Samuel Rosen
Lehigh University College of Business
“Decisive leader, relentless learner and storyteller – thrives on curiosity, camaraderie, and a well-timed aperitivo.”
Fun fact about yourself: I have 40+ flight hours.
Hometown: Woodside, CA
High School: Woodside Priory
Major: Financial Engineering
Minor: Computer Science
Favorite Business Course: Financial Modeling with Professor Nayar
Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles During College:
Lehigh University College of Business Office of Professional Development
Professional Development Intern – Fall 2024, Spring 2025
Lehigh University Integrated Business and Engineering Council
President – Spring 2023, Fall 2023, Spring 2024
Vice President of Professional Development – Spring 2022, Fall 2022, Spring 2023
Lehigh Consulting Group
President – Spring 2024, Fall 2024
Director of External Relations – Spring 2023, Fall 2023
TAMID at Lehigh
Financial Consultant – Spring 2024, Fall 2024, Spring 2025
Director of Consulting – Fall 2022, Spring 2023, Fall 2023, Spring 2024, Fall 2024
Teaching Assistant
IBE010 – Fall 2023
IBE050 – Spring 2025
Where have you interned during your college career?
Accenture – New York, New York – Management Consulting Summer Analyst – Summer 2024
3factorindexing – Woodside, California (Remote) – Software Developer – Fall 2023
Italian Angels for Growth – Milan, Italy – Summer Venture Analyst – Summer 2023
Hammerton Inc – Salt Lake City, Utah – IT Development Intern – Summer 2022
Where will you be working after graduation? Accenture – New York, New York – Management Consulting Analyst
Who is your favorite business professor?
I had the privilege of taking Professor Gupta’s Corporate Social Responsibility course during my study abroad program in Milan. Professor Gupta consistently refines his curriculum to cover the most pressing issues in the business world and challenges his students to stay engaged with current events. Beyond the classroom, his personal and professional journey was a source of inspiration, reinforcing the importance of dedicating oneself to their goals. One of the benefits of meeting Professor Gupta during our time in Milan was the ability to know him on a personal level. His captivating teaching style is to be admired whether debating the implications of SPACs on the capital markets over an aperitivo or discussing how to mitigate the rising cost of insulin as we strolled along Lago Maggiore. He always finds ways to thoughtfully engage his students
To credit Professor Gupta solely for his stimulating lectures would be incomplete without acknowledging his ability to bring together an exceptional group of students. I left Milan with a new-found curiosity for the ethical impact that business can have on our world, and with 25 new friends that remain close to this day. While my curriculum doesn’t overlap with any of Professor Gupta’s other courses, he continues to mentor the cohort of students from that summer, and I feel incredibly fortunate to have learned from him.
What advice would you give to a student looking to major in a business-related field? Surround yourself with people who challenge you to be the best version of yourself. We all have the privilege of studying alongside brilliant minds. Be humble enough to accept guidance not just from professors but from peers – sometimes even those younger than you – who have a burning passion for a subject that interests you. If a topic excites you but feels out of reach, seek out those who immerse themselves in it and are willing to share that joy with you. Engaging with your peers accelerates your learning and pushes you beyond your comfort zone. Growth in business, and in life, often comes from listening, adapting, and being open to new perspectives.
Looking back over your experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently in business school and why? I would divert more of my elective credits to communications courses within and beyond the business school. The ability to articulate your goals and ideas is potentially the most important skill for any student aspiring to leave an impact on our world. One of the most impactful lessons I learned at Lehigh was from Professor Costa, who taught us that “we are not in the information delivery business, we are in the storytelling business.” As students, we dedicate so much of our time to learning the “information” that we often overlook the power of the story behind it. Looking back, I realize that a stronger foundation in communications would have pushed me to take that lesson to heart earlier in my career.
What is one way that your business school has integrated AI into your programming? What is one insight you gained from using AI? One of the most eye-opening experiences I’ve had with AI at Lehigh was in our Financial Modelling course. Many students fear that AI will replace analyst roles, making it more difficult for them to break into the industry. While there is validity to some aspects of this concern, Professor Nayar demonstrated how AI can build complex financial models – automating aspects of data sourcing but falling short in the deeper analysis required to tell the full story of the model. He made it clear that while the implementation of AI will reshape our responsibilities, it should be treated as an opportunity rather than a threat. By eliminating the grunt work, AI frees analysts to contribute to higher-level thinking and strategy. Lehigh teaches us not to fear automation, rather we are encouraged to embrace it as a tool that can elevate our insights.
