Grace Zaucha
University of Notre Dame, Mendoza College of Business
“Catholic coffee addict who seeks to bridge the gap between communities and global businesses.”
Fun fact about yourself: By the time I graduate college at 19, I will have traveled to 20 countries and I speak four languages.
Hometown: Fort Worth, Texas
High School: Nolan Catholic High School
Major: Accounting
Minor: Italian
Favorite Business Course: My favorite business course I’ve taken is Business Law with Professor Tonia Murphy. I found the class especially engaging because we explored contract law, analyzed case law and legal precedents, and applied those principles to real-world business scenarios. The course helped me see the strong connection between law and accounting, and it reinforced my desire to pursue a career in corporate law in the future.
I believe there is a misperception of accounting as a huddled employee who sits in the back cubicle of an office and handles the numbers without interacting with anyone. In understanding the legal implications surrounding my field of study, I dived further into the consequences attached to negligence in accounting responsibilities, and why it is important that accountants engage in conversations with experts in various fields to best guide managers in their decision-making processes.
Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles During College: During my time at the University of Notre Dame, I have been a part of multiple organizations and communities. During my freshman year, I was elected as the Assistant Student Union Treasurer for the Financial Management Board. My role consisted of assisting with decisions on how to distribute the Shirt Fund, a fund raised by the selling of the Notre Dame annual football t-shirt for students experiencing medical emergencies and who do not have the means to pay for it.
Additionally, I reviewed the budgets for student government organizations. I was selected to be a part of the Transformational Leadership Program for students who come from underrepresented backgrounds. Within the program, I became a Leadership Fellow, a group focused on learning how to become a leader on campus and how to lead well. Furthermore, I mentored students within the program, giving them college and career exploration advice.
As an equity in business scholar, I was invited to participate in the first cohort of a program that focused on teaching students how to create financial models based on a company’s financial statements and network within the consulting and investment banking industry.
As my freshman year came to an end, I became more confident and comfortable in taking on more leadership opportunities. I served as the Treasurer to the Italian Club, Assistant Professional Chair for the Accounting Association, a tutor in Accounting, the Writing Center, and in Italian at the Center for Studies of Languages and Cultures, as well as a mentor to high school seniors applying to Notre Dame from my former high school. I joined the Business Honors Program and became a tutor and mentor for Freshman students in the Mendoza College of Business.
In addition, I was selected to serve as a Mendoza Ambassador for admitted student events and became a McInerney Fellow, a program developed for high-achieving underrepresented students. It has been rewarding to continue to mentor in my senior year and pass on the torch of the position of Chief of Accounting in a startup company, which focused on helping immigrant women use their embroidery skills to gain a living, to the next generation of Mendoza students. It has been humbling to see the impact my mentees have made and I am grateful to be able to witness them coming into leadership roles of their own.
Last semester, I was accepted to the University of St. Andrews for a semester abroad. I studied Italian and French, and I performed archival work. The experience was like no other as I learned to refine my writing in other languages, do translation work, and research in the languages that are close to my heart. My time in Scotland was a life-changing experience. While I was there, I rediscovered my love for piano. I used to compete in high school, but I had since lost the time to practice. However, with an incredibly talented and close friend group, I quickly picked up the instrument that I had spent countless hours pouring into.
Though I am proud to have been a part of all these amazing communities, including the Dean’s List, a deeply impactful activity for me has been altar serving at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart on campus. I have assisted and celebrated every Easter with my peers on campus and the spiritual experience is second to none.
Where have you interned during your college career? The summer after my freshman year, I joined PwC as a participant in its Career Preview program. I spent the remainder of my summer in Ireland, studying Python and learning how it is implemented in the environment that surrounded us. I then returned to PwC this past summer as a Start Intern in the Audit practice in Dallas, Texas. I was able to shadow teams in banking, asset wealth management, consumer products, and private firms. My intern team participated in a national competition for a non-profit where we coded a website and a demo-chatbot for the client. I am grateful to return for my third internship with PwC this summer as an advanced intern in the audit practice in Dallas. I only had two summers before graduation, as I completed my accounting degree in three years.
Where will you be working after graduation? I am currently deciding between taking the CPA exam and joining the audit team at PwC Dallas or attending law school. Working with the audit teams at PwC Dallas broadened my perspective of what an auditor does and how the accounting profession acts as the foundation of capital markets. The work was enriching and the opportunities to learn are infinite, so I am considering taking a two-year work gap before attending law school. However, I am still weighing my options at the moment.
Who is your favorite business professor? James Otteson has been the most impactful professor I have had. Before taking his course, I never considered that I could meaningfully integrate my faith into the pursuit of a business career, let alone understand my career as a true vocation. Through his teaching, he has broadened my perspective on how individuals can contribute to the common good and to society as a whole. He has shown me that helping to build the economy of one’s country can be a noble profession when pursued with integrity, purpose, and the right intentions.
After every conversation with Professor Otteson, I leave with renewed inspiration and much to reflect upon. He consistently challenges me to see situations from new angles and to think more deeply about the kind of person I hope to become. Because of his influence, I now view college not merely as a stepping stone toward a career, but as a formative time to grow as an individual and to thoughtfully integrate the many dimensions that make me who I am.
What is the biggest lesson you gained from studying business? The biggest lesson I have learned from studying business is how to pay attention to detail. At first, this may appear to be a minute lesson, but I truly believe that many people’s lives would change if they paid more attention to the little things. Having a detail-oriented mentality is not only helpful in catching a mistake made on a financial statement, but also allows us a better understanding of those around us.
You begin to read the body language of others, read in between lines of what people say, and see the little details in humans and in nature that make them unique and worthy of admiration. You develop a sense of gratitude for the small things, and this mentality allows you to handle the missteps that will occur in life. All big wins are achieved by small steps and are achieved by individuals who recognized the small things and saw how they played into the bigger picture. Life is not changed and empires are not created by one momentous event that changes everything, but rather in consistent small steps that lead people down a new path.
Looking back on my college experience, I have the privilege of saying I do not have regrets. I listened to my mentors and my community leaders, and I lived my college experience boldly, constantly trying new things and investing in myself. However, if I could change one thing, I would devote more time to self-care. I recognize I am the type of person who wakes up at 6 a.m. and performs nonstop until 10 p.m. Yet, after my semester at the University of St. Andrews, I soon recognized that if I do not take care of myself, I limit my options in the future. Even if it is one hour per week, spend some time resting so that you may have the energy to do what you love.
What is one way that your business school has integrated AI into your programming? What is one insight you gained from using AI? Coding has been an important aspect in my college career, especially with the advent of AI. I spent a summer in Ireland learning to code Python. I then dedicated the next summer to learning Java and earning two AI certifications during my internship at PwC. Additionally, with the help of a teammate, I coded a demo-chatbot for a client. The opportunities with AI are endless if you learn how to seek it out at Mendoza College of Business. I have even taken Data Analytics in Accounting which incorporated some AI tools for data analysis. The key, however, is finding your niche.
AI has become a buzz word and many companies have begun investing in their own proprietary AI tools. Nevertheless, it is important that you use AI because you have identified a key area that it can strengthen and not use it simply for the sake of using it. The best usages of AI I have seen are by individuals who recognized an area of weakness for them and used AI to strengthen those areas or reduce the amount of time it took to complete the task. The key aspect was that AI did not replace their work, but rather enhanced their output and overall efficiency.
Which academic, extracurricular or personal achievement are you most proud of? My greatest achievement has been being accepted into and graduating from the University of Notre Dame in three years at the age of 19. The University of Notre Dame was my mother’s and my own dream school. For a Mexican immigrant mom, the dream university for one’s child is Notre Dame. I, myself, have been enamored by the idea of attending this institution since I knew what college was. On my first day of high school, I sat down with the counselor and told her to align my schedule with whatever was necessary to be able to attend Notre Dame. Seven years later, I have not only attended Notre Dame, but will be graduating early and at an age I could never have imagined. This graduation serves as a testament to the American dream and I am humbled to be able to celebrate this milestone with my grandmother and my mom. I will be the first to graduate from a U.S. undergraduate institution, and I am thrilled to start a new chapter for my family in this country of opportunity.
Which classmate do you most admire? The classmate I most admire is Solbee Kang. She is the founder of the startup where I serve as Chief of Accounting, and I first met her during our freshman year when we both participated in Equity in Business. Although she is a Computer Science major, she has always demonstrated a strong interest in business and the global market.
What sets Solbee apart is her intellectual curiosity and drive. Every time we meet, she is either conducting new research or developing innovative ideas to grow and strengthen the company. Her initiative, creativity, and determination continually inspire those around her. It has been a privilege to work alongside her and to witness her growth into the thoughtful, capable leader she is today.
Who would you most want to thank for your success? All my success can be attributed to my mom. She came to this country in 2000 with two pieces of luggage and $700. She worked her way from entry level accountant to J.P. Morgan Chase to an MBA graduate while being pregnant with me. She taught herself English and passed the CPA exam on the first try despite facing extreme stress as my father was on a tour in Afghanistan.
She took time off from working to raise me and she became a financial analyst for the U.S. Navy once I entered elementary school. She has been at every piano competition and recital, every soccer match, and every awards ceremony. She has been my biggest cheerleader, even when I was unsure of myself. Yet, she has also been my voice of reason, keeping me grounded and humble in the moments I am like Icarus flying too close to the sun. This is her achievement as much as it is mine. I am the product of her sacrifice and I will forever be grateful for the great gift that is my mother.
What are the top two items on your professional bucket list? The first item in my bucket list is to travel to 10 more countries and learn one more language before the age of 25. The second item in my bucket list is to buy a house and land with my mom before the age of 26. I want to establish a home that can be passed down to future generations. The goal is to set up those who come after me for success and I will try my hardest to build a legacy. Nevertheless, I want to continue to invest in myself and in others. I wish to continue to view the world through other people’s lens and to continue appreciating the beauty that is within each and every people and culture.
What made Grace such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2026?
“Grace Zaucha is a first-generation college student, with parents whose first language is not English. They are extremely proud of their daughter’s accomplishments, as they should be, but this has placed a great deal of pressure on Grace. She has risen to the challenge, making the most of her time at Notre Dame academically, socially, and professionally.
Immediately noticeable about Grace is her seriousness of purpose. She cares deeply about her studies. She takes challenging courses, reads challenging texts, and deliberately pushes herself to learn new and unfamiliar things. As one example, in addition to her knowledge of Spanish and French, she has also been studying Italian to engage with Italy’s literature and history.
Grace has been a key contributor to the Business Honors Program, of which she is a valued member. She understands its culture of mutual support and mutual expectation, and, with her disarming charm and lack of pretense, she subtly but resolutely pushes her peers to become better versions of themselves. And she somehow manages to accomplish all this while engaging in numerous extracurricular activities, including competitive swimming and classical piano.
Grace is, in short, a complete package: disciplined and principled, capable and industrious, yet humble and grateful. She is a genuine pleasure to have as a student who, I am confident, will soon be an outstanding ambassador for Notre Dame.”
James R. Otteson
John T. Ryan Jr. Professor of Business Ethics
Faculty Director, Business Honors Program
Mendoza College of Business
University of Notre Dame
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