Carl Firch
Southern Methodist University, Cox School of Business
“Small town roots, always seeking the next challenge.”
Fun fact about yourself: I detasseled (picked corn) for six years growing up, which was just a normal part of summers back home.
Hometown: Rockford, IL
High School: Winnebago High School
Major: Real Estate Finance
Favorite Business Course: My favorite class at SMU has been Negotiations with Professor Steve Denson. It reshaped how I approach conversations by putting us in more than 15 live negotiations that demand strategic thinking, clear communication, and adaptability. Professor Denson brings in senior executives to negotiate with the class, adding real stakes and energy. The skills carried into my internships and leadership roles, and I later returned as a TA for four sections to help others build the same foundation.
Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles During College:
Undergraduate Real Estate Club – President
RISE (Real Estate Private Equity Program) – Co-Founder & Director
Cox Career Management Center – Real Estate Peer Coach
Texas Ramp Project – Board Member
Real Estate Development – Teaching Assistant
Real Estate Due Diligence – Teaching Assistant
Negotiations – Teaching Assistant
SMU Founders Scholar (Merit scholarship program for incoming first-year SMU students, distributed to each scholar over four years. Founders Scholars demonstrate outstanding academic success and potential leadership.)
Pre-Law Scholar (High-achieving undergraduates who meet BPA and program requirements are guaranteed admission to the SMU Dedman School of Law through this scholarship program.)
Where have you interned during your college career?
Culver Investment Partners – Dallas, TX – Spring Analyst
Ares Management – Atlanta, GA – Summer Analyst
Article Student Living – Chicago, IL – Summer Analyst
Huffines Communities – Dallas, TX – Spring Analyst
Greysteel – Dallas, TX – Fall Analyst
J.B. Hunt – Dallas, TX – Summer Analyst
Where will you be working after graduation? TPG – San Francisco, CA – Private Equity Analyst (Real Estate)
Who is your favorite business professor? I’ve had some great professors at SMU Cox, but Clinical Professor Maria Stamolis stands out. She pushed me harder than anyone else, especially in her Real Estate Finance class. The case studies were complex, the workload was intense, and she expected us to think like professionals – not students. She kept raising the bar, and that’s how I learned I had more in me than I realized. What makes her exceptional isn’t just her impressive career or commitment to the real estate program. It’s how she shapes the way students think. She doesn’t just teach concepts; she changes how we approach problems and analyze situations. I am far from the only student she’s impacted this way, and I’m grateful to have learned from someone who genuinely cares about bringing out the best in her students.
What advice would you give to a student looking to major in a business-related field? Don’t treat business like a box to check. Use it as a chance to take on real responsibility. Put yourself in situations where you must make decisions, work with different personalities, and own the outcome. Try to compete with yourself more than anyone else and keep raising your own standard. And don’t stress if your plans change. They probably will. What matters most is building good judgment and staying willing to grow.
Looking back over your experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently in business school and why? If I could do business school differently, I would have leaned further into interdisciplinary study. I would have added a minor in entrepreneurship since building something of my own has always been a goal. I also would have considered studying history. Pairing technical skills with broader context is something I appreciate much more now.
What is one way that your business school has integrated AI into your programming? What is one insight you gained from using AI? Our business school has integrated AI into upper-level strategy courses, where we use it to synthesize research, industry data, and macro trends when analyzing companies. It helps us move faster from gathering information to thinking about strategic decisions. The biggest insight I gained is that AI is a tool, not a replacement for judgment. It can surface ideas quickly, but the value still depends on how well you think and the questions you ask.
Which academic, extracurricular or personal achievement are you most proud of? The achievement I am most proud of is not a single award or title, but the chance to invest in other people. Through the RISE program, I have worked alongside analysts and associates as they prepared for case competitions and learned how deals come together. I have also TA’d seven classes at SMU and worked in the Cox Career Management Center, sitting down with hundreds of students for mock interviews, resume reviews, and job search strategy.
What makes that meaningful is that I once sat in those same seats. I was lucky to have mentors who took time to guide me, challenge me, and open doors I did not even know existed. Being able to give that same clarity and confidence to someone else feels like the most full-circle accomplishment of my time here.
Which classmate do you most admire? The classmate I most admire is Amare Leslie. We met freshman year, and although we were the same age, he quickly became someone I looked up to. He was raised in a small Midwestern town and carried himself with quiet confidence and discipline from day one. From the start, he was the kind of friend who would drop what he was doing to help, offer honest advice, and push me to think bigger. He gave me confidence in what I wanted to pursue and showed me what consistent effort really looks like. More than anything, he has kept me grounded. I have no doubt he is going to do incredible things in NYC after graduation, and I feel lucky to have grown alongside him.
Who would you most want to thank for your success? More than anyone, I owe my success to my parents.
My mom taught me what quiet strength looks like. She came from very little, entered spaces where people doubted her, but she never let that define her. No matter how long the day had been, she came home with warmth, encouragement, and an unwavering belief in me. She made hard work feel normal and love feel constant. My mom’s confidence in herself and in me gave me confidence in myself.
My dad showed me what it means to endure. He dreamed big, started his own business, and kept going through setbacks most people never see. He pushed me, sometimes in ways I did not fully understand at the time, but every lesson shaped me into a tougher, steadier, and more resilient person.
Everything I am and hope to become is built on the foundation my parents gave me.
What are the top two items on your professional bucket list? At the top of my professional bucket list is continuing to mentor students at SMU and beyond as I progress in my career. I also hope to return to the Midwest one day and give back to the small town I come from, helping create opportunities and pathways that expand what feels possible.
What made Carl such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2026?
“Carl Firch has been one of the most impactful students I have seen at the Cox School in some time. What sets Carl apart is not just the extraordinary list of accomplishments on his résumé, but the way he elevates every room he enters. He combines intellectual horsepower with humility, and a genuine commitment to lifting up others.
What truly makes Carl invaluable to the Class of 2026, however, is his leadership. As President of the Undergraduate Real Estate Club and Co-Founder of the RISE program, he has built platforms that will outlast his time at SMU. He has mentored hundreds of students through mock interviews, resume reviews, and case preparation — not because it enhances his résumé, but because he genuinely believes in expanding access and raising the standard for those around him. Everyone at the Cox School has the deepest trust and respect for Carl. By everyone, I mean faculty, staff, and our student body.
Carl’s trajectory — culminating in his role with global alternative asset management firm TPG — is impressive. But what is even more impressive is the character behind it. He leads with integrity, invests deeply in people, and holds himself to an ever-rising personal standard. The Cox School of Business is stronger because of him, and the foundation he has built here will continue to benefit students for years to come. While I hope that what we do in Cox has benefited Carl, I know that Cox is a better place because of Carl’s leadership. We will miss him tremendously after he graduates, but we cannot wait to watch the amazing things he is going to accomplish.”
Jim Bryan
Associate Dean, BBA Program
Chief of Staff, Office of the Dean
SMU Cox School of Business
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