2023 Best & Brightest Business Major: Lexi Magenheim, University of Virginia (McIntire)

Lexi Magenheim

University of Virginia, McIntire School of Commerce

“Upside down is my right side up!”

Fun fact about yourself: I love to type and once clocked 113 WPM! Challenge me to a race.

Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio

High School: Indian Hill High School

Major: Commerce (Marketing and Information Technology Concentrations, Strategic Brand Consulting & Promotions Track) and Media Studies

Minor: N/A

Favorite Business Course: Promotions Capstone – A year-long, nine credit course that blends strategic planning and creative thinking. The class functions as an “agency” and creates an integrated marketing campaign for the client, Indeed, which we will ultimately present at the American Advertising Federation National Student Advertising Competition.

Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles During College:

Activities/Leadership:

  • Cheerleading: Captain (2021-22 and 2022-23) and four-year team member (2019-23)
  • Commerce Council: Vice President (2022-23), University Program Committee Student Liaison (2022-23) Block Representative (Spring 2022)
  • Stall Seat Journal: Graphic Designer (2020-23)
  • Meriwether Lewis Institute for Citizen Leadership Fellow (Summer 2021-23)
  • UVA Athletics Ethical Leadership Academy (2021-22)
  • Inter-Sorority Council Public Relations Chair (2020-21)
  • TAMID Consulting (2019-22)

Honors:

The Jack Lindgren Scholarship Award, Raven Society, Lawn Room Recipient, Class of 2023 Trustee, Most Valuable Cheerleader (2021-2022), Athletic Honor Roll, (re)present – Juried Arts & Writing Competition 2D Category (3rd Place), Gosnell Writing Prize Nominee (2020)

Where have you interned during your college career?

Summer 2022 (Chicago): Deloitte SHINE Marketing Intern

Summer 2021 (Charlottesville): Meriwether Lewis Institute for Citizen Leadership

Summer 2019-20 (Cincinnati): Harrow Blue Brand Consulting

Where will you be working after graduation? Undecided

What advice would you give to a student looking to major in a business-related field? Business is interdisciplinary! Take a course outside of the business curriculum that you are interested in, whether it’s art history, architecture, or sustainability and take time to cultivate passions outside of the classroom. Business can be applied to any industry—having an understanding of the world around you allows you to build connections and make a meaningful, positive impact.

What has surprised you most about majoring in business? Creativity and innovation are essential in business. When I entered the Commerce school, I expected to do calculations, analyze using the SWOT framework, and strategize using Porter’s Five to find the business solution. However, I now realize there is no one tool that can provide the one right answer. Besides numbers, successful business professionals are innovative, insightful, and dynamic. They are able to be flexible to meet the changing marketplace and consumer needs. I have learned to trust my instincts and think independently, leveraging multiple tools as data points.

Looking back over your experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently in business school and why? I would have loved to study abroad. I aspire to have an opportunity to work or spend time exploring other countries in the future.

What business leader do you admire most? “Be Great.” My dad (Doug) wrote this simple, but powerful phrase on a post-it note during the pandemic. He strives to be great every day. An entrepreneur at heart, my dad saw an opportunity to improve the medical care doctors provide and started his own private practice. He reimagined what health care can look like and designed his practice around the needs of patients. He showed me that the purpose of business is to improve the lives of our community and inspires me to learn something new every day.

Which academic, extracurricular or personal achievement are you most proud of? I am proud of how I’ve grown over my four years at UVA and positively contributed to the community. The joy is in the journey and I could not be more grateful for the people I have met during my time here. I know they are friendships that will last a lifetime!

Which classmate do you most admire? I am so fortunate to be surrounded by incredible people that make answering this question with only one person so difficult. They constantly challenge me to think about the world differently, teach me something new every day, and encourage me (and countless others) to be my best self. But if I was forced to pick one: it would be Tyler Yen. From the pickleball court to the classroom, Tyler never ceases to amaze me. He is smart, humble, curious, and a friend to all. He values genuine relationships above everything else and would do anything for those around him. To every interaction, Tyler brings an energetic and welcoming attitude, making those around him feel included and respected. He is not afraid to ask the difficult questions and constantly encourages me to dig deeper and be the best I can be. He empowers everyone to take ownership of their work and believes the power of groups stems from everyone sharing their different perspectives. I am so grateful to have met him four years ago, and can confidently say I will continue to find inspiration in his drive and commitment to curiosity for the rest of my life.

Who would you most want to thank for your success? Sending endless thank you’s to my sister (Hailey) and my Mom (Amy). Hailey is the best role model a person could ask for; she set the bar high. She demonstrated how to be passionate and determined. Hailey has always been a tremendous student and it constantly pushed me to work hard and be successful too! Now as for my Mom, there is no one as amazing as her. She empowers me to believe in myself and I would not be where I am today without her outstanding advice, late night kitchen talks, and comforting hugs.

What are the top two items on your professional bucket list?

  • Contribute to a Super Bowl ad!
  • Start my own company that blends my passions and commitment to cultivating strong community.

What are your hobbies? Watching sports (Go Bengals, Wahoos, and Buckeyes!), traveling, and enjoying time with friends!

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

“Lexi is one of the most hard-working, caring, and genuine students I have ever taught. She is intelligent, well-spoken, an outstanding presenter, and a great teammate who makes everyone she works with feel valued and included. When I think about how much Lexi packs into a typical day, I am convinced she lives in a world where the days are 30 hours long. Despite all of her accomplishments and the impact she is having on the School and her classmates, Lexi is extremely humble. Lexi’s passion is contagious and she is someone you want to have on your team. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to teach and to get to know Lexi this year and I am confident she is going to do great things once she leaves UVA.”

Professor Carrie Heilman
McIntire School of Commerce, University of Virginia

“Lexi Magenheim’s creativity, compassion, intelligence, and tenacity are nothing short of inspirational. From contributing to school-based and university-wide wellbeing initiatives to serving as a leader in prominent student organizations—including being an active member of the University’s cheerleading team—Lexi has an innate ability to bring out the best in those around her.”

Sally Kline Armentrout
Assistant Dean for Student Services
McIntire School of Commerce, University of Virginia

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