will be working at JP Morgan after I graduate.

What are your long-term professional goals? I want to go into wealth management and help professional athletes maintain their wealth after their retirement.

What advice would you give to a student looking to major in a business-related field? Business is a fantastic field to major in. Every student should look for 2-3 internships to get a better understanding of their major and what they want to do after college. The internship is to see if you like the job position or not. If you do not like the position try something new!

“I knew I wanted to major in business when…TCU invited me to the TCU High School Investors Challenge when I was in high school. It’s a week in the summer on campus, for juniors about to be seniors in high school, to learn about the stock market. Then, we each manage a virtual $1 million dollar portfolio throughout the year and report back to TCU. I fell in love with the stock market through that unique experience.”

“If I didn’t major in business, I would be…a computer scientist.”  

“Before I entered business school, I wish I had known…how fast college would fly by so that I could enjoy every moment with my friends.”

What was the happiest moment of your life? I went to Europe with my TCU Neeley peers and traveled to London, Isle of Skye, Dublin, and Barcelona with my BNSF Neeley Leadership cohort.

Which academic, extracurricular or personal achievement are you most proud of? I created a personal finance course at TCU with fellow students Bre Cooper and Andrew Rheil so graduate students will be able to have a better understanding of how to create a budget, do their taxes, and pay for their next home or car.

What animal would you choose to represent your professional brand? I would choose a lion because every animal respects the lion. They are confident and are fearless. In this world the only one who can hold you back from success is the person in the mirror.

Who would you most want to thank for your success? My mother and father because they gave me the opportunity to go to TCU. It ultimately set me up to have to amazing internships and a great full-time offer at graduation. I am extremely lucky to have great parents.

What would you like your business school peers to say about you after you graduate from this program? Zach was kind-hearted, worked hard, and was reliable.

Favorite book: I enjoy reading the Alex Cross series.

Favorite movie: Good Will Hunting

Favorite musical performer: Usher

Favorite vacation spot: Barcelona, Spain

What are your hobbies? I love to play basketball. I also love looking over my personal budget…yes, I know, but I’m a finance major.

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

“Zach Miller is a tireless investor in his own personal growth and the development of others. His consistency to be fully present, organized and prepared allows him to excel in anything from a formal presentation to an impromptu challenge that needs to be solved.”

Brett Phillips
Program Manager, BNSF Neeley Leadership Program
Neeley School of Business
Texas Christian University

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