Which academic, extracurricular or personal achievement are you most proud of? The academic achievement I am most proud of is serving as a Teaching Assistant for the Integrated Business and Engineering Freshman Workshop (IBE050). This course is the foundation of what it means to be an IBE student at Lehigh, and it was one of the most transformative courses I took during my first year. Taught by Professor Costa, it emphasizes entrepreneurship, presentation skills, and teamwork – lessons that shaped my academic and professional growth. Having the opportunity to return as a TA has been incredibly rewarding. Getting to watch the students step outside of their comfort zones, refine their public speaking skills, and gain confidence with each class meeting is inspiring. Contributing to their journey is a blessing, especially as I wrap up my final semester. More than anything, I’m constantly learning from this eager cohort – they never fail to present ideas that impress the other TAs and me. I’m endlessly grateful for the experiences IBE has given me and for the professors – Storer, Costa, Kish, and Alexandrescu – who have such a lasting impact on all of us in the program.
Which classmate do you most admire? Robin Williams was born for the big screen, Michael Jordan was born for the court, and William Shakespeare was born for the quill. Kyle Nisbet was born for the Bloomberg terminal. As a first year, I worked on my first stock pitch ($FWONK) alongside Kyle. While I focused on identifying comparable firms – standard first-year territory – Kyle dove headfirst into the investment thesis. He expertly identified the implications of a new TV deal on future revenue and fielded questions from members of the Investment Management Group’s Executive Board. It wasn’t until meeting Kyle that I truly understood the embodiment of someone who was born to do what they love. The labor of that love is not lost on me, as I’m not sure Kyle has missed an earnings call since I met him four years ago.
But Kyle’s impact goes far beyond finance. Kyle stands as a beacon of integrity and authenticity in the Lehigh Business community, known for his unwavering commitment to running shorts – even in the dead of winter – and a smile that never fades. I’ve sparingly met people with as much intellectual curiosity as Kyle, whether it’s about the disparity between Boeing 737 demand in Asia vs the United States or debating niche details in a game we both enjoy. When I get a notification from him, I’m guaranteed to find myself struggling to answer a question that would have never crossed my mind or laughing at something that only Kyle could have come up with.
I’ve had the privilege of working with Kyle on many occasions, and I’ll continue to leap at any opportunity – because I know I’ll walk away having learned something new.
Who would you most want to thank for your success? I’d like to thank a fellow Woodside Priory and Lehigh alumnus, Mark Hughes, for the role he played in my success. I have him to thank for introducing me to Lehigh’s Integrated Business and Engineering Honors Program, as he spent hours poring over spreadsheets convincing me that the challenge was one I wouldn’t regret. Due to COVID, I hadn’t been able to visit Lehigh’s campus; having a fellow Californian there made the journey seem that much less arduous. After my conversations with Mark – and comparing my top choices on Poets & Quants’ Best Undergraduate Business Schools of 2020 – I was off to Lehigh!
Mark also pushed me to be my best, personally and professionally. He always checked in on me to make sure I was able to take advantage of everything Lehigh had to offer – and was even kind enough to pick me up from the hospital after an unfortunate encounter with COVID during my first week of courses. As a freshman, I barely knew my way around the business world, but Mark still invited me to be a part of his PwC Case Competition team, sparking my passion for consulting. He encouraged me to join the Lehigh Consulting Group where I would later succeed him as President. Looking back, I’m grateful not just for his mentorship but for the way he made Lehigh feel like home before I even set foot on campus.
What are the top two items on your professional bucket list?
Leave my career having made a meaningful impact on those around me.
Land a plane on the back of a ship.
What made Samuel such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2025?
“I have had the privilege of mentoring and supervising Samuel Rosen for the past three years. I can confidently attest to his exceptional qualities and dedication to being a lifelong learner, making him an exemplary candidate for Poets & Quants Best and Brightest. Samuel has consistently demonstrated maturity, drive, and reflectiveness throughout his academic journey at Lehigh University. One of Samuel’s most commendable traits is his dedication to excellence. This commitment to excellence is evident in his achievements, both in and outside the classroom. He approaches all aspects of life with a positive attitude and an unwavering commitment to success – whether it is his own success or the success of those around him.”
Marina Odierno
Associate Director of Professional Development
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