2019 Best & Brightest: Danielle Hatter, University of Pittsburgh

Danielle Hatter

University of Pittsburgh

A detail-oriented Texan, future dog mom, spin enthusiast, and Michelle Obama in progress.”

Fun fact about yourself: In second grade, I made my MTV debut as the little girl in the Mike Jones “Back Then” music video

Hometown: Pearland, Texas

High School: Glenda Dawson High School

Major: Finance

Minor: Certificate in Leadership and Ethics

Favorite Business Course: Risk Management & Managing in Complex Environments

Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles During College:

President, Freshmen Leadership Program Coordinator, and Community Service Chair of the Roberto Clemente Minority Business Association (RCMBA)

Treasurer, Secretary, and Standards Chair of the Iota Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated

Member of the Judicial Committee with the Student Government Board

Treasurer, Secretary, Standards Chair of the Iota Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated

Undergraduate International Committee Member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated

Admissions Ambassador and Professional Development Consultant for the College of Business Administration

Where have you interned during your college career?

Council for Advancement & Support of Education (CASE): Pittsburgh, PA Advancement Intern

Ernst and Young (EY): Greater Washington D.C, Launch Intern

Ernst and Young (EY): Greater Washington D.C, Business Advisory Intern

Where will you be working after graduation? KPMG, Greater Washington D.C Operations & Compliance Consultant

What company do you admire most? SoulCycle, I love how inspiring the atmosphere is whenever you walk into a SoulCycle studio or speak to anyone who represents the company. They truly strive to make everyone feel empowered and inspired. I also really appreciate their business model and how universal the studios are across the country.

Who is your favorite professor? There is no one professor that I can pick that is my favorite. Every class and professor that I have taken has shaped my college experience in a unique way. Some helped to challenge my way of thinking and push me out of my comfort zone. While some showed me kindness and understanding when I felt overwhelmed.

What did you enjoy most about your business school? The staff and the mentorship from upperclassmen.

What is the biggest lesson you gained from studying business? Presentation and preparation are key!

What advice would you give to a student looking to major in a business-related field? Network, network, network! It’s important to connect with your peers, upperclassmen and the faculty/staff within your university in addition to recruiters from various corporations. You never know what you may need in the future.

What has surprised you most about majoring in business? I was surprised by how many people are willing to help you if you just reach out and ask for a helping hand.

“If I didn’t major in business, I would be majoring in or studying…Political Science, I’ve always loved government and wanted to go to law school.”

Who most influenced your decision to pursue business in college? Donald Hatter, my father, encouraged me the summer before my senior year in high school to take a business class at Northwestern University. During that summer, I really enjoyed my course and decided business was something I wanted to pursue in college.

Which academic, extracurricular or personal achievement are you most proud of? I am most proud of running the Pittsburgh Half Marathon in May 2018. In August 2017, I could barely run a mile and decided I wanted to change that. I begin running more regularly and signed up for the Pittsburgh Half. Next thing I knew I completed something that seemed nearly impossible to me when I first began training!

Which classmate do you most admire? I admire my dear friend and classmate Luisa Offori. We have known each other since freshman year and she has constantly helped push me academically and professionally.

Who would you most want to thank for your success? Everett Green, I met Everett on my admitted student’s day my senior year of high school. Once I stepped on campus we reconnected and he became my mentor through RCMBA’s Freshman Leadership Program. He helped guide me through my first two years at Pitt while on campus and sparked my interest in consulting! Additionally, he inspired my desire to want to give back to the current freshmen and to help recruit high school seniors to Pitt!

What are the top two items on your bucket list?

  • Have dinner with Michelle Obama
  • Open a boutique fitness studio

What are your hobbies? Cooking, Working Out, and Traveling

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

“Danielle has contributed substantially to the Class of 2019 through her numerous leadership roles in a variety of organizations both within and outside of Pitt Business. One of her most significant roles was serving as the president of the Roberto Clemente Minority Business Association. RCMBA is a key resource for diversity students at Pitt Business. The organization is dedicated to academic excellence, visionary leadership, diversity, and service to the Pittsburgh community and the world. As president, Danielle led the group’s steering committee and worked to facilitate programs and activities for students focused on social and professional development and community service.

Danielle has also served the school for two years as a Pitt Business Student Ambassador. In this important and visible position, Danielle meets with prospective families and speaks at admissions programs. Danielle is an excellent Ambassador. She is warm, friendly, articulate, and skilled at helping prospective students feel at home when visiting. Families appreciate Danielle’s genuine and down-to-earth personality, and the preview she provides of the school when speaking about her experiences as a student. Danielle’s enthusiasm for the school is infectious, and she has no doubt encouraged many students to follow her path to Pitt Business.

Additionally, Danielle assists her fellow students as a Professional Development Consultant (PDC) in the Pitt Business Career Development office. As a PDC, Danielle meets with Pitt Business students three days a week to review and provide feedback on their resumes and cover letters. Danielle easily connects with students by sharing her professional and extracurricular experiences, and by offering information about resources and organizations that may be helpful to them. Danielle goes “above and beyond” in this role to ensure that students are making the most of their opportunities at Pitt Business.

Danielle is a fantastic member of the Pitt Business Class of 2019. She embodies so many of the qualities that we promote in our Pitt Business students. She is highly motivated, hard-working, positive, and seeks out opportunities to lead, connect, and contribute. She has a strong track record of giving back to the school and her peers throughout her time as a student. In addition, Danielle has taken advantage of a number of signature experiences at Pitt Business. In addition to excelling in her academics, Danielle has participated in the Plus3 study abroad program in Costa Rica, completed numerous professional internships, and consulted with a variety of non-profit and service organizations as part of the Certificate Program in Leadership and Ethics. Danielle will surely be missed at Pitt Business after graduation. But we have every confidence that this bright young lady will continue to excel and we are eager to see where her future leads.”

Lisa Cherok
Director of Admissions
Pitt Business