Carter Kowalski
Wake Forest University School of Business
“A driven and deeply caring leader who strives to make the world a better place.”
Fun fact about yourself: I’m a professional skier!
Hometown: West Chester, Pennsylvania
High School: Archmere Academy
Major: Business & Enterprise Management and History double major
Minor: Entrepreneurship
Favorite Business Course: Legal Environment of Business
Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles During College:
- Alpha Kappa Psi Professional Business Fraternity
- Vice President of Finance
- Risk Management Chair
- Wake Forest Club Ski Team
- Founder
- Vice President of Finance
- Vice President
- Undergraduate Business Student Council
- Council Member
- Student Organization Financial Office
- Student Assistant, Advisor
- Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society
- 0 Inductee, Member
- Beta Gamma Sigma International Business Honor Society
- Member
- Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Honor Society
- Member
- Mortar Board National College Honor Society
- Member
- George Washington Greene Scholarship
- Recipient
- Men’s Club Golf Team
- A-Team Member
- Finance Club
- Member
- Dow Jones Club
- Member
Where have you interned during your college career?
- JPMorgan Chase
- Commercial & Specialized Industries Summer Analyst
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- June 2025 – August 2025
- Visible Ventures
- Venture Capital Summer Analyst
- Boston, Massachusetts
- June 2024 – August 2024
- Qurate Retail Group
- Summer Buying Analyst
- West Chester, Pennsylvania
- June 2023 – August 2023
Where will you be working after graduation? JPMorgan Chase, Commercial & Specialized Industries Analyst
Who is your favorite business professor? Professor Starrett not only taught my favorite business school course, the Legal Environment of Business, but is also my favorite business professor. He has a unique background as a litigator, employment lawyer, in-house generalist, and professor, while having experience in consulting. His wealth of experience, in conjunction with his ability to deeply engage students in his courses through discussions, debates, and real-world examples, makes his classes unforgettable and invaluable. He took special interest in me and furthered my understanding of the intertwined nature of law and business, completely changing my outlook on law. As a result, I have become far more in tune with the legal implications of business decisions and often find myself thinking from a legal perspective while acting in the business field. His ability to argue complex thoughts with concision and effectiveness inspired me to improve my argumentation skills, and he has dramatically furthered my academic career.
What is the biggest lesson you gained from studying business? The biggest lesson I gained from studying business is that by understanding how people work, transact, work together, and think, you can best serve them and humanity. My studies of organizational behavior and leadership have taught me invaluable lessons about how successful organizations operate and how to get the most out of employees. These courses have taught me about human behavior individually, in teams, and in organizations. Even more, it showed me how to lead others effectively through practical experience, such as in Wake Forest’s Calloway Leadership Experience course. I have connected many of these teachings directly with my leadership roles in Alpha Kappa Psi and the Club Ski Team, and have learned how I can utilize my position at J.P. Morgan to serve others by understanding their needs and behaviors.
What advice would you give to a student looking to major in a business-related field? For students looking to major in a business-related field, I would advise them to take advantage of the resources available to them early and to put themselves out there. I often give this advice to first-year students asking about finance-related fields, but I truly believe that there is no bad experience. Even during their first summer in college, they should apply to anything available to them or ask a family friend to connect them with a business leader. Even more, they should utilize their network to create an opportunity for themselves, so that they can gain real-world working experience and start to understand what they would like to do. Having a sense of direction is immensely helpful as a business major, and there is no better guide than getting out in the world and trying something.
Moreover, I would advise them not to be afraid to make their own path. I often see students majoring in business-related fields conforming to a pre-set path. I would like them to know and feel confident that they can make a path that conforms to them and what they want to achieve in their careers. This may involve service of others, a particular niche interest they have, or a field of business that does not have a set trajectory or ladder.
Looking back over your experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently in business school and why? Reflecting on my experience in business school, I would engage with the Undergraduate Business Student Council earlier in my college career and expand its impact to companies in the Winston-Salem community. I believe that students in the business school could do more to carry out Wake Forest’s motto, “Pro Humanitate,” by engaging in work-service partnerships with local Winston-Salem companies. As a result, students would be able to gain practical experience and become integral parts of the local community. I wish I had the opportunity to go back and create this initiative through my role on the Undergraduate Business Student Council.
What is one way that your business school has integrated AI into your programming? What is one insight you gained from using AI? The Wake Forest School of Business has integrated AI into many aspects of our programming, especially in my project management and management information systems courses. These classes provided me with a strong foundational understanding of how artificial intelligence systems work, how they can be integrated into business systems, and how to most effectively utilize them to stay ahead of rapidly changing business trends. One insight I have gained from this AI usage and through use during my internships is that AI is and will only become more of an integral tool that simplifies workflows, but only if you use the right prompt. I have learned how to craft practical prompts that produce the best results by using language that corresponds with LLM coding to maximize AI competencies.
Which academic, extracurricular or personal achievement are you most proud of? Academically, I am most proud of my class rank of 1/1285 and 4.0 GPA, as I have pushed myself to achieve excellence across everything that I do at Wake Forest. I always produce my best work in whatever I am doing; I feel that my academic achievements and honors at Wake Forest are indicative of my personal achievements throughout my time in college. However, from an extracurricular standpoint, I am most proud of my efforts to lead a fundraising campaign for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society to help raise over $500,000 for blood cancer patients and their families as a Student of the Year candidate. I was honored to be selected to run a fundraising team, especially for an organization that is so close to my heart. Even more, I am so proud of my team and the impact we were able to have on the lives of so many individuals who have been affected by blood cancer.
Which classmate do you most admire? The classmate whom I most admire is Danielle Britton. She is one of the business school’s most accomplished students and is exceptional in everything that she does. She inspires me to expand my horizons and skills by challenging myself in new fields and areas of study. Danielle is one of the strongest leaders on campus, running the school’s largest dance team, and has created a legacy of positive, empowering leadership through her roles. Moreover, she has started multiple companies and continues to pursue excellence in her work at Goldman Sachs. Furthermore, Danielle is an inspiration to everyone around her, and I admire how easily she can get the best out of the people she leads. I try to emulate this positive, encouraging leadership style to allow each member of the groups I run to flourish.
Who would you most want to thank for your success? I would like to thank my dad, Dr. Thomas Kowalski, for my success. He has given me all of the tools to take on any challenge in life and has shown me how to pursue excellence with unwavering determination. He has been the source of my standard of work and achievement, and my dogged efforts to be of service to others. As a physician, he sacrifices almost every waking hour of the day to help others and save lives. Although I may not be saving lives directly, I am truly inspired by him and am passionate about doing anything I can to be of service to those around me. I constantly find myself assisting my classmates and peers, or anyone I meet, following in his legacy. Finally, he is at the top of his field globally as an advanced endoscopist, and as a professor of medicine, he continuously shares his knowledge with others. I plan to be at the top of any field that I pursue to follow in his footsteps, and also hope to share my knowledge and experience with others through formal or informal teaching at every opportunity. I could not be more grateful for his support and investment in me.
What are the top two items on your professional bucket list? The top two items on my professional bucket list are to run and own at least one company, and to improve the lives of people in at least one country. I hope to run and own multiple companies to expand my business skills and challenge myself, while expanding my ability to be of service to others. Additionally, I always want to help others and make a difference in their lives. My true goal is to tangibly help the majority of people in at least one country, as I hope to positively impact as many people as possible through my work.
What made Carter such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2026?
“It is my pleasure to offer some insight into the remarkable person that is Carter Kowalski. As a student, he stands out in a university full of intelligent, driven young leaders because he is that and so much more. He is fully engaged in all aspects of academics, social interaction, and leadership, and the engagement is genuine, productive, and inclusive. Carter eagerly works to help people and make spaces better because they matter to him. His eyes are constantly looking toward improving the future.
In addition to being the best of students, Carter also possesses the best character. He treats everyone with ultimate respect and graciousness, and he is extremely humble in spirit, but passionate about his many interests. He lights up when he shares his insight, and he possesses a selflessness that draws people in. His depth of understanding of his work and himself far exceeds that of other young people, and I am eager to see where these qualities lead him.
Carter is an invaluable asset to the Class of 2026 in every way. His strength of character, leadership, and awareness stand out among his peers and will help guide a stellar future. It is my absolute pleasure to work with and know him.”
Michele Stewart
Business Manager
Student Organization Finance Office
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