Lydia Garrett

Southern Methodist University, Cox School of Business

“Tea connoisseur. Avid skier. Curious explorer. Fueled by relentless ambition.”

Fun fact about yourself: I am a dual citizen of the United Kingdom and the United States.

Hometown: Wheaton, IL

High School: Wheaton Academy

Major: Finance, Specialization in Alternative Asset Management

Minor: International Studies

Favorite Business Course: I really enjoyed Professor William Maxwell’s Alternative Assets class, also known as the EnCap Investments & LCM Group Alternative Asset Management Center Program. Each week, students work in teams to complete a financial model and deck based on a Harvard Business case. Working with different types of people was exciting, and I saw the beauty of being internally collaborative but externally competitive.

Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles During College:

Boulevard Investment Group – President

Don Jackson Center for Financial Studies – Associate

Chi Omega – Treasurer

MBA Financial Accounting – Teaching Assistant

MBA Entrepreneurial Family Office – Teaching Assistant

Oaktree Capital Management – Future Leaders Program

Girls Who Invest – Online Intensive Program Scholar

Forté Foundation – Campus Ambassador

Bridwell Institute for Economic Freedom Armentrout Scholars Reading Group – Member

Reformed University Fellowship – Member

SMU Panhellenic – Rho Gamma

Voice of Hope – Tutor

Where have you interned during your college career?

Renovo Capital – Private Equity Spring Analyst (Dallas, TX)

William Blair – Investment Banking Summer Analyst, Technology Group (Chicago, IL)

Harris Williams – M&A Bootcamp Analyst (Richmond, VA)

Atalaya Capital Management – Private Credit Summer Analyst (Dallas, TX)

Crestline Investors – Client Partnership Group Summer and Fall Analyst (Fort Worth, TX)

Compass Mortgage – Loan Officer Assistant (Warrenville, IL)

Where will you be working after graduation? I will be returning to William Blair as an Investment Banking Analyst in their Technology group.

What advice would you give to a student looking to major in a business-related field? I would encourage people to read books. If you enjoy reading about a particular field of business, it can speak volumes. You can learn so much from reading about founders, human behavior, personal finance, communications, business, and productivity. There are two finance-related books I have thoroughly enjoyed: The Most Important Thing by Howard Marks and How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie. Both drastically changed my perspective and thought patterns. I will add that I understand that not everyone likes to read. If this is you, listening to audiobooks or podcasts is a great substitute!

What has surprised you most about majoring in business? I was surprised by the evolving and dynamic nature of business. Black swan events, economic shifts, and technological advancements can all rapidly impact business environments. When I think back to my first year, the areas of concern were quite different from today. There is always something new to learn and adapt to in business, making it an incredibly exciting and interesting field.

Looking back over your experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently in business school and why? If I were to do it over again, I would have taken a negotiations class or joined the debate team. I built a similar skillset from my time in Boulevard Investment Group, but I wish I had more direct experience and learned about it from a professor. More recently, as I have been watching the political debates, I have been fascinated by how some of the candidates can communicate and command a room. I view the art of negotiation as essential to dispute resolution and career advancement, which both require time and experience in order to excel.

Which academic, extracurricular or personal achievement are you most proud of? I am most proud of serving as president of the Boulevard Investment Group. Due to COVID, I committed to SMU about five weeks before school started. As I began classes, I was eager to get as involved as possible during my first year. After an amazingly competitive application cycle (with only a 7% acceptance rate), I was accepted into Boulevard Investment Group. I worked hard to learn how to evaluate publicly-traded companies quantitatively and qualitatively. Fast forward to today. It has been rewarding to see the group evolve throughout my time at SMU. It was essential to rely not just on my abilities but to work with others and find those who possess strengths in areas where I lack them. Getting to serve as the president of this organization has been an incredible experience, and I am grateful for the lifelong friends and mentors I have made in it.

Which classmate do you most admire? Weston Emery and I have had numerous finance classes together, where we grew our camaraderie. Weston’s intellectual curiosity is unparalleled; he consistently delves deep into topics, challenging norms and expanding his knowledge beyond the classroom. His honesty and integrity have set a high standard, and his relentless work ethic has been evident throughout his internships and serving as president of the Spindletop Energy Investment Fund at the Cox School’s Maguire Energy Institute. Weston is a standout student and a great friend to those fortunate enough to know him.

Who would you most want to thank for your success? My mom and my dad have been the most prominent anchors in shaping who I am today. My mom is one of the most caring individuals I know. She stayed home and raised me and my four siblings, and that in and of itself is a full-time job. My mom always encouraged me to read, which I was reluctant to do for a while. I thank her for teaching me resilience and supporting me in challenging decisions. My dad is not only incredibly hardworking and selfless but also a great adventure buddy. I can always count on him to go ziplining, fly fishing, or skiing with me. There are three lessons he has taught me that have stuck the most:

1. There will always be someone smarter than you, but hard work and determination trumps all.
2. You must always finish what you start.
3. You can go faster alone but further with others.

What are the top two items on your professional bucket list? I would love the opportunity to work overseas and gain a broader understanding of business across the globe. I would also like to pursue my MBA after gaining experience in the workplace.

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

“Few students in this year’s senior class possess the combination of academic horsepower with the drive to succeed like Lydia Garrett does. From the time she arrived at SMU Cox, she showed herself to be a leader in every way. She is always looking at how best to help others, not just herself, achieve and exceed their goals. For example, the finance program at the Cox School can, and certainly does, push students to achieve success for themselves, but Lydia is the rare student who recognizes that there is a lot she can do as a student to contribute to the future success of the program. In addition to being one of our best and brightest in the classroom, she has also led one of our most important student organizations, The Boulevard Investment Group, to new heights as its president. This group’s members take it upon themselves to train our first- and second-year students on asset management in real-world situations.  Her most important job is to leave that group better than she found it, and she has done so in every respect. But Lydia has also given back to the Cox School as a Don Jackson Fellow, in which she serves as an ambassador to our Alternative Asset Program and helps with recruitment for the program’s future success.

We like to introduce and showcase our best students to visitors and prospects. Whenever the Cox School needs anything, Lydia is always a first call. She never fails to deliver. It has been a pleasure getting to know her over the past four years. We will be proud to send her into the world as an SMU Cox alumna.”

Jim Bryan
Associate Dean
Undergraduate Programs, Cox School of Business

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