2018 Best & Brightest: Brandon Luebbehusen, Indiana University (Kelley)

Brandon Luebbehusen

Indiana University Kelley School of Business

“Unapologetic Cat Person.”

Fun fact about yourself: My hometown has zero stoplights and a population of only 1,000.

Hometown: Saint Anthony, Indiana

High School: Forest Park Jr./Sr. High School

Major: Finance; Operations Management; International Business

Minor: N/A

Favorite Business Course: Business in a ‘Flat’ World (with study tour in India)

Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles during College:

Kelley Scholars Program (Four-year merit scholarship)

Kelley Senior Scholastic Certificate Recipient (Top 1% of graduating         seniors)

Kelley School of Business Honors Program

Hutton Honors College

Undergraduate Consulting Workshop

Bocconi University Exchange Program

Kelley Direct Admit Day

• Student Speaker (2018)

Alternative Break Program

• President (2017-18)
• Vice President (2016-17)
• Site Leader (2015-16)
• Participant (2014-15)

Honors Leadership Team

• Freshman Mentor (2017-18)

Indiana University Office of Admissions

• Student Ambassador (2014-18)
• Red Carpet Days Speaker (2016)

Out for Undergrad Business Conference

• Attendee (2016, 2017)

Indiana University Dance Marathon

• Committee Member (2016-17)
• Dancer (2015-16)

Social Enterprise Engagement at Kelley

• Vice President (2015-17)

Break Away Alternative Break Citizenship School

• Participant (2016)

Richard J. Wood Student Community Commitment Award

• Nominee (2016)

Global Connections Mentor Program

• Peer Mentor (2015-16)

Where have you interned during your college career?

Company

Kimball Electronics

Belden

EY

Location

Jasper, IN

Indianapolis, IN

Chicago, IL

Role

Finance Intern

Finance Intern

Advisory Consultant Intern

Where will you be working after graduation? I’ll be joining Bain & Company as an Associate Consultant in Chicago.

Who is your favorite professor? My favorite professor, Jeanette Heidewald, teaches Business Communications. Throughout the semester-long case project, Jeanette emphasized the value of peer feedback and how to deliver it effectively. She supported us above and beyond what’s required as a professor and expressed a genuine desire to know us on a personal level. My positive experience in her class and with the case project even inspired me to pursue a career in consulting.

What did you enjoy most about your business school? I’ve enjoyed the variety of study abroad opportunities available at Kelley. As a freshman and sophomore, I had the privilege of traveling to India and Hong Kong respectively, following eight-week courses on their economies and cultures. I then spent a semester in Italy during my junior year through an exchange program.

What is the biggest lesson you gained from studying business? This may sound cliché, but the biggest lesson I’ve gained is the importance of mentorship. Over the past few years, I’ve benefited from both formal and informal mentors who have offered their insight into everything from choosing a major to preparing for interviews. I’ve also had the privilege of mentoring eight freshmen through the honors program this year, which has allowed me to offer insight into my own experiences as well.

What advice would you give to a student looking to major in a business-related field? Find ways to get involved outside the business school. Serving as a campus tour guide has been one of my most rewarding experiences because it has allowed me to meet students from a variety of majors and influence the decisions of prospective students. It has also provided me with unique skills and perspectives to differentiate myself from other students.

“If I didn’t major in business, I would be majoring in or studying…political science because I hope to run for public office in the future.”

What has surprised you most about majoring in business? I’ve learned that even for-profit companies have the potential to benefit communities through their social impact efforts. When comparing different firms, I considered the opportunities they provide employees to engage with their communities. Bain’s pro bono consulting work really appealed to me, and I’m excited to become involved with it after graduation.

Who most influenced your decision to pursue business in college? My parents indirectly influenced my decision to pursue business. Growing up, I always searched for new ways to earn money. Before each endeavor, I pitched a ‘business plan’ to them. They supported me in selling on eBay, flipping antiques, and investing in stocks at a young age. All of these experiences led me to develop an interest in studying business.

Which academic, extracurricular or personal achievement are you most proud of? I’m most proud of my involvement with Alternative Break Program, an organization that offers service-learning trips during Thanksgiving, winter, and spring breaks. I’ve participated since freshman year and serve as the current president. During my past two years as an executive board member, I’ve helped increase the number of participants by 50 percent, develop educational materials for each trip, and shift toward more mind-based service opportunities, such as micro-consulting.

If you were a dean for a day, what one thing would you change about the business school? Many students in Kelley avoid joining organizations outside the business school, and they miss out on the opportunities found all across campus. As a dean, I would encourage students to maintain some degree of campus-wide involvement throughout their four years, which would support a more cohesive student population and foster more diverse perspectives.

Which classmate do you most admire? I most admire Rachael Sun, whom I met through our Business Presentations course freshman year. On the second day of class, we each presented a personal ‘sales pitch,’ and I remember feeling intimidated after hearing her speak. However, I realize how fortunate I’ve been to know her over these past four years. She has accomplished so much and has made a huge impact through her academic and extracurricular involvement, yet she’s still just as humble and eager to learn as when she first arrived on campus.

Who would you most want to thank for your success? I owe any future success to my parents. They’ve always encouraged me to set ambitious goals, yet they’ve never voiced disappointment when I’ve fallen short of reaching them. My parents have exemplified how to maintain a healthy family life as well, and I know they’ll continue supporting me throughout my future endeavors.

What would your theme song be? My theme song would be “I Lived” by One Republic, which is about living life to the fullest. I’ve been fortunate enough to travel often during college, and this has been one of the ways I’ve made the most of these past four years.

What are the top two items on your bucket list? The top two items on my bucket list are running for public office and visiting all 50 states.

Favorite book: Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer

Favorite movie: Star Wars (all of them)

Favorite vacation spot: Lisbon, Portugal

What are your hobbies? My hobbies include playing soccer and tennis, searching for cheap flights, traveling to foreign cities, and playing Settlers of Catan.

What made Brandon such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2018?

“During his four years at Kelley, Brandon’s contributions to our community across a variety of domains have been powerful and characterized by a relentless and inspiring desire to give back through service to others. As a freshman and sophomore, Brandon was deeply engaged in the leadership of Social Enterprise Engagement at Kelley, a student organization housed in the Kelley Institute for Social Impact (KISI) that focuses on forging partnerships with national and local nonprofits. As an upperclassman, he continued his work with KISI in two different leadership roles with the Alternative Break Program. As both president and vice president of finance for ABP, Brandon successfully managed a seven-member executive board and provided fiscal oversight of a $100,000 budget that funded service-learning projects around the world. Additionally, during his senior year Brandon served on the Honors Leadership Team as a peer mentor and as a student ambassador for the Office of Admissions. His example of service, in addition to his high bar for excellence in the classroom and the leadership he demonstrated during three different study abroad programs, have combined to make Brandon an invaluable addition to the Class of 2018.”

Joshua E. Perry
Faculty Chair, Undergraduate Program
Glaubinger Chair for Undergraduate Leadership
Indiana University, Kelley School of Business

DON’T MISS: THE BEST & BRIGHTEST BUSINESS MAJORS OF 2018 — THE COMPLETE LIST