Annelise Hanson
University of Notre Dame, Mendoza College of Business
“People-first leader passionate about social entrepreneurship and developing economies.”
Fun fact about yourself: I have attended 12 different schools due to studying abroad and growing up as a military brat.
Hometown: Richland, Washington
High School: Richland High School
Major: Marketing
Minors:
Computing and Digital Technology
Social Entrepreneurship
Favorite Business Course: Marketing Research with Professor Germann. It was an introduction to the art and science of marketing: blending the creative strategy of marketing with statistical modeling and data analysis.
Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles During College:
Extracurriculars, Community Work, Leadership Roles
- Strike Magazine – Semiannual fashion, lifestyle, and culture publication
- Roles: External Director, Social Media Manager, Design Team
- Student Union Board – Student government event planning
- Roles: Community Engagement, Concert Committees
- Student International Business Council
- Roles: Starbucks travel team lead and Pinterest, NielsenIQ, Frankly Apparel travel teams
- Residential Assistant of Farley Hall
Awards and Scholars Programs
- Dean’s List
- International Business Scholar: One year honors business program and Poland immersion trip
- Pulte Fellowship: Research grant program with Pulte Institute for Global Development
- Notre Dame International Sustainability Fellow
Where have you interned during your college career?
- Marketing Management Analytics – Ipsos – New York City, NY
Marketing Analytics and Consulting Intern
- Rome Global Gateway – University of Notre Dame – Rome, Italy
Communications Intern and Sustainability Fellow
- Komatsu American Corp. – Chicago, IL
Product Management Intern – Aftermarket Parts Division
- Office of Sustainability – Notre Dame, IN
Research Intern
Where will you be working after graduation? McKinsey & Company, Seattle, WA, Business Analyst
Who is your favorite business professor? Professor John Sikorski has been a favorite professor who I have been lucky to take several classes with. Sikorski taught my Business Ethics class and International Business Scholars—a program centered on Poland, ethics, international business, and Catholic Social Teaching with a weekly colloquium class and an end-of-year immersion trip to Poland. Not only was Professor Sikorski an amazing educator, but it is rare to find someone so engaging and thoughtful about their material. His knowledge and preparation allowed him to take us through the streets of Warsaw, Częstochowa, Krakow, and Wadowice as our personal tour guide and immerse our class into the history, culture, and business industries of Poland. The leaders that we were able to meet while in Poland further demonstrated the effort and care he puts into his work. I could have never imagined I would find myself sitting in Parliament in Warsaw or having coffee with the US Ambassador to Poland. This program would not exist without him, so I am incredibly grateful for his dedication and passion that brings inspiration to his students.
What is the biggest lesson you gained from studying business? Business has taught me to be fearless. Whether it is betting on a long shot or cold emailing someone I admire, studying business has shown me that taking the first, scary step in achieving what you want always pays you back in some way. Professors and business student peers alike gave the same advice: push yourself, don’t be afraid to reach out to people, and apply to roles even if you are not sure you will get them. When I was a freshman in college, I was afraid to even message someone on LinkedIn. Last summer, however, my internship was, in part, due to messaging the CEO on LinkedIn about my interest. The courage to ask for what I want is something taught to me by the atmosphere of the business college community, its classes, and extracurriculars.
What advice would you give to a student looking to major in a business-related field? Try everything and talk to everyone. From campus jobs to internships or meeting with interesting alumni, exploration is the key to finding your next step. Early in college, I explored design through social media management and magazine spread creation for Strike Magazine as well as choosing to have a design focused minor. I loved exploring design, but I never truly felt like a designer. I changed minors from design to Computing and Digital Technology, which quickly won me over with its focus on analytics and strategy in the digital economy. Despite the winding path I would not change it; I am grateful to have varied experiences that give me a unique skill set.
Looking back over your experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently in business school and why? My first semester, I felt I was already behind the curve in academics and the job search. While many students had already taken economics and business classes, I had not. Instead of knowing how to network for internships, I was still figuring out where to start applying to them. Now I regret being embarrassed about where I felt I was behind instead of immediately taking on the challenge to grow. The truth is, even though it may seem like everyone “has it all figured out”, college is an experience where everyone is still encountering new obstacles. Over my time in college, my mindset and confidence have improved dramatically. Since freshman year, I have collaborated with peers, professors, and programs at my university. They have helped me to not only feel like I can keep up with the herd, but be a leader in business. I genuinely love going to Notre Dame and the challenge and competitive atmosphere of the business school made me who I am today. That mindset now allows me to push myself and try new things without fear of failure, but instead excitement for the challenge.
