Susana Lacouture
Villanova University School of Business
“Fun, loyal and driven by a love of travel and a passion for people.”
Fun fact about yourself: I was born in Barranquilla, Colombia and moved to the US when I was six years old. Most of my family still resides in Colombia.
Hometown: Houston, TX
High School: Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart
Major: Finance, Economics, International Business
Minor: French
Favorite Business Course: Game Theory, Fixed Income Capital Markets
Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles During College:
- Chief Economics Officer, Equity Society (2017-present)
- Fundraising Committee Member, SREHUP: Student-run Emergency Housing Unit of Pennsylvania (2017-present)
- Villanova Service & Justice Experience, Volunteer (Fall 2017)
- Villanova Ambassador, Blue Key Society (2014-present)
- Global Leadership Fellow, Center for Global Leadership (2014-present)
- International Projects Chair, Business without Borders (2014-2016)
- French National Honor Society (2015-present)
Where have you interned during your college career?
- Barclays: Investment Banking Summer Analyst; New York, NY (Summer 2017)
- Goldman Sachs: Asset Management Summer Analyst; New York, NY (Summer 2016)
- Hedgebrunch: Business Development Analyst; London, UK (Summer 2015)
- Lux Development Bank: Business Consultant; Esteli, Nicaragua (Fall 2014)
- Atunec: Summer Intern; Barranquilla, Colombia (Summer 2014)
Where will you be working after graduation? I will be returning to Barclays as an Investment Banking Analyst.
What did you enjoy most about your business school? The people. I built a great network within the business school of classmates, professors and alums. My journey at Villanova has been influenced and molded by the friendships and mentoring relationships I’ve developed throughout the years.
What is the biggest lesson you gained from studying business? The importance of investing in your self-development and pushing yourself outside your comfort zone. While the courses I took were great, I learned most through those experiences such as study abroad and internships.
What advice would you give to a student looking to major in a business-related field? Study and be knowledgeable about fields outside of business. I’ve found classes in the College of Arts & Science such as sociology, political science and language courses to be an asset to my business studies. Through interdisciplinary studies, I developed invaluable skills such as a new language and learned how to think creatively and critically.
“If I didn’t major in business, I would be majoring in or studying…Political Science. I have always been fascinated by political theory and international relations. I believe that following world politics is critical for any business student as it helps to understand the economy and culture of a country through which a business might operate.”
What has surprised you most about majoring in business? The amount of team work required to be successful. I had always been used to doing work on my own in an academic setting, but quickly realized that in business school working well with other people produces better results.
Which academic, extracurricular or personal achievement are you most proud of? I am most proud of always challenging myself to use what I know to help others. My involvement with Business without Borders and the fundraising committee of SREHUP have put many skills I’ve learned to good use. Being able to give back has been most gratifying.
If you were a dean for a day, what one thing would you change about the business school? I would open more programs such as a consulting practice for students to have paid real-world experience during the academic year.
Which classmate do you most admire? Joelle Abi-Nader for her emotional intelligence and ability to relate to anyone. She genuinely celebrates other classmates’ success and is always ready to help you move forward when you fall.
Who would you most want to thank for your success? My parents for their unconditional love and unwavering support. They’ve instilled in me the values that drive all my decisions and their confidence in me has enabled me to achieve my goals.
What would your theme song be? “How Far I’ll Go” from the movie Moana. It captures the feelings I’ve had when coming to Villanova, studying abroad, and now choosing to start my career in New York City.
What are the top two items on your bucket list? Travel to Australia and learn how to sail (then maybe I can try sailing across the world).
Favorite book: A Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Favorite movie: The Breakfast Club
Favorite vacation spot: Cartagena, Colombia
What are your hobbies? Traveling, Dancing, Reading
What made Susana such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2018?
“Susana is an outstanding student that displays a level of poise and professionalism beyond her years. She is completing the requirements for a triple major in International Business, Finance and Economics that is complemented by a French minor all while maintaining a 3.96 GPA. Susana is on the Dean’s List and a member of the French National Honor Society and the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. She is part of the prestigious Global Leadership Fellows program that is designed to provide students with an opportunity to emphasize and integrate global leadership throughout their entire undergraduate experience. Overseeing the Global Leadership Fellows program has allowed me to witness Susana’s transformation into an even more established and talented young woman. She is genuinely kind and generous with her time and energy. She was always the first to volunteer anytime I needed student representatives for presentations, meeting with guests and important donors as well as student teams for external competitions. Susana Lacouture is without a doubt one of our “Best & Brightest” undergraduate students in 2018!”
Kimberly Cahill
Director, The Elenore and Robert F. Moran Sr. Center for Global Leadership
Villanova School of Business
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