Carson Breus
University of Virginia, McIntire School of Commerce
“Determined go-getter, pilates enthusiast, avocado toast aficionado, and dedicated LinkedIn user.”
Fun fact about yourself: I was living in Beijing, China when COVID started
Hometown: Manhattan Beach, CA
High Schools: Chadwick School & School Year Abroad – Beijing
Majors: Commerce (Finance & Global Commerce) & East Asian Studies
Minor: Statistics
Favorite Business Course: Foundations of Global Commerce
Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles During College:
- Honor Committee: Vice Chair for Sanctions, McIntire School of Commerce Representative, Senior Investigator/Counsel
- Consulting Academy & Mentorship Program: Founder, Program Director
- The Jefferson Trust: Inaugural Student Ambassador
- Virginia Venture Fund: Head of Internal Affairs, Project Leader
- Cavalier Academic Support Team: Financial & Managerial Accounting Tutor
- Sky Alland Student Nominating Committee: Chair
- McIntire AI Advisory Task Force: Student Member
Honors and Awards:
- Sky Alland Scholarship
- Echols Scholar
- Raven Society
- Beta Gamma Sigma
- Institute of World Languages Distinguished Undergraduate Award
- William Shermet Award
Where have you interned during your college career?
- Altamont Capital Partners – Private Equity Analyst Intern (Palo Alto, CA)
- Oaktree Capital Management L.P. – Strategic Credit Intern (Los Angeles, CA)
- Girls Who Invest – Summer Intensive Program Scholar (Philadelphia, PA)
- CAV Angels – Venture Intern (Charlottesville, VA)
- Dalus Capital – Sourcing Intern (Remote)
Where will you be working after graduation? Altamont Capital Partners – Private Equity Analyst
Who is your favorite business professor? I’ve had many incredible business professors, but two stand out. I’ve taken three finance classes with Professor Robert Webb—one of them abroad in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. Traveling with such a knowledgeable professor who shares my interests for finance and East Asia was such a rare and enriching experience. Whether we’re trading matcha-flavored snacks, discussing the impact of foreign policy, or just catching up, I’ve really enjoyed learning from his perspective.
Similarly, Professor David Smith’s dynamic energy and passion for teaching always made the classroom come alive. He has been such a supportive figure throughout my college career, and even inspired me to start the Consulting Academy & Mentorship Program for 150 students at UVA. Both are not only amazing professors but also kind mentors, and I’m grateful to have learned from them in and outside the classroom.
What is the biggest lesson you gained from studying business? One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned from studying business is that leveraging diverse viewpoints is crucial for success; being open to different perspectives leads to richer discussions and more creative solutions. I’ve also learned that humility is key—you have to be willing to admit when you’re wrong and to learn from others. Not every idea is going to be the best idea, and sometimes you need to just get words on the paper to ultimately inspire the best answer.
What advice would you give to a student looking to major in a business-related field? Get involved with your college’s entrepreneurial community as early as possible. Even if you’re not interested in starting your own company, engaging with innovation hubs in college will help you develop a strong business acumen. I started interning with CAV Angels my first year, and the early exposure to investing in UVA’s entrepreneurial ecosystem solidified my desire to pursue a career in business. In addition, I served as the inaugural Student Ambassador for The Jefferson Trust, an organization that allocates $1.5 million dollars annually to fund initiatives that will enhance the student experience. In that role, I offered the student perspective on grant requests ranging from $30,000-$300,000 and witnessed firsthand the substantial impact the Trust had on our community. These experiences not only deepened my understanding of business, but also made me feel more connected to UVA.
Looking back over your experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently in business school and why? I try not to have regrets in college, but looking back, I wish I attended more guest speaker events on Grounds. UVA brings in so many incredible speakers through the Blue Ridge Center, the Karsh Institute, and various student-run clubs. I wish I took more time to learn from diverse viewpoints outside my usual academic circles. The closer I get to graduation, the more curious I am about the world outside of UVA, and I would have loved to hear from even more perspectives to expand my knowledge in business and beyond.