What is one way that your business school has integrated AI into your programming? What is one insight you gained from using AI? Through the Mendoza College of Business, I had the opportunity to work as a Research Assistant for Dr. Frank Germann and Father Arthur Ssembajja, a Notre Dame MBA graduate. The project centered around Fr. Ssembajja’s PhD dissertation aiming to develop an AI mentorship tool to support emerging market entrepreneurs in Uganda. Although we had discussed AI ethics and its problem-solving potential in previous business school classes, I had not used AI extensively until this project. Over the semester, our team of faculty, administrators, and students developed a ChatGPT tool tailored for the Ugandan market. My primary role included organizing and managing a pilot study of this tool in Kampala, Uganda. With the support of the Pulte Fellowship program, I was able to fund and participate in the study firsthand. While in Kampala, I got to see entrepreneurs ask the tool questions. Their eyes lit up as they watched the text generate and offer them marketing strategy plans, showing them pricing comparisons of products, translating answers into local languages, and even generating logos. The major insight I gained from this experience is that AI technology can be a key tool in emerging economies by providing accessible, affordable services, and mentorship.
Which academic, extracurricular or personal achievement are you most proud of? During college, I have traveled to 10 different countries: England, Ireland, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Austria, Denmark, Poland, Spain, and Uganda. It has always been a personal goal of mine to travel as much as I can, to the point that one of my bucket-list items is going to all seven continents. Even a factor in choosing my college was that the vast majority of Notre Dame’s student population got to study abroad. While attending, I have taken every chance I could to see the world and learn in other countries. Without the opportunities provided by study abroad programs and research grants, I would not have traveled to Italy, Poland, England, or Uganda, nor explored other destinations on my own. Travel has been a way for me to explore who I am and what I want my future to be, as well as learn more about the world’s rich history and cultures.
Which classmate do you most admire? I met Monay Licata during my second semester of freshman year when we worked in a group for our Principles of Management class. No matter where you travel across the globe with Monay, she is bound to make new friendships that are somehow sustained years later. That’s true whether those new friends be travelers from a hostel we stayed at in Barcelona, or a fellow study abroad student in Rome. In short, what inspires me is her warmth, kindness, curiosity, drive, and endless pursuit of new and interesting opportunities. Three years of shared classes and activities have demonstrated to me that not only is she an industrious worker, but she has endless passion and curiosity that drives her to always pursue business as a force for good. Our journey has taken us to incredible places, and she continues to inspire me to step out of my comfort zone. I am lucky to have peers at my business school that both serve to drive me and as lifelong friends.
Who would you most want to thank for your success? My parents have always encouraged me to find my own path to success, but did not adhere to the typical mantra of “If you work hard, you will succeed.” Instead, they taught me that I would certainly face failure in life, but to keep working hard regardless until I eventually achieve my own definition of success. There have been numerous times when I pursued a role or goal that did not work out as planned, but I never give up and will not let setbacks stop me. They worked tirelessly to provide me with more opportunities than they had. Because of their efforts, I am endlessly grateful for the goals I have pursued, the education I have received at Notre Dame, the programs I have participated in, and the career I have built. All of these would not have been possible without their support.
What are the top two items on your professional bucket list?
- Find a charity or social enterprise that I am truly passionate that I can invest in to leave the world better than I found it.
- Mentor as many individuals as possible to support their educational and professional growth, giving back the mentorship I have been fortunate to receive.
What made Annelise such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2025?
“I first met Annelise a few years ago when she took my Marketing Research course, and I was immediately impressed by how quickly she grasped complex topics and applied them with precision in case analyses and projects. Whether working on positioning maps, topic models, conjoint analysis, or other analytical techniques — all implemented in RStudio — Annelise always executed the code correctly. More importantly, her interpretation of the results was always insightful and spot-on.
After the course, we stayed in touch, and I later invited Annelise to work as a research assistant — a role she embraced with enthusiasm and excellence. Since then, she has been instrumental in our research, collaborating with Father Arthur Ssembajja, a Ph.D. student I co-advise. Among her many contributions, Annelise has played a significant role in developing a custom GPT designed to provide scalable, AI-driven mentorship to entrepreneurs in emerging markets, particularly in Uganda. She recently traveled there with Father Arthur and another student to pre-test the model with entrepreneurs, gathering invaluable feedback that is now guiding its refinement ahead of a larger-scale randomized controlled trial. The insights she has generated are outstanding and will enhance the tool’s effectiveness.
The high level of respect I have for Annelise as a student and research assistant is only surpassed by my deep appreciation for her as a person. She embodies the highest integrity, pairs intellectual curiosity with a keen sense of humor, and consistently delivers outstanding work — always exceeding expectations. Her contributions in the classroom and in research have already been remarkable, and I have no doubt she will continue to distinguish herself in the years ahead.”
Frank Germann, Ph.D.
Chair of the Marketing Department
Viola D. Hank Associate Professor
University of Notre Dame
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