Ryan Yin
College of William & Mary, Raymond A. Mason School of Business
“There’s much I don’t know how to do, but I’m willing to learn!”
Fun fact about yourself: I will try unfamiliar foods…sometimes landing myself in the ER getting an IV.
Hometown: Midlothian, VA
High School: Midlothian High School
Major: Accounting
Minor: n/a
Favorite Business Course: Global Strategic Management
Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles During College:
Wayne F Gibbs Accounting Society
Intervarsity Christian Fellowship
Matoaka Bottom Feeders Fishing Club
Dean’s List
Where have you interned during your college career? KPMG – Embark Scholar Intern, Richmond VA
Where will you be working after graduation? This summer, I’m excited to returning to KPMG as an audit intern and hopefully continuing with the firm afterwards. The people make it an unforgettable experience, and the views of the James River from the new office are hard to beat!
Who is your favorite business professor? Professor Osman Nal was one of many amazing professors that I had the honor of learning from. I’m sure many of my classmates can agree that his financial management course sure was a challenge! I appreciate how he believes the potential of each student, reflected in his teaching style. He was always willing to answer questions about the course or even finance in general, fostering a passion in the that goes further than the classroom.
What is the biggest lesson you gained from studying business?One should approach life with humility and an openness to learn.
What advice would you give to a student looking to major in a business-related field? Don’t stress too much about thinking your major will confine you to a certain field. Opportunities are everywhere, so keep your eyes open and enjoy your time in school!
Looking back over your experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently in business school and why? Slow down and appreciate these years that have passed so quickly.
What is one way that your business school has integrated AI into your programming? What is one insight you gained from using AI? One thing I appreciate about W&M’s program is its approach to new technology. Some professors encourage its use for brainstorming and organizing ideas, while others are more cautious. Like certain foods, I think moderation in AI usage is important, so we don’t become overly reliant on it.
Which academic, extracurricular or personal achievement are you most proud of? I ran a half marathon this past year, and it was inspiring to see many others experiencing it for the first time alongside me.
Which classmate do you most admire? Jacob Cross is a great friend and classmate. I can’t even count how many courses we have been through together, but he has always been incredibly encouraging. Whether it was friendly competitions to see who could score higher on an exam or collaborating on a class project, Jacob is a dependable and responsible classmate with a positive attitude.
Who would you most want to thank for your success? I want to thank my Lord Jesus Christ for everything that has been accomplished. He’s blessed me with a wonderful time here at William & Mary, including the opportunity to meet so many incredible classmates and faculty. He has provided me with a strong and loving support system, and for that I am truly grateful.
What are the top two items on your professional bucket list?
- Make my coworkers’ workdays a little less stressful through simple, thoughtful gestures.
- Be known as someone others can reliably count on.
What made Ryan such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2026?
“I’m not surprised Ryan was selected to represent the Mason School of Business as one of our “Best & Brightest.” Ryan was one of the kindest, most respectful, and genuinely gentlemanly students I’ve had the pleasure of teaching at William & Mary. He carried that spirit with a warm smile that put people at ease