Caleb Yarbrough

Georgia Institute of Technology, Scheller College of Business

 “A lifelong learner and competitor that is dedicated to success in his career and relationships.”

Fun fact about yourself: I have a one-eyed English Bulldog named Fetty Wap.

Hometown: Villa Rica, Georgia

High School: Villa Rica High School

Major: Business Administration with a concentration in Finance

Minor: Engineering and Business

Favorite Business Course: My favorite business course was financial modeling with Dr. Jaqueline Garner. Dr. Garner’s course was entertaining, fast-paced, and incredibly interactive. Her high-octane energy and obvious passion for the field of finance contributed to me walking away from every class feeling as though I had learned three weeks’ worth of knowledge in 75 minutes. To me, this course also exemplified the application of real-world concepts and practical skills in a classroom setting.

Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles During College:

Extracurricular Activities:

• Georgia Tech Student Foundation Investments Committee (2020 – 2022): Senior Analyst
• Scheller Business Ambassadors (2020 – Present)
• 180 Degrees Consulting at Georgia Tech (2021 – 2022): Project Manager
• GT 1000 Freshman Seminar (2021 – 2023): Team Leader
• Undergraduate Teaching Assistant (Present)
• Beta Theta Pi (2020 – Present): Executive Committee

Awards/Honors:

• Alexander Family Dean’s Scholarship Recipient
• Denning Technology and Management Scholar
• Zell Miller Scholarship Recipient
• Faculty Honors five semesters and Dean’s List every semester

Where have you interned during your college career?

• Goldman Sachs (Atlanta, GA): Summer Analyst
• Georgia Tech Foundation (Atlanta, GA): Investments Intern
• Siemens (Atlanta, GA): Finance Leadership Development Program Intern
• Argon & Co (Atlanta, GA): Summer Associate

Where will you be working after graduation? I am extremely excited to join Goldman Sachs as a financial analyst in the Atlanta office.

Who is your favorite business professor?  Professor Gary Jones was my favorite professor that I had during my undergraduate experience. Professor Jones is one-of-a-kind in terms of how effortlessly he explains financial concepts and engages his classroom, and his desire to prepare students for life beyond college is evident. He did a spectacular job of drawing on his industry experience in his course, Management of Financial Institutions. This enabled him to communicate his knowledge in a very practical and applicable manner. I also could not be more thankful for the emphasis on public speaking in his course, as it has been instrumental in the development of my confidence and communication abilities. Above all, I think Professor Jones cares more about the success of Georgia Tech and the Scheller College of Business than just about anyone that I know.

What is the biggest lesson you gained from studying business? The biggest lesson I have learned from studying business was the importance of resilient leadership. Through course work and industry experience alike, I have observed that the impact of effective and visionary decision-makers cannot be underscored enough. As the business world continues to evolve each day, it is more necessary than ever that the leaders of the future are adaptable and equipped to navigate change and drive innovation. I believe that studying business provides students the opportunity to develop this leadership capacity in a way that is extremely unique.

What has surprised you most about majoring in business? I was surprised by the breadth of knowledge that I would be exposed to by studying business. Undergraduate business school does a tremendous job in providing a strong foundation across a variety of business concentrations that enables a holistic view of the business environment. Additionally, students gain a wide range of technical and soft skills that enable them to be well-rounded contributors to their industry. I have also had the fortune of gaining experience outside of a traditional business curriculum by attending a technology-focused institution like Georgia Tech. Through my business administration curriculum and minor in engineering and business through the Denning Technology and Management Program, I was able to work in cross-disciplinary teams and learn about subjects such as microelectronics, cutting-edge technologies, and product development and prototyping. I would have never imagined that studying business would also allow me to build robots too. Ultimately, the comprehensive set of skills that students develop through studying business is incredible.

Looking back over your experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently in business school and why? In general, if I could go back in time, I would have been even more intentional about stepping outside of my comfort zone. I would have tried out different service-oriented organizations or leisure clubs rather than just pursue professional, career-focused organizations so heavily. There are a multitude of great student groups across campus that I did not take full advantage of or at least give a shot. I would have taken more interesting classes that fell outside of my required curriculum too. I would also go back in time and study abroad. After seeing the abroad experiences of many of my peers, I think that it would have been a once-in-a-lifetime and worthwhile opportunity.

Which academic, extracurricular or personal achievement are you most proud of? During the spring of my junior year, I was asked to speak on a panel in front of prospective students at the Scheller College of Business Dean’s Scholarship event. The reason I am proud of this experience is not because of how difficult the task was or how prestigious others perceived the opportunity to be. I was proud because it was a representation of how far I had come over the course of my college career.

I remembered being in that same audience right before I started college, feeling like the biggest imposter in the world. I remembered thinking that the rest of the students in that room were way more deserving to be at Georgia Tech than I was, and I thought that the impressive accomplishments of the students leading the panel were outside the realm of possibility for me. Three years later, I was able to sit at the front of the room at the same event with three of the most accomplished students that I know (shoutout to Arul Gupta and Lauren Gordon who were two of the other students and were nominated for Poets&Quants Best & Brightest in 2023). It was incredible to see the difference a few years can make, and I was proud to be able to represent the business school that has turned me into the person that I am today.

Which classmate do you most admire? The classmate that I admire the most is Will Cero. I was fortunate enough to befriend Will my first year at Tech, and I am grateful to call him a friend today, despite him graduating from Georgia Tech last May. Will had a unique dedication to school and the organizations that he was a part of, and anyone that knows him can vouch for the fact that he puts one hundred percent effort into everything that he does. He leaves a substantial imprint on any organization or any person that he comes across. Will’s curiosity and desire to learn and improve are also astounding. Thanks to his confidence and being personable, he is one of the most well-respected young individuals that I know, and he will undoubtedly accomplish incredible things over the course of his career. Beyond his academic and professional accolades, Will’s exceptionality extends to his relationships as well. Despite having so much on his plate, he has always been very unselfish with his time, acting as an incredible leader, mentor, and friend.

Who would you most want to thank for your success? I would not be where I am today if it were not for both of my parents. From an early age, I had always admired their work ethic, discipline, and selflessness. When it comes to molding my business career, my mom has been instrumental. She is the perfect example of what a servant leader looks like. I will forever appreciate the amount of pride she takes in her work, and her willingness to help others, in and out of the office- is truly special. She has always put me and my brother first, and for that I will always be grateful. I will probably also consult her before sending a professional email or signing an official document for the rest of my life too. Additionally, from never missing a single baseball game growing up to hounding me with my vocabulary words in kindergarten, my dad has always been my biggest supporter. He has always pushed me to be better in every facet of life, and he will always be the first person in my corner. Most of all, my dad is authentic, and he has been the greatest role model. One paragraph is not nearly enough to thank these two for all they have done.

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

1. I want to run my own business one day, whether that means managing my own fund or opening a coffee shop chain whenever my investing career is over.

2. Giving back to Georgia Tech and the Scheller College of Business will always be a priority for me. I would love the opportunity to serve as a mentor and establish scholarship funds for business students. Georgia Tech has done more for me than I could ever express, and I would like nothing more than to be able to contribute to the growing success of the institution and its students.

What made Caleb such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2024?  

“I had the pleasure of teaching Caleb on two occasions. He took the introductory corporate finance class as well as financial modeling from me. Not only was he a strong student, but he also stood out. He was ever-present and did remarkably good work. When Caleb was involved in group projects, his teammates repeatedly spoke of how much work he did on the assignment. Caleb’s strong academic performance is combined with a great number of leadership roles on campus. The leadership skills Caleb has developed allow him to use his strong analytical skills as well as engaging people skills, a wonderful combination!

Caleb is an invaluable addition to the Class of 2024 due to his strong academic record, his leadership skills, and a warm, approachable personality.”

Dr. Jacqueline Garner
Senior Lecturer, Finance
Scheller College of Business

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