Brian Kim-Koutsis

Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management, Cornell SC Johnson College of Business

“Superpowers: Boundless energy, eternal optimism, and the ability to quickly forge human connections. Warning: My enthusiasm is highly contagious.”

Fun fact about yourself: I hiked the tallest mountain in Thailand during a 3-month post-graduation backpacking journey.

Hometown: Eastchester, New York

High School: Eastchester High School

Major: Applied Economics and Management, Concentration in Entrepreneurship

Minor: NA

Favorite Business Course: AEM 3600/3601: Impact Learning, South Africa Field Study

Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles During College:

Extracurricular Activities

Quill and Dagger Senior Honor Society (E-Board)
Dyson Dean’s Student Advisory Council (President / Chair)
Cornell Undergraduate Asia Business Society (President)
Ventures Accelerated Startup Incubator (President)
Dyson Admissions Ambassadors (President)
Dyson Undergraduate Council (E-Board)
Cornell Consulting Group
Cornell Financial Analysts
Dyson Peer Career Consulting Advisor
Teaching Assistant: AEM 2200 Business Management & Organization
Teaching Assistant: AEM 2700 Management Communication
Teaching Assistant: AEM 3249 Entrepreneurial Marketing and Strategy
Head Teaching Assistant: AEM 3000 Project Development & High-Performance Teams
Cornell Coffee Club
Cornell University Sustainable Design Project Team

Awards

Dyson Scholar (Top 10%)
Dean’s List (All semesters)
Outstanding Service as an Undergraduate Teaching Assistant in the Dyson School (only 3rd year selected)
Korea Finance Society Fellow
LGBT+VC Fellow
Food Marketing Fellow

Where have you interned during your college career?

Summer 2024: EY-Parthenon, Summer Associate, New York City

Summer 2023: Graycliff Partners, Summer Investment Analyst, New York City

Summer 2022: Somar Capital Management, Summer Investment Analyst, New York City

Where will you be working after graduation? McKinsey & Company, Business Analyst

What advice would you give to a student looking to major in a business-related field? Think holistically about what you want to gain from your four years as an undergraduate student. While intellectually stimulating and challenging, business-related fields are just a handful of the hundreds of areas students can pursue. Look beyond taking just business classes. Use college as an opportunity to explore anything that your heart desires – it is a boundless experience for academic, professional, and personal growth. Take a random food science, public policy, or viticulture class. Go to a performance or sports game where you might not know anyone in the crowd. Be curious to learn about other people’s passions and take this time to become a more interesting person. Push yourself outside your comfort zone and don’t forget to explore and cultivate your interests – that’s where personal growth begins and what makes college worthwhile. It will also help you in business, where your ability to forge strong work connections and lead engaging conversations will be critical to your success.

Looking back over your experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently in business school and why? I wish I had asked for more help early on. At Cornell, I found myself constantly offering guidance to younger students, but hesitating to ask others for anything out of fear of imposing. It is easy to feel like a burden when asking for something – I realized late in my college career that it’s better to make the ask anyway. What’s the worst they can say? No!

The potential upside of asking someone for 15 minutes of their time, a quick mock interview, or even a job referral is worth the momentary discomfort you might feel sending an email or inquiring on a call – discomfort is part of growth! Plus, no one got to where they are today by themself – they had help too. Many want to pay it forward.

In the business world, you realize it’s important to advocate for yourself, because you usually come to find out that no one else will. Learning to “shoot your shot” in college and make an ask, versus waiting for others to notice you, is one of the biggest lessons to learn, practice, and carry forward with you.

What is one way that your business school has integrated AI into your programming? What is one insight you gained from using AI? Although AI has not yet been seamlessly integrated into the school’s education, Dyson recognizes the power and potential upsides of using it to enhance student experience. Understanding that AI is part of our future – personally and professionally – we are encouraged to think about how to positively integrate AI tools into our day-to-day lives for better learning outcomes. Need more practice questions for an upcoming exam? ChatGPT is a few clicks away with examples. Need to prepare for an upcoming interview? Copilot can be your go-to case buddy. Learning to integrate AI into my schoolwork has helped me think more creatively about how technology can be used to enhance my education. I’m excited to see how Dyson further integrates AI into its curriculum.

Which academic, extracurricular or personal achievement are you most proud of? As Chair of the Dean’s Student Advisory Council, I spearheaded the development and creation of the “Dyson Undergraduate Student Handbook,” an all-encompassing guide to the resources necessary to be successful in Dyson and at Cornell.

When I was accepted to Dyson, I didn’t know anyone in the school and knew less than a handful of people at Cornell. There was no easy, one-stop location to find answers to all the questions in my head: classes, clubs, Dyson, Ithaca, professional recruitment, or any of the other stressors related to entering a new and competitive environment. Before arriving on campus, everyone has different levels of business knowledge and connections to Cornell. Some students have already completed internships at banks or have siblings who attended Cornell. Others start with a blank slate, similar to me. The purpose of the handbook is to increase accessibility to the information necessary to thrive in Dyson and level the playing field for all students.

I can now say with certainty that every future student entering Dyson will have a place to find answers to nearly all their questions, easing their stress and facilitating a successful transition to campus.

Which classmate do you most admire? As one of the most genuine, hard-working, and intelligent people I’ve ever met, Kurumi Shimura is someone I deeply admire and look up to. She has countless admirable qualities, but a few characteristics stand out. First, Kurumi has an innate desire to help those around her succeed and will always make time for those who ask. Despite having the busiest schedule of anyone I know, I have seen her put others before herself time and time again. If a younger student she mentors is stressed and staying up late to prepare for an interview, she’ll be there right alongside them, easing their nerves and guiding them through with tips for success. Next, Kurumi is reliable, and her reputation is well known. If Kurumi says she will do something, she’ll complete it before the due date with a higher quality of work than most can deliver – she is always the first pick for a team project. And lastly, Kurumi is a lifelong learner. She constantly seeks new learning opportunities and encourages others to do the same. Her drive to learn more about the people and world around her is evident through her endless list of professional and personal successes. I am lucky to be able to call Kurumi Shimura a friend.

Who would you most want to thank for your success? My dad, Phil Koutsis, is the voice I hear in the back of my head all day, every day, in the best way possible. For as long as I can remember, he has taught and instilled in me the values that define how I make every decision in life. His positive attitude is infectious – he taught me the power of a smile or laugh to turn someone’s day around. His persistence and work ethic motivate me – he taught me to never settle for less than your best; there is always room for improvement. His creativity is inspiring – he taught me to never say no to an idea, and that with the right perspective and attitude, anything is possible. His compassion and generosity are incredible – he taught me to keep an open, understanding mind in all situations; he inspired the responsibility I feel to play my part to better the world around me. And most importantly, he helped me learn to love the world we live in. Without his unique and beautiful outlook on the world, I would not be close to where I am today.

What are the top two items on your professional bucket list? I want to work in a career that positively impacts many people, and I want to build and launch a business from the ground up.

What made Brian such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2025?

“Brian is an excellent student and an exceptionally promising professional. Brian easily figures among the top few dozen students of the more than 20,000 I have taught at the Dyson School. This is, in part, because of his extraordinary organizational citizenship. As a Teaching / Course Assistant, Brian has decisively influenced the trajectory of sixty of his peers in my courses, and of many more in other courses (Business Communication, Entrepreneurship). In addition, Brian has shown remarkable leadership in the Dyson School, being the leader of several highly regarded preprofessional student organizations, notably the Dyson Undergraduate Council and the Cornell Consulting Group.

But what is most noteworthy about Brian is, as already mentioned, his organizational citizenship. I have lost count of the times when Brian, with his presence, demeanor, and attention, has motivated and elicited that extra effort from his students, his peers, and even the senior members (faculty and staff) of the teams and organizations that he has joined. An always ready smile. A disarming presence. And, yet, incisive and precise analysis and solutions, always delivered in a collegial, inclusive manner.

Creating and maintaining a healthy culture is always a challenge. Students like Brian make it possible, and allow the culture to become better, and warmer.”

Pedro Perez
Senior Lecturer in Applied Economics and Management
Dyson School, Cornell SC Johnson College of Business

“As the Chair of the Dean’s Student Advisory Council (DSAC), Brian has been an exemplary student leader and a positive influence on both the Dyson School and his peers. His dedication to fostering open communication between students and the Dean has been instrumental in ensuring that student voices are heard and valued. Under Brian’s leadership, DSAC has helped strengthen the relationship between the student body and the administration, contributing to our collaborative and inclusive community.

Brian played a key role in leading DSAC to provide strategic advice to school leadership in our program innovations and offerings. With critical inputs of DSAC, the school launched the Dyson Code of Culture, highlighting our commitment to learning respectfully, acting ethically, and collaborating responsibly. Additionally, Brian’s leadership was critical in the successful launch of the Career Catalysts, which provides students with valuable resources and opportunities to advance their professional careers. His efforts have not only enhanced the student experience but have also set a high standard for future student leaders to follow.”

Jinhua Zhao
Dean of the Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management

DON’T MISS: 100 BEST & BRIGHTEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS MAJORS OF 2025