What is one way that your business school has integrated AI into your programming? What is one insight you gained from using AI? I served on McIntire’s AI Advisory Task Force, and it was eye-opening to see just how naturally AI fits into our curriculum. I was also able to see AI’s role in McIntire through taking Foundations of Machine Learning and AI with Professor JingJing Li. We explored the history of AI development, learned contemporary business analytics methods like predictive and descriptive analytics, and applied AI models to real-world business challenges. Whether it’s through encouraging the use of AI on deliverables or offering in-depth business analytics courses, McIntire has taken a proactive approach to AI in the classroom.
Which academic, extracurricular or personal achievement are you most proud of? My proudest achievement has been my contribution to the modernization of UVA’s Honor Committee. When I joined Honor as an Investigator/Counsel my first year, I quickly realized that the single-sanction system, where the only consequence for students found guilty of an Honor offense is expulsion, was outdated and ineffective. Professors and students had little faith in the system, the case process was extremely inefficient, and jury nullification was rampant. After recognizing the need for reform, I worked with other members to explore a multi-sanction approach and became an advocate for change.
When a university-wide vote approved the new multi-sanction constitution in my second year, I knew I wanted to be the Honor Committee’s first-ever Vice Chair for Sanctions to successfully implement our new system. In this role, I’ve facilitated the sanctioning of more than 100 cases, ensuring the new process is fair, efficient, and restorative for everyone involved. I’ve also led dozens of presentations to educate the community and launched the first-ever McIntire Honor Case Competition to deepen student and faculty involvement. Multi-sanction represents the most significant shift in Honor’s history, and I’m proud to have played a key role in shaping a system that better serves UVA.
Which classmate do you most admire? Saanvi Kancherla inspires me to be not just a better student, but also a better person and friend. As hallmates, classmates, and Integrated Core Experience blockmates, I’ve had the privilege of witnessing her incredible drive in academics and beyond. Whether she’s effortlessly conducting statistical analysis for our group project or rushing off to practice with her national award-winning HooRaas dance team, Saanvi gives 100% to everything she does. Her dedication and positive attitude are truly unmatched, and I can’t wait to see what she will achieve in the future.
Who would you most want to thank for your success? I’m grateful to my family for always believing in me and being my biggest support system. Without their constant encouragement to follow my dreams–whether it’s studying abroad in Beijing at 15 years old, going to college across the country, or being the first in my family to work in finance–I wouldn’t be where I am today. I also want to thank Rich Diemer for his mentorship these past three years and the opportunity to intern at CAV Angels. Working with Rich sparked my passion for investing and solidified my desire to pursue the buy side after graduation; his generosity and guidance have truly shaped my college experience.
What are the top two items on your professional bucket list?
- Become a diplomat and travel the world to negotiate multinational deals
- Serve on the board of a non-profit
What made Carson such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2025?
“If there is one word to describe Carson, it is phenomenal. She is exceptionally intelligent with strong analytical skills and is a persuasive advocate for her ideas. Her outgoing personality, friendly nature, and wonderful sense of humor makes her a joy to be around and a great teammate. She is a natural leader who genuinely cares for and has earned the trust of others. Carson’s numerous interests are invariably translated into action whether it is her involvement in the Virginia Venture Fund or serving as Vice Chair for Sanctions on the University’s Honor Committee. Carson’s modest and unassuming nature sometimes conceals her numerous accomplishments including being a recipient of the Echols and Sky Alland Scholarships and the Institute of World Languages Distinguished Undergraduate Award; an alternate for the Schwarzman Scholarship; and her selection to the Raven Society. These scholarships, awards, and selection to the Raven Society serve as an independent measure of Carson’s exceptional leadership, character, and intellect. Yet, for all her accomplishments, Carson remains down-to-earth and humble. We are very fortunate to have Carson Breus on Team McIntire!”
Robert Webb
Paul Tudor Jones II Eminent Research Professor
McIntire School of Commerce
University of Virginia
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