Kalieann Wetherington

Georgia Institute of Technology, Scheller College of Business

“Bubbly and personable travel enthusiast with a food Instagram who loves Google Calendar a little too much.”

Fun fact about yourself: I have been to 48 out of the 50 states!

Hometown: Kennesaw, Georgia

High School: The Walker School

Major: Business Administration with a concentration in Strategy & Innovation

Minor: Engineering and Business

Favorite Business Course: Strategy Consulting Practicum (MGT 4220)

Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles During College:

Extracurricular Activities/Leadership Roles:

• Society of Women in Business (2021-Present): VP of Operations (2022-2023)
• Alpha Delta Pi Sorority (2020-Present): Director of Philanthropy (2021-2022), Philanthropy Specialist (2020-2021)
• Scheller Business Ambassadors (2021-Present)
• Campus Outreach Ministry (2020-Present)
• Denning Technology & Management Program (2021-2023)
• MGT 3599: Career Development TA (2023-Present)
• Excel Mentorship Program (2021-2022)

Awards/Honors

• Connie L. and Roger E. Blythe Jr. Dean’s Scholarship Recipient
• Southern Company National Merit Scholarship Recipient
• Southern Company Georgia Tech Network Scholarship Recipient
• Georgia Power Foundation Scholarship Recipient

Where have you interned during your college career?

• Standvast (Columbia, Maryland/Remote): Client Success Intern
• PwC (New York, New York): Consulting Advance Intern – Deals Transformation
• PwC (Atlanta, Georgia): Consulting Start Intern
• NCR Corporation (Atlanta, Georgia): Business Operations Intern

Where will you be working after graduation? I’m so excited to be returning to PwC in the Atlanta office as a management consulting associate in the Deals Transformation practice!

What is the biggest lesson you gained from studying business? The biggest lesson I learned is the amount of communication and collaboration needed to create a successful and innovative business environment. Almost all of my classes at Scheller have incorporated some aspect of team projects, encouraging students to learn not only how to lead a group but also how to actively listen to others. Business is extremely interdisciplinary, and you will often be working on team with people from a variety of different backgrounds, experiences, and skills. After working on a capstone team with students from other business concentrations and even majors, I got to experience firsthand just how important it is to leverage each individual’s strengths, listen to everyone’s ideas (while voicing your own), and ultimately learn from each other. When individuals of different backgrounds and perspectives come together, we can generate ideas and solutions that are more innovative than any of us could achieve alone.

What has surprised you most about majoring in business? The biggest surprise I’ve encountered is how willing people are to help if you ask. This has shown to be true among classmates, professors, advisors, and especially professionals. Before college, I was nervous I would feel in constant competition with my classmates, but that could not have been further from the truth. I have had amazing older mentors that were always there to provide advice or introduce me to their connections. Classmates are eager to share their personal experiences with others in hopes that their story can help guide their peers to finding or landing their dream career, internship, or job. In terms of professionals, I’ve found that whenever I reached out to a working professional, regardless of their seniority, they were almost always open to connecting and sharing pieces of advice or providing me with other contacts to help me in my professional journey. As long as you ask and express your genuine interest, people are willing to do what they can to help, as their journey has often been propelled because someone did the same for them.

Which academic, extracurricular or personal achievement are you most proud of? The achievement I am most proud of is serving as Director of Philanthropy for my sorority and heading up the planning of events that raised more than $39,000 for the Ronald McDonald House Charities. After the COVID-19 pandemic shut down in-person events for a few years, the knowledge of how our chapter had previously hosted and organized our major events – a 5K campus run and silent auction gala – had dissipated and I was left to figure it out from square one. The organization of these events took an immense amount of planning, communication, and trial-and-error. I worked to coordinate with a race timing company and campus authority to block off roads, along with tapping into the Waffle House for breakfast sandwich donations for the 5K. At the same time, I attempted to book a venue, collect donations from businesses, and find catering options for the silent auction.

Through it all, I learned how to serve as a leader and when to give up control by delegating tasks to others. The organization of these events required much planning, teamwork, stress, and sleep, but the outcome made every hour worth it! By raising $39,000 through the 5K and silent auction, we were able to provide over 390 families of sick children the ability to spend a night in the Ronald McDonald House.

Which classmate do you most admire? This one is easy – the classmate I admire most is Jilly Hutson! Jilly is not only a fellow Scheller College of Business student but also one of my best friends. She carries herself with poise; her thoughtful, caring, encouraging, energetic, and driven qualities extend well beyond her professional life into her personal relationships. I had the privilege of working with Jilly this past summer at PwC, and her dedicated work ethic pushed me to be better every day. When roadblocks appeared during projects, she was eager to take what she could into her own hands to find a solution and never seemed afraid in the face of uncertainty. She shows up to everything with a smile and is truly invested in the well-being and success of those around her. Jilly is one of those people whose inherent qualities serve as an inspiration for who I want to be in both my professional journey, and as a friend.

Who would you most want to thank for your success? There are too many people to count who I could thank, but if I had to pick just one, it would be my younger sister Amelia. Being one year apart has many more perks than just being able to share clothes. Growing up, we were often involved in the same sports, clubs, and classes, which seems like it would get old (or annoying) quickly, but it was completely the opposite. Having someone so close to you who can relate exactly to what you’re going through, including the highs and especially the lows, is special and always provided comfort in knowing I could confide in her and she would completely understand. Amelia is driven, witty, compassionate, and arguably much smarter than me. She pours herself into whatever she does, whether that be class, school, friends, or organizations. She served as the Director of Philanthropy for our sorority the year after I did, and it was humbling and fulfilling to watch all her hard work come to fruition as she raised the most money we had ever raised through those events! Amelia is the most dedicated person I know, and while I am technically the older sister, I am really the one who looks up to her.

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

1. Give back to the Scheller College of Business by funding my own scholarship. The faculty, staff, and students have supported me tremendously these past four years and I know will continue to do so after graduation. I would love to give back to the school that has given so much to me by funding a scholarship to help support future students.

2. Be able to speak at a panel or conference for women. I have learned so much about navigating success in the business world as a woman from older female mentors, and I hope to one day be in the position where I have gained enough insight and experience to share with others.

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

 “Kalieann lights up the classroom when she enters it. She is energetic and asks insightful questions yielding thought provoking inquiry during class discussions. When guest speakers share their wisdom, she is particularly skilled at engaging them to get fascinating responses. Kalieann’s positivity isn’t just reserved for smooth sailing. When challenges arise, her ability to maintain an unwavering optimism, even in the face of adversity, is a rare talent.

Kalieann brings her professional experiences into our academic projects, infusing them with practical insights. She is a leader in her sorority and several other important campus organizations. Students respect her, faculty appreciate her, and staff admire her dedication. Kalieann is a collaborator, a motivator, and a true pleasure to work with. As she embarks on her journey, following the age-old adage, “Do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life,” I’m sure her positive perspective will yield much to love about her life in the years ahead.”

Dr. Anne Fuller
Senior Lecturer, Strategy & Innovation
Scheller College of Business

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