2020 Best & Brightest: Jordan Sibley, Ohio State (Fisher)

Jordan Sibley

Ohio State University, Fisher College of Business

“I am a motivating, God-fearing, self-driven, responsible individual who intends to uplift and create change.”

Fun fact about yourself: I have two: My brother and I were born less than 12 months apart, and I have met the CEO of a Fortune 500 company.

Hometown: Akron, Ohio

High School: Buchtel High School

Major: Marketing

Minor: Music, Media and Enterprise

Favorite Business Course: Social Marketing and Public Policy

Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles During College:

Project Grad Akron

  • Scholarship Recipient
  • Volunteer
  • Advocate Speaker

Young Scholars Program

  • Scholarship Recipient
  • Peer Success Leader
  • Lead Ambassador
  • Academic Success Partner

Fisher FIRST (Focusing on Inclusion and Readiness for a Successful Transition)

  • Inaugural mentor
  • Mentor manager

Pace Setters Award Recipient

  • Highest honor awarded by Fisher College of Business that recognizes outstanding academic achievement, leadership, and service

Council of Black Students in Administration

  • Co-President
    • Work to provide the resources needed to advance the needs and prepare African American students for professional careers.
    • Leverage relationships and partnerships with companies and recruiters.

Black Student Association

  • North Campus Ambassador
    • Supported all organization activities through partnerships with North Campus Hall representatives at Ohio State.

Buck-I Serv Volunteer

  • Weeklong service trip in Washington D.C.
  • Volunteered over 40 hours at the Food & Friends facility
    • Delivering and preparing meals for people with special dietary needs

Where have you interned during your college career?

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Chase Leadership Development Program—Summer Analyst

Where will you be working after graduation?

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Chase Leadership Development Program—Rotational Analyst

What company do you admire the most? I admire TOMS shoes and their social entrepreneurship business model. For every pair of shoes someone purchases, a pair is donated to a child or person in Argentina. In addition to the profitable footwear side of its business, the company simultaneously addresses a social issue, which is something I have considered for my future.

Who is your favorite professor? I don’t have a favorite professor; I feel as though I have built great relationships with several that know me on a first-name basis and whose doors are always open for me to stop in and chat. Among these are Ty Shepfer, Susan Clark, Marc Smith, Terry Esper, David Terry Paul, and Curtis Haugtvedt.

Before arriving at Ohio State, the Young Scholars Program taught me that scholars sit in the front. This ultimately builds confidence and courage in an unfamiliar setting and you find yourself conversing with the professor and other students before and after class. This helps you become well-acquainted with the class and comfortable with the professor.

What did you enjoy most about your business school? I enjoyed the wide variety of courses I have been exposed to, from computer science and engineering to accounting. I also enjoyed the relationships I have built with several of my professors, which allowed me to approach classes differently, made me more comfortable asking for help, and helped me adapt to the new environment. There were also several resources and classes that have helped me advance my college and professional career.

What is the biggest lesson you gained from studying business? There isn’t ever one solution to a problem. What makes us unique individuals are the different ways in which we approach and come to a solution to a problem. I have learned to keep an open mind, so I can better understand people and the world around me.

What advice would you give to a student looking to major in a business-related field? Be confident in why you chose business as a major; it creates a great foundation and it opens the door to several career paths outside of the corporate space. Keep an open mind and don’t let others dictate your future.

What has surprised you most about majoring in business?  I was surprised by the number of specialization options there are to choose from at Fisher, as well as in business.

Which academic, extracurricular or personal achievement are you most proud of? I am proud that I took a step outside of my comfort zone and decided to study abroad for three months in Uganda. It was a life-changing experience that I enjoyed every minute of it.

Which classmate do you most admire? Jocelyn Robertson is a like-minded individual who has used her passion and perspective as a Hispanic student to drive social change through the enhancements in diversity and inclusion. She performs exceptionally well academically, socially, and professionally and takes pride in her work in and out the classroom. She has great character and believes in the success of those around her. She keeps an open mind and is extremely reliable.

I admire her resilience and her drive — she isn’t afraid to share her background and how she has overcome different obstacles and has used those challenges as motivation to keep striving for success. Jocelyn can easily turn a negative situation to a positive one, and she lights up the room with her laugh and smile. She isn’t afraid to try something new or challenge her mental and physical abilities. She has kept me motivated and has been a great friend and my partner in crime since the day I met her!

Who would you most want to thank for your success? My parents have done an excellent job of breaking generational challenges and providing us with traditions and values we can carry throughout our lives. They have shown undying love and support to our various educational and career options and began setting us up for success at a very young age.

What are the top two items on your professional bucket list? To create a long-lasting impact wherever I choose to work in the future and to take my skills and intellect to the next level by pursuing my MBA and a law degree.

What are your hobbies? I love to read, play basketball, take workout classes and sessions with Orange Theory Fitness, watch movies and re-watch favorite TV series. And I love to travel.

What made Jordan such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2020?

“Jordan Sibley was a student in my finance class last semester. There are over 1,200 students in the course, so it is difficult for me to get to know the students unless they make an effort to meet with me outside of class or to participate in class. Jordan did both.

She came to my office early in the semester to talk to me about the course, her background, and her goals. As a part of Fisher FIRST program, she talked to me about the importance of going to college to get her degree. She was such a pleasure to have in class and to get to know.

Jordan always participated in my lectures and recitations, even though there were 600 students in the lecture and close to 90 students in the recitation section. Even if her answer wasn’t correct, she was quick to want to understand why. Her questions about the material were thoughtful and helped break the ice for other students to lose their fear of talking in class.

Jordan’s personality is infectious. I don’t know if I ever saw her upset or frustrated. She worked hard to be successful in my class and never got discouraged. I would see Jordan working in the computer labs when I would leave after a long day of teaching. She always greeted me with a smile and kind words. It made my day!

Jordan’s positive attitude and determination are qualities that will help her be successful once she graduates. She is one of those memorable students that will be a part of my life long after she graduates.”

Susan Clark
Senior Lecturer in Finance

DON’T MISS: THE ENTIRE TOP 100 BEST & BRIGHTEST BUSINESS MAJORS OF 2020

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