Jordan Fowler

University of South Carolina, Darla Moore School of Business

“I am an observant and curious adrenaline junkie who loves alternative finance, entrepreneurship, and EDM.”

Fun fact about yourself: During my junior year I threw a charity concert with Cheat Codes to raise money for puppies.

Hometown: Charleston, South Carolina

High School: Wando High School

Major: Finance and Computer Science

Minor: Mathematics

Favorite Business Course: Corporate Finance

Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles During College:

Shaw Circle Management – CEO: I co-founded a hedge fund that focuses on using technology to derive low Beta volatility capture strategies within the U.S. options market.

Shaw Circle Entertainment – CFO: I co-founded an entertainment company that worked with local companies and USC fraternities to throw local concerts and festivals while also raising money for charities.

Shaw Circle Solutions – Co-CEO: I co-founded a consulting company that provided financial modeling and fundraising services for many local Columbia businesses ranging from startups to multi-million dollars firms.

Single Soul – CFO: I co-founded a women’s online boutique that focused on inspiring women and supporting women’s body positivity.

Honors College Scholar

Carolina Finance Scholar

Southeastern Hedge Fund Competition Finalist

Selected Competitor, MIT iQuHACK

Travis Pritchett Investment Scholarship Award

3rd place in the MIT Quantum Computing Hackethon

Where have you interned during your college career?

N/A. I’ve focused on building my companies during the summer months (Listed above)

Where will you be working after graduation?

Shaw Circle Management – CEO

Who is your favorite business professor? I have many professors that I look up to and draw upon for inspiration and advice on how to be a better student, businessman, and person. One of my favorites is Dr. Niehaus. From the moment I met Dr. Niehaus, he has been nothing but supportive of my dreams and aspirations. His undying optimism and genuine support buoyed me during stressful times and lit the way even when the path forward was difficult. As a result of his kindness and investment, I understand better who I am and who I want to be. Many can teach finance, but no one can lead the future leaders of finance better than Dr. Niehaus.

What is the biggest lesson you gained from studying business? Embrace and learn from failure as opposed to being consumed by it.

What advice would you give to a student looking to major in a business-related field? Nurture your curiosity by relentlessly questioning the status quo. Explore the reasons behind established processes and the motivations driving people’s actions. This habit of inquiring and exercising critical thinking will be what allows for the most amount of growth and will set you apart from others.

What has surprised you most about majoring in business? Financial performance and success in finance are two completely different things. When I first decided to major in business, I assumed that success could be distilled to a simple ratio or metric of outperformance. What I did not anticipate however is that relationships play a much larger role in defining the impact of that number on a tear sheet or a statement. I did not realize when beginning my course of study that a technical background only assures that you will understand the things said in rooms – not that you will be present in them. When the relationships you make in the world of business are combined with a compelling story and product, it becomes much easier to move the needle.

Which academic, extracurricular or personal achievement are you most proud of? In the grand scheme of what I’m trying to build, I haven’t achieved much yet, but I am proud of the growth and my work ethic so far. Over the years most of my progress stems from a select few events. The most impactful one at university was my acceptance into the Carolina Finance Scholars Program. This program allowed me to meet my co-founders, professors, and many others who would all prove to be invaluable in the building of Shaw Circle. Furthermore, this program created a work intensive environment that emphasized and forced collaboration with peers, which created a culture where iron sharpens iron causing the rapid development of my technical knowledge and soft skills.

Which classmate do you most admire? After I raised my first quarter million for my fund, I was accepted into the Carolina Finance Scholars program where I met Carter Burns. Within our first meeting, Carter was ready to drop everything else he was working on and join me on my mission to build out the fund. Carter took a leap of faith. It’s that same fearless attitude and belief in oneself that I admire most. I see a lot of people make excuses, but Carter is willing to take on challenges that seem impossible with nothing but unwavering optimism and grit. That is why Carter Burns is the student I admire most.

Who would you most want to thank for your success? Both of my parents did a tremendous job raising me, for which I’m incredibly grateful. However, the person I would like to thank the most for helping me achieve my goals at this point is my younger sister, Sydney Fowler. Five years ago, she was paralyzed due to a fluke staph infection. After the infection was treated, she spent nearly a year living in Atlanta to undergo therapy for her paralysis. Then, she returned home to Charleston, and we co-founded Single Soul, an online boutique to support women’s body positivity. Additionally, she began creating content for social media that inspires millions of others to take on challenges regardless of their circumstances. Today, she is a student at Anderson University and a student athlete on Clemson’s varsity tennis team. I’ve never met someone who, facing so much adversity, could be more positive and uplifting than my sister. Her attitude has rubbed off on me, inspiring me to continue chasing my dreams, regardless of their difficulty.

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

I would like to work in some capacity with Bill Ackman.

I would like to launch a venture fund dedicated to investing in bold ideas that have the potential to make the world a more sustainable place.

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

“Jordan’s contributions to the Darla Moore School of Business and to his peers are immeasurable, showcasing his ability to challenge norms in seemingly effortless ways. Behind his calm exterior lies a dynamic force, juggling numerous projects and business ventures while excelling as a full-time student. Driven by his passion for finance, Jordan took the initiative to start his own hedge fund, Shaw Circle, and his curiosity in computer science guided him to lead a finance-focused quantum computing project. This project not only demonstrated his leadership but also took him to MIT, where he competed in a hackathon as the only team from a business school, demonstrating his exceptional ability to bridge diverse fields of study.”

Brandon Mendez
Clinical Assistant Professor of Finance

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