Samuel Jacobson

Southern Methodist University, Cox School of Business

“Native Floridian. Reluctant Texan. Fitness nerd. Amateur chef. Aspiring world traveler. Subpar caption writer.”

Fun fact about yourself: I’m from Orlando, Florida and I am terrified of rollercoasters.

Hometown: Orlando, Florida

High School: Trinity Preparatory School, Winter Park, FL

Major: Finance with a specialization in Alternative Asset Management

Favorite Business Course: “Evolution of American Capitalism,” taught by Professor Albert Niemi, was my favorite course. I found it to be a fascinating examination of current and historical political events through a business lens.

Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles During College:

Leadership Roles:

• Habitat for Humanity, SMU Chapter President and PR Chair
• Beta Theta Pi, VP of Member Development and Philanthropy Chair
• Boulevard Investment Group, Senior Advisor of Energy
• EnCap Investments and LCM Group Alternative Asset Management Center (“AAMC”), Associate / Teaching Assistant
• Cox Career Management Center, Peer Coach
• Cox BBA Ambassador
• Mortar Board Society, Philanthropy Chair
• Loyd Residential Commons, Chief of Staff

Honors and Awards:

• Don Jackson Center for Financial Studies Fellow
• Robert S. Hyer Honor Society Member
• 2019 University Award for Outstanding Scholar Recipient
• AAMC Pitch Competition Winner
• Mortar Board Top 10 Sophomore and Honor Society Member
• Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society Member
• Alpha Chi Honor Society Member
• Sanofi-Genzyme US Scholarship Winner
• Honor Roll with High Distinction (all semesters)

Where have you interned during your college career?

• Lantern Asset Management (Dallas, TX) – Private Equity Intern, Special Situations
• PricewaterhouseCoopers Corporate Finance (Houston, TX) – Investment Banking Summer Analyst
• US Bank (Dallas, TX) – Corporate Banking Summer Analyst
• MSE Group (Orlando, FL) – Project Management Intern

Where will you be working after graduation? After graduation, I’ll be joining Moelis & Company’s team in Houston as an Investment Banking Analyst.

Who is your favorite professor? My favorite professor is Liliana Hickman-Riggs. She was my first professor at Cox and built the foundation for my understanding of the business world through Financial and Managerial Accounting. She inspired and encouraged my interest in business and drove me to become the best student I could be. She is not only a world-class professor but also a wonderful person who sincerely cares for each of her students. She has been both a great mentor and friend to me during my time at SMU.

What did you enjoy most about your business school? In a single word, opportunity was what I enjoyed most about business school. No matter your major or future career goals, there are programs and communities that leverage the Cox network to provide an unparalleled learning and networking experience.

The Alternative Asset Management Center, a finance-focused honors program, has been a large part of my last two years on campus and has been instrumental in both my personal and professional development. I have met some of the most talented and driven individuals in finance through this program.

What is the biggest lesson you gained from studying business? The biggest lesson I’ve gained from studying business is the importance of adaptability. In today’s constantly changing world, adaptability (both proactive and reactive) is a prerequisite for continued success, for both individuals and for corporations.

What has surprised you most about majoring in business? One of the most surprising things to me was the interconnection within the business curriculum. Finance wouldn’t exist without the foundation of Accounting and wouldn’t be useful without Marketing. In order to succeed in business, you need to understand and connect information across various disciplines and industries.

“If I didn’t major in business, I would be majoring in or studying…Biology and Physiology. I’ve always loved science and animals, so I’d be on a pre-vet track and eventually pursue veterinary medicine.”

Who most influenced your decision to pursue business in college? My dad most influenced my decision to pursue business. He created his own path by starting a small business. He is a great proponent of the life lessons one can learn through business.

Which academic, extracurricular or personal achievement are you most proud of? I am most proud of the opportunity that I have had over the last few semesters to mentor younger students. Throughout my time at SMU, I have had several peer mentors who have each guided, inspired, and challenged me to reach my fullest potential. Through positions at the Cox Career Center, the Alternative Asset Management Center, and my fraternity, I have strived to provide similar guidance to other students and to pay it forward for others.

Which classmate do you most admire? I most admire my classmate, Jake Simeon. He has the rare ability to light up any room he walks into and is one of the most genuinely kind people I know. As a fraternity brother and friend since freshman year, I have had the great opportunity of watching him mature and recently embrace his entrepreneurial spirit. I can’t wait to see what he does in the future.

Who would you most want to thank for your success? I’d be remiss to not thank both of my parents. They have been my greatest inspiration and my biggest cheerleaders. I wouldn’t have any of these opportunities without them.

I also want to specifically acknowledge and thank my mom. She immigrated to the United States and has overcome so many challenges, has an incredible work ethic, and is an unwavering source of support and inspiration for me.

What are the top two items on your bucket list?

• Sleep under the Northern Lights in Iceland
• Experience the Top 50 restaurants in the world

What are your hobbies? Fitness, Mixed Martial Arts, Cooking, and Traveling

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

“Sam Jacobson is a business professor’s dream. Not only is he one of our top students in the classroom, but his devotion to making his community better outside the classroom is unparalleled. There are few students that can represent SMU and the Cox School better. From his leadership with Habitat for Humanity, to his mentorship for other Cox students, Sam exhibits the best that his generation has to offer. He has said some of his most rewarding experiences at the Cox School were the times he was able to mentor younger students with their career goals through the Don Jackson Center for Financial Studies and the Cox Career Management Center. It’s that desire to always give back that makes Sam so exceptional. He works tirelessly to make sure that the Cox community is a better place. Despite being one of the busiest students in the program, somehow he still finds time to give back in any capacity we ask of him. We’ll feel his absence in our BBA program next year, but we will be proud knowing that Sam Jacobson is an alumnus of SMU Cox.”

Jim Bryan
Associate Dean, SMU Cox BBA Program