Anders Larsen

University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Business

“Mega-fan of all things Wisconsin trying his luck in San Francisco to escape cold weather.”

Fun fact about yourself: My first college internship was marketing toilets and seats! My project was to find ways to encourage people to talk to others about their personal toileting experiences. (yes, the toileting experience is a thing!)

Hometown: Manitowoc, Wisconsin

High School: Lincoln High School

Major: Marketing

Favorite Business Course: Design Driven Innovation

Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles During College:

• Founding President, Wisconsin Undergraduate Business Council
• Vice President, Mu Kappa Tau Honorary Marketing Society
• Vice President, Wisconsin BBA Student Government
• Student Representative, Wisconsin School of Business Dean Search
• Student Representative, University of Wisconsin-Madison Provost Search
• Student Ambassador, Wisconsin BBA Admissions and Recruitment
• Business Emerging Leaders Program Mentor, Wisconsin BBA Pre-College Programs
• Dean’s List
• Direct Admit to Wisconsin School of Business

Where have you interned during your college career?

• Kohler Company, Kohler, Wisconsin, Integrated Marketing Planning Intern (2016)
• Intuit, Mountain View, California, QuickBooks Product Marketing Intern (2017)
• Intuit, Mountain View, California, QuickBooks Global Marketing Intern (2018)

Where will you be working after graduation? Intuit, Associate Marketing Manager

What company do you admire most? Warby Parker – Not only was the company a small eyeglass startup that went toe-to-toe with massive players in an established industry but it also has provided a model example of how to integrate online with brick and mortar for a seamless customer experience that creates brand love! Pair that with strong actions around social responsibility and I think the company is well positioned for a great future.

What did you enjoy most about your business school? The people. Everyone here is incredibly smart, yet hardworking and humble. From the professors to the students and the staff, everyone wants you to succeed and pushes you to be the best you can be. You can go up against someone for a job and still be great friends afterward. There aren’t many schools where that happens, and I am so glad I found it at Wisconsin.

What has surprised you most about majoring in business? Business is just as much about the soft skills as it is about the hard skills. While it is essential to understand financial statements, marketing plans, and laws governing your work, it is equally essential to understand team dynamics, leadership styles, and interpersonal skills. It is important to be able to work with data, but it is just as important to be able to take those data-driven insights and tell an effective story that senior leaders will understand and act on.

“If I didn’t major in business, I would be majoring in or studying…computer science so I can build tech solutions that will make society better.”

Who most influenced your decision to pursue business in college? Throughout high school, I helped my dad however I could to run our family business. I always admired the way he grew the business and made smart decisions. He made me want to study business in college so I too could understand how to grow businesses as he does. Thanks, Dad!

Which academic, extracurricular or personal achievement are you most proud of? In Spring 2017, I started the Wisconsin Undergraduate Business Council alongside my best friend (and also P&Q Best and Brightest!), Ellie Brockman. After coming back from the Undergraduate Business School Leadership Conference at Emory, we saw that Wisconsin had a real opportunity to have a better student government that would provide impactful programming for all business students. We pitched a big plan with massive events, fought for buy-in, and got the approval to start this incredible group. I led the organization for its first year, moved the needle from serving about 50 students in the student government’s old form to over 1,500 students with Undergraduate Business Council. Building something that will continue to impact students for many years to come is something that I will always be proud of.

Which classmate do you most admire? I met Rachel Ley through working together in undergraduate business admissions. I had the privilege of becoming friends and working in a group together for the course “Design-Driven Innovation.” She is one of the humblest, kindest, and wickedly smart people I have ever met. I can’t wait to follow her success after graduation!

Who would you most want to thank for your success? My career advisor, Jamie Marsh. Jamie met with me as a freshman to help me find an internship and she has been with me every step of the way since. She helped me craft my first resume, prep for my first interviews, and was always there to reassure me whenever I thought my career search was falling apart. She connected me with alumni to talk with when I approached the topic of getting an internship in Silicon Valley, recommended Intuit, and has now set me up for the best start to my career that I could ask for. It is rare to find someone in such a big university that is so heavily invested in your personal success, and I am so happy I found that in Jamie!

What are the top two items on your bucket list? Work internationally and run for public office!

What are your hobbies? I love to spend time on the water, whether sailing, swimming, or boating with friends and family. If I’m not on the water, I’m probably looking for some live music or great food!

What made Anders such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2019?

“I have come to know Anders as a valuable asset to our BBA Admissions Ambassador Team. He is hardworking, dependable, and incredibly passionate about the Wisconsin School of Business. From meeting with prospective students and families, representing the undergraduate students on the Dean Search and Screen Committee, to co-founding the Undergraduate Business Council, Anders has gone above and beyond to help strengthen the Business Badger Community.

As a junior, Anders took on a unique and important role with the goal of strengthening the undergraduate Business community. He worked to create the Wisconsin Business Council. He identified the need for a governing body to represent undergraduate Business students, and he led the creation of the council to build community and engage our BBA students through programming and services focused on personal and professional development.

Within his role as a BBA Admissions Ambassador, Anders has met with countless prospective students and families and has done an excellent job of upholding the values of the BBA while being personable and letting his enthusiasm and love for the program shine.”

Kate McNally
BBA Admissions & Recruitment Counselor