2018 Best & Brightest: Kylie Regan, University of Richmond (Robins)

Kylie Regan

University of Richmond (Robins)

“Keep moving forward, keep learning, keep experiencing, and keep loving—the path to success.”

Fun fact about yourself: I competed on two Atlantic 10 Cross Country Conference Championship teams.

Hometown: Atkinson, New Hampshire

High School: Central Catholic High School (Lawrence, Massachusetts)

Major: Business Administration, Finance and Economics Double Concentration

Minor: Healthcare Studies

Favorite Business Course: Business Ethics with Dr. Phillips

Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles During College:

  • UR Women’s Cross Country and Track & Field: Team Leader, Scholar Athlete of the Year (Fall 2017), 2x Team A10 Conference Champion (2015, 2016), A10 All-Academic Team (Fall 2016 & 2017, Spring 2017)
  • Student Managed Investment Fund, Research with the Economics Department, Teaching Assistant for Business Python course (Spring 2018), Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Honor Society, Beta Gamma Sigma International Business Society, Finance Society, Fellowship of Christian Athletes

Where have you interned during your college career? The summer before senior year, I worked at J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. in their Global Finance and Business Management program in New York City, and I will be returning there post-graduation.

Where will you be working after graduation? J.P. Morgan Chase & Co., Global Finance and Business Management Analyst in New York City

What did you enjoy most about your business school? At the Robins School, I discovered a collaborative environment that encourages students to both work with and learn from each other. This aspect of Robins has made my learning experience more enjoyable and valuable.

What is the biggest lesson you gained from studying business? Effective leadership is integral to successfully achieving an organization’s goals. Through numerous case studies, it is evident that top management sets the tone, morale, and ethics for the full organization. I have applied this knowledge to the way I lead and set an example on my cross country team.

What advice would you give to a student looking to major in a business-related field? Enjoy and grow from your business classes, but also fill your schedule with liberal arts courses and other subjects that will widen the breadth of your knowledge. Being a well-rounded learner will give you a broader and more valuable perspective in your career and life.

“If I didn’t major in business, I would be majoring in or studying… public health because it is a field in which I could make a positive impact on the world. I have an inherent interest in the disparities that exist and improvements that must be made in the U.S. healthcare system and abroad.”

Who most influenced your decision to pursue business in college? My own curiosity and discovery process led me to business. Freshman year, I was truly undecided about what I wanted to major in. My first semester, I enrolled in Intro Chemistry as well as Microeconomics to survey two potential paths. Having never taken a business course before, economics at first was a foreign language to me. Soon, I realized that the subject excited me and just ‘made sense’ in my head. I decided to pursue a business school major, knowing how applicable my classes would be to many aspects of my adult life in addition to my career.

Which academic, extracurricular or personal achievement are you most proud of? I am most proud of my contributions and accolades as a teammate on the UR Cross Country and Track & Field teams. Through my consistent grit and driven mindset day in and day out, I have improved my running performances immensely during college and have earned numerous All-Conference honors and team championship titles.

If you were a dean for a day, what one thing would you change about the business school? I would reduce the number of business core classes required in order to leave more time for students to delve into career-specific classes within their concentration. I would have loved to take more finance courses throughout my time in college but was limited due to general major requirements.

Which classmate do you most admire? Joao Galbier. As the General Manager of our Student Managed Investment Fund, Joao has demonstrated his love of the markets, organizational skills, and group leadership ability. His dual degree in finance and physics shows his vast knowledge and drive to learn as much as possible in four years.

Who would you most want to thank for your success? I would like to thank my two younger sisters, Sarah and Caitlin. As the oldest sister of three, I have always strived to set the best example for my younger siblings. Also, their light-hearted personalities have consistently kept me grounded and balanced while pursuing my goals, which has ultimately led to success.

What would your theme song be? Soak Up the Sun” by Sheryl Crow

What are the top two items on your bucket list? Spending a month in New Zealand; Heli-skiing

Favorite book: Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult

Favorite movie: Remember the Titans

Favorite vacation spot: Kennebunkport, Maine. I have countless memories spending time in this quaint beach town with both my immediate and extended family over the years.

What are your hobbies? Competitive running (at UR), skiing, reading, traveling, exploring new cafés and restaurants

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

“As a teacher, every few years you come across a student who truly defines what academic excellence means. Kylie Regan is one such student. Her academic performance places her at the top of her business school class with a transcript that is peppered with ‘A+’ grades, signifying that she has regularly not only met the standards of excellence that would get her an ‘A’ grade, but has exceeded those standards in many classes forcing her many professors to acknowledge her performance with an ‘A+’ grade. Kylie has set the standard for others to follow.

Kylie’s excellence is not just confined to the classroom, but extends beyond it too. She is an athlete and team leader on the track & field and cross country teams, where she has won various Richmond and A10 conference honors, including being named the Top Student-Athlete in the Class of 2018. I will also note that Kylie takes her role of being a leader in the athletic community very seriously and regularly gives back to this community of athletes by both formally and informally serving as an academic tutor for their business classes. In addition to her athletics activities, she is also an active member of the larger campus community, including being a Senior Fund Manager on the Student Management Investment Fund, which handles $0.5 million of the University of Richmond endowment, and being a member of a number of clubs and societies.

Finally, I believe a truly excellent student is not just one who excels academically, but one who combines that academic excellence with a great personality. Kylie is kind, friendly, very mature, and has a confident calm demeanor. Her friends trust her, her student colleagues speak highly off her, and she has the unwavering respect of her professors and coaches. Kylie very expertly blends academic excellence with a great personality.

To end, on a personal note, Kylie has been one of the best research/teaching assistants I have ever had. She will be missed. But, as she graduates and heads out later this year, I and her other professors all believe she is headed for great things and will make us at UR and the Class of ’18 very proud. She has been, and will continue to be, an invaluable addition to the Class of ’18!”

Dr. Saif Mehkari
Associate Professor of Economics

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