Phoebe Vanna
University of Wisconsin School of Business
“Math brain, loyal friend, fueled by Diet Coke, curiosity and a minute-to-minute Outlook calendar.”
Fun fact about yourself: I was invited to join Wisconsin School of Business’s faculty and alum on the podium to ring the closing bell at the NYSE!
Hometown: Chicago, IL
High School: Lane Tech College Prep
Major: Finance, Investment, and Banking
Minor: Consulting Certificate
Favorite Business Course: Finance 640 – Credit Trading and Analysis with Betsi Hill
Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles During College: Mercile J. Lee Scholars Program – Flamingo Scholar
Sales & Trading and Asset Management Club (First female President 2024, Board of Director member 2025-26)
Global Programs Peer Advisor (2023-2026)
Delta Gamma Sorority – Omega Chapter (2022-2026)
Humorology Director – BamGam Cast (largest student-run philanthropy in Wisconsin) (2023-24) Access Distributed – Selected Fellow (2023-24)
Where have you interned during your college career? Barclays NYC – Credit Research. Rotated on High Yield Basic Industries and Investment Grade Basic Industries/Automotives
Where will you be working after graduation? Barclays NYC – Credit Research Analyst
Who is your favorite business professor? I’ve been fortunate enough to have been supported by two strong female mentors.
Betsi Hill. Betsi reached out to me on LinkedIn my freshman year and saw potential. Having extensive industry experience, she is someone I immediately knew I wanted to learn from. We have cultivated and nurtured our relationship over the years and she’s the reason I even knew to pursue credit research. She saw something in me I don’t think I saw in myself. Betsi’s support in me is never ending and I feel incredibly lucky she reached out to me at the beginning of my journey at UW. She is the smartest person I’ve ever met and I am honored to call her a mentor and friend.
Susannah Gustafson. Susannah is the Finance Program Director at the Wisconsin School Business, and someone whose guidance has quietly shaped my college my college experience in more ways than she likely realizes. She invited me to join the WSB faculty and alum at the ringing of the closing bell for the NYSE. Her belief in me helped me navigate pivotal decisions with confidence. I am deeply grateful for her mentorship and friendship, and I hope she knows the impact she has had on my experience at UW.
What is the biggest lesson you gained from studying business? I learned business is ultimately about people, not just numbers. I know everyone says networking is the most important thing and it might be cliché, but it’s true. Building relationships and maintaining them is what has taught me the most. Sure, financial models, forecasts, and data all matter—but they only work if you understand the human behavior and motivations behind them.
What advice would you give to a student looking to major in a business-related field? Don’t simply focus on what you’re studying. Focus on how you’re learning. The most important skill we will all learn is how to learn. Building transferable skills like critical thinking, communication, and adaptation are the pinnacle of any business-related field. Push yourself out of your comfort zone and say yes to opportunities before you feel “ready.”
Looking back over your experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently in business school and why? I would’ve trusted that learning doesn’t only happen in the most intense moments. Reflecting on my time at WSB, I’ve realized some of my best insights came from conversations, experiences and reflections outside of the classroom. The growth, for me, came little by little until I looked back and realized I had learned to value progress over perfection.
What is one way that your business school has integrated AI into your programming? What is one insight you gained from using AI? WSB has done such a great job in incorporating AI to enhance thinking, not replace it. Instructors are encouraged to use it in class, and students encouraged to utilize it with assignments. But not in the way you might think. We utilize it for supporting research, data anlysis, and idea generation—not to do our work for us, but to be more efficient so we can focus on what matters. I think my biggest insight is that the quality of any output depends on the quality of the questions you ask. Prompting is everything.
Which academic, extracurricular or personal achievement are you most proud of? I’m grateful of what I’ve accomplished but, personally, I am most proud of myself for being a good friend. I lost my best friend, Eve, to brain cancer during our senior year of high school. I know if she were here, she would absolutely be one of the 100 students nominated for P&Q’s Best and Brightest. She was the best and the brightest. She had a way of making those around her better. I am proud of our friendship and of the way her presence still influences the person I strive to be.
Which classmate do you most admire? I admire Emily Chin—my friend and coworker. Emily and I live a 3-minute drive away from each other at home, but never crossed paths because we were in different school districts. We met after both being offered Global Programs Peer Advisor jobs our freshman year at WSB. She entered into my life at a time when I think I really needed her. She leads by example and is always willing to help others without seeking recognition. She is consistently a great friend; she shows up with integrity and I can always count on her to hold me accountable. It doesn’t hurt that she’s one of the funniest people I’ve ever met, either. She handles everything she does with an elegant care, and elevates both the people and environments around her. And she’s a girlboss!
Who would you most want to thank for your success? I would most want to thank my parents. Diane Vanna, my mom, has been my constant source of support and perspective for as long as I’ve been alive. She taught me what hard work and sacrifice look like, long before I ever entered a classroom. She is the most resilient person I’ve ever met, and I feel lucky to have gotten her as my mom. Through every high and low, she has believed in me—often more than I believed in myself. She champions my goals and dreams and has always ensured I know I am enough. There aren’t enough words in the dictionary to describe how grateful I am for her. I hope she knows her belief in me is the quiet force behind everything I become.
Bob Vanna, my dad, has always been my grounding force. He approaches life with integrity, steadiness, and a deep sense of responsibility. He is my favorite person to have philosophical conversations with, and I can always count on him to have a good joke up his sleeve. He shows up for me in the way he listens and the way he trusts me to find my own path. He’s my book reading and watching buddy. He always pushes me to be the best version of me I can be. I am endlessly grateful for the sacrifices he’s made and for the example he sets.
What are the top two items on your professional bucket list?
1. Build a career that allows me to mentor and open doors for future MJLSP Scholars and Business Badgers.
2. Be known as someone people want on their team—not only for skill, but for character.
What made Phoebe Vanna such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2026?
“Phoebe stands out as an exceptionally bright and driven student whose intellectual agility allows her to master complex material with remarkable speed. She demonstrates natural leadership, consistently motivating her peers and elevating group performance through clear communication and steady initiative. Balancing academic, extracurricular, and mentorship responsibilities with ease, she delivers excellence across every commitment. As a mentor, Phoebe brings empathy, insight, and a genuine investment in others’ growth—qualities that amplify her impact well beyond her own achievements. Her combination of talent, character, and service makes her an outstanding candidate for this award.
Phoebe is an exceptionally bright student whose intellectual curiosity drives her to master new concepts quickly. She is a natural leader—confident, collaborative, and able to bring out the best in those around her. Phoebe balances multiple responsibilities with ease, consistently delivering high-quality work while supporting her peers. She also serves as a thoughtful mentor, offering guidance and encouragement that elevates the whole team. Her combination of talent, drive, and character makes her truly stand out.”
Betsi Hill, CFA
Fixed Income Director
Hawk Center for Investment Analysis
Wisconsin School of Business
University of Wisconsin-Madison
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