Katie Russell
Texas Christian University, Neeley School of Business
“Process-oriented go-getter with a passion for people, improvement, and the gym.”
Fun fact about yourself: I have seen over 20 musicals on Broadway!
Hometown: Peconic, NY
High School: Southold High School
Majors: Supply Chain Management & Marketing
Favorite Business Course: Data Analytics with Dr. David Weltman
Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles During College:
- TCU Dean’s Scholar
- Neeley Fellows Honors Business Program (Class of 2026 Member)
- Dean’s List
- John V. Roach Honors College
- TCU Supply Chain Club (Member)
- Dell x TCU Case Competition (Student Coach, Finalist)
- Sigma Kappa (Assistant Philanthropy Chair, Health & Wellness Chair)
- TCU Powerlifting Club (Social Media Manager)
Where have you interned during your college career?
Company: Dell Technologies
Role: Global Offer & Product Operations Intern
Location: Austin, TX
Date: Summer 2025
Company: Ryse Supplements
Role: Marketing Intern
Location: Prosper, TX
Date: Summer 2024
Company: Drosso’s Mini Golf & Snack Bar
Role: Manager
Location: Greenport, NY
Date: Summer 2023
Where will you be working after graduation? After graduation, I will be joining the supply chain team at Absolute Recomp, a growing fitness brand in Dallas–Fort Worth, TX.
Who is your favorite business professor? I have been fortunate to learn from many incredible professors over the past few years, which makes choosing just one favorite difficult. However, there is only one professor I can say I’ve taken two classes with and hiked Machu Picchu alongside: Dr. Laura Meade.
Her courses are perhaps some of the most impactful for me over my time at TCU. She blends real-world events with academic concepts in a way that prepares students not just to pass exams, but to step into their careers with a deeper understanding of business beyond the textbook. She is relatable, encouraging, and consistently challenges students to share their perspectives. Her classroom is a place for open dialogue and productive debate, giving students the chance to grow as thinkers and communicators.
Dr. Meade invests deeply in her students, ensuring we feel supported not only in our academic and professional growth, but also in our personal passions. For me, this meant bonding over our shared commitment to health and fitness. She is an exceptional professor who has challenged me to think critically, pursue growth with confidence, and has even inspired a newfound interest in traveling.
What is the biggest lesson you gained from studying business? The biggest lesson I gained from studying business is how essential effective communication is. One of the most valuable aspects of Neeley’s curriculum is the consistent emphasis on group work. Nearly every business class I have taken has involved collaborating with others, often across multiple projects throughout the semester.
Through these experiences, I have learned that strong ideas only go as far as your ability to communicate them clearly and work through them with others. Embracing group work has helped me better understand my own working style, including where I communicate well and where I still have room to grow. It has challenged me to listen more carefully, accept feedback, and embrace different perspectives.
Beyond building self-awareness, it has also taught me how much I rely on others to produce meaningful work. I have come to appreciate that success in business is rarely an individual effort. It depends on how willing you are to learn from others and work alongside them.
What advice would you give to a student looking to major in a business-related field? Approach every subject and opportunity with an open mind. Different areas of business will click with different people, and that’s completely okay. I entered college intending to only major in Marketing. With that, I was very anxious walking into my first accounting class because I assumed it wasn’t “my thing.” While I didn’t exactly exit the class with my eyes set on a career at a Big-4 firm, the experience gave me a powerful realization: I’m a process-oriented person who thrives on systems. It was this discovery that eventually led me to the supply chain track.
Not every class will be easy or grab your full interest, but each one has something valuable to offer, whether it’s a lesson in personal growth or a skill that makes you a more well-rounded business person. So, say yes to as many experiences to learn as you can, you never know what you might get out of it.
Looking back over your experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently in business school and why? Looking back on my experience, if I could do one thing differently in business school, it would be to seek out more opportunities to travel. Through the Neeley Fellows program, I was able to visit Peru, Austin, and New York. Reflecting on how impactful these trips were, I wish I had traveled even more. TCU offers many ways to study abroad, whether for a full semester, a few weeks during the summer, or smaller-scale experiences like site visits and weekend case competitions. Knowing how much I valued the opportunities I did embrace, I would have loved to take greater advantage of these programs to deepen my understanding of international business and collect even more stories to share.
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 first classes I took after adding my Supply Chain Management major was Systems Planning and Process Analysis with Dr. Beata Jones. She was the first professor I encountered who fully embraced AI, often referring to it as our “fifth teammate” on assignments and projects. Her approach stood out because she emphasized hands-on use, teaching us how to prompt effectively, evaluate credibility, and use AI to deepen our analysis rather than replace our thinking.
The greatest insight I gained was the importance of intentional prompting. Being thoughtful about context, structure, and tone can completely transform the output, even when the core request stays the same. Before her course, I thought I knew how to use AI, but I left knowing how to use AI effectively.
Which academic, extracurricular or personal achievement are you most proud of? I discovered a love for bodybuilding as a sophomore in high school, and I’ve been grateful to continue pursuing that passion during my time at TCU. This past fall, I prepared for and competed in my first competition, which was a very meaningful milestone for me. For years, I knew I wanted to compete, but I wasn’t interested in just checking a box. I wanted to be intentional and give it my all. That meant committing to years of training, working with my coach, and staying disciplined through different seasons of life as I grew as an athlete.
What made this experience meaningful is not trophies or the stage itself, but what it represents. Stepping on stage for the first time was the realization of a goal I had been chasing for years, and it reinforced that bodybuilding will remain an important part of my life moving forward.
While bodybuilding is often seen as an individual sport, my experience has been anything but. It has taught me to approach improvement with humility and curiosity. There are always new techniques to learn and areas to refine, and progress depends on being open to feedback. It has also reinforced the value of community, whether through my gym, my coach, or the steady support of my family. Most importantly, it has taught me patience paired with persistence. The understanding that meaningful progress comes from consistent effort over time is a mindset I now carry into both my personal and professional pursuits.
Which classmate do you most admire? Over the last four years, I have been surrounded by extraordinary classmates, each inspiring me in their own way. The impact of Britton Majure, however, cannot be overstated. When I think of Britton, a few qualities immediately come to mind: relentless drive, thoughtful leadership, and a genuine ability to make everyone around him better. We’ve taken many classes together, and I have been privileged to both watch and learn from his example. Britton is the rare person who can deliver life-changing encouragement one moment and the blunt, respectful truth the next—something I experienced firsthand during a three-hour mock interview before my Dell internship interview. He holds you accountable while making you believe you are capable of more than you imagined.
Within our Fellows cohort, we often use the phrases “lion” and “sheep” to describe leadership. Britton is skilled at both. As the lion, he leads with clarity, ensuring everyone knows where to go and how to get there efficiently. As the sheep, he supports whoever is leading in a way that is grounding, empowering, and completely selfless. This balance is part of what makes him a remarkable collaborator and a skill I have long tried to emulate.
Who would you most want to thank for your success? The list of people I want to thank for my success is quite lengthy, but at the top of the list is my dad. Growing up, I didn’t always notice the lessons he was teaching (I was more focused on Disney Channel than business). Every day, he showed me what it means to be a strong leader in both work and life. He owns a small-business restaurant in our hometown and is, without exaggeration, the hardest-working and more generous person I know. From him, I learned the value of showing up no matter what, doing what needs to be done, and investing in the people around you.
Beyond leading by example, he has always encouraged me to be ambitious and chase my goals, whether that was performing in dance recitals, moving across the country for college, or competing in a bodybuilding show. No matter the adventure, he is always my biggest supporter and the reason I push myself every day to be the best version of myself.
What are the top two items on your professional bucket list?
* At some point in my career, I’d love to work in the fitness industry and lead a team that creates experiences or programs that genuinely inspire people to follow their passions and focus on personal growth. I want my work to make people feel motivated, energized, and excited about becoming the best version of themselves.
* I’ve recently become a total podcast nerd, and I love diving into topics like mindset, communication, and self-improvement. One day, I’d love to host a podcast where I can chat with leaders from all kinds of fields, hear their stories, and explore their insights on life and leadership. My hope is to inspire others the way many have inspired me, both personally and professionally.
What made Katie such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2026?
“Katie is an exceptional scholar whose intellectual rigor and genuine curiosity have already set her apart within the Neeley School of Business Class of 2026. A double major in Supply Chain and Marketing and the recipient of the Information Systems and Supply Chain Department’s highest GPA award, she pairs outstanding academic achievement with meaningful global and practical experience. I first met Katie in my Global Business course, during which we traveled together to Peru, and later had the opportunity to teach her again in Global Supply Chain Management. Across both settings, I witnessed firsthand her quiet yet unmistakable leadership among her peers.
Though naturally reserved, Katie approaches complex challenges with deliberation and depth. Her thoughtful, purposeful problem-solving style marked by calm reflection and intellectual discipline consistently elevates team dynamics and enriches classroom dialogue. Beyond the classroom, she excels in competitive bodybuilding, a pursuit that reflects the same resilience, focus, and work ethic that define her academic and professional endeavors.”
Laura Meade
Director Neeley International Programs
Professor Supply Chain Practice
TCU Neeley School of Business
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