Delaney Walsh

University of Michigan, Ross School of Business

“Creative go-getter with a passion for people, zeal for hilarity, and a penchant for adventure.”

Fun fact about yourself: I was almost on Teen Jeopardy.

Hometown: Villa Park, CA

High School: Villa Park High School

Major: Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing

Minor: N/A

Favorite Business Course: Marketing 403 – Brand Management

Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles During College:

– Pi Beta Phi Fraternity for Women (Held Director New Member Experience role)

– Alpha Phi Omega Community Service Fraternity (Held following roles: Alpha House Chair, Leadership Chair, Newsletter Chair, All-Service Chair. Also attended Alternative Summer Break service trip in 2019).

– Research Assistant for project in Ford School of Public Policy (Published in 10/22)

– BA 200 Course Assistant

– Ross BBA Ambassador

– BA 100/102 Peer Mentor

– Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP)

– Resident Advisor

– Campus Tour Guide

– Baits II Hall Council Vice President

– Award: Third Place – Michigan Advertising and Marketing Club Case Competition

Where have you interned during your college career?

– Newmeyer and Dillion – Costa Mesa, CA: Summer Legal Clerk

– Solorio City Organizers – Santa Ana, CA: Campaign Intern

– Flood Law PLLC – Detroit, MI: Marketing Intern

– Procter & Gamble – Cincinnati, OH: Brand Management Intern

Where will you be working after graduation? Procter and Gamble – Brand Manager

Who is your favorite business professor? I loved working as a course assistant for Professor Cathy Shakespeare. The genuine care and attention she places on each of her students, combined with her constant behind-the-scenes work to champion inclusivity at Ross, makes her the ideal advocate for students just beginning their Ross experience. Cathy is patient, passionate, and seamlessly introduces students to complex problems through the lens of positive business.

What is the biggest lesson you gained from studying business? For a while, I was afraid that I didn’t have the experiences that I thought were needed to find success as a business student. I started college in a different major and had extracurricular involvement across a variety of different disciplines at Michigan. I feared that my lack of experience with some of the more competitive business clubs would keep me from the professional connections and opportunities that I was seeking. Instead, I found that there was value in the uniqueness of my college journey. Job recruiters were interested in the story that brought me to them; I found through my internship that the experiences that I feared were insufficient did, in fact, provide me with a unique perspective from which to attack business problems. It really taught me that there is no one “right” path to follow in pursuit of undergraduate business success, and that being myself and following my passions has had its own payoff.

What advice would you give to a student looking to major in a business-related field? Be a human first, a businessperson second. It can be easy to get swept up in a world of numbers, salaries, and status as you consider your educational path and career opportunities. At the end of the day, businesses exist to meet the needs of people. Taking classes and engaging in extracurriculars that assist you in understanding a diverse range of human experiences is equally as important for developing business skills as taking core business classes.

What has surprised you most about majoring in business? I have been pleasantly surprised by Ross’s commitment to teaching the importance of positive business, social responsibility, and ethics. Using my future business platform as a launching pad for a more sustainable, equitable, and inclusive world is very important to me. I am thankful that Ross has given me a framework to encourage me to start thinking about achieving these goals from the moment I step into the workplace.

What business leader do you admire most? Sal Khan, who has dedicated his career to increasing accessibility to educational resources via his well-known, non-profit learning platform, Khan Academy. His commitment to purpose-driven business leadership in tandem with his values-based product offering is one that I hope to emulate as I move forward in my career.

Which academic, extracurricular or personal achievement are you most proud of? Getting into the Ross Global Semester Exchange program (and the abroad experience that ensued) is the achievement I am most proud of. Studying in Paris absolutely changed my life, from the lifelong friendships that I developed, to the global perspective on business I gained, to the growth and independence that I experienced on both solo and group excursions to nine different countries. The confidence that I unlocked as a woman in business traveling and learning internationally is one that I didn’t know I could have, but has propelled me forward in all of my endeavors since.

Which classmate do you most admire? William Lee, who is a year ahead of me and currently in the Masters of Accounting program. I met Will before I applied to Ross, and his drive and willingness to learn has always inspired me. He provided me with guidance when I was first starting my Ross experience and let me know that I belonged when I felt doubtful. I look up to him as both a friend and a professional, and I doubt I would have applied to Ross if I hadn’t seen the success that was possible through his experience.

Who would you most want to thank for your success? Greta Adornetto, Ross’ Assistant Director of Recruitment Initiatives. Greta was one of the first people in my Ross experience who actively identified the diversity of my college experiences as a strength. She helped me to realize the value in my college journey; she gave me the tools and opportunities to develop confidence in my role as a BBA Ambassador when highlighting this journey for prospective Ross students. As a result of her encouragement, I felt inspired to seek out additional leadership and extracurricular experiences in Ross, which I believe have all contributed substantially to my success thus far.

What are the top two items on your professional bucket list? I love the NPR podcast “How I Built This” with Guy Raz. If I ever created something impactful enough to be a guest on that show (or something like it), I’ll know that I made it. Second, and more importantly, I hope to become successful enough that I have the power to create real change at the community level and move towards my aforementioned goals of contributing to a more sustainable, equitable, and inclusive society.

What are your hobbies? I love arts and crafts, reading, watching movies, yoga, travel, baking, listening to Harry Styles, and volunteering.

What made Delaney such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2023?

“Delaney Walsh has been a pivotal member of the Ross Undergraduate Admissions staff as a BBA Ambassador and a contributing member of the Ross community. She is the epitome of a well-rounded student and fearless in approaching new challenges as seen by her range of involvement from studying abroad in Paris, being a resident assistant, tour guide, and teaching assistant to having her work published as a research assistant.

Her reflective nature allows her to deeply connect with those around her because she is genuinely interested in learning through conversations and experiences. She is honest about sharing her own experiences that have allowed her to grow, and therefore, has been a powerful mentor to students at Ross and prospective students alike. One of my favorite moments was when she articulated her business acumen and experience in a group activity with a High School organization introducing them to business. She thought quickly on her feet, engaged with the students as they asked her questions and she provided thought provoking comments for them to consider. I was impressed by the way she utilized her knowledge from her internship at Procter and Gamble to bring in real world examples that brought this session to life for students. Delaney embodies the Ross ideals by challenging herself and others to try new things, give back and engage in the campus community as a whole.”

Greta Adornetto
Assistant Director, Recruitment Initiatives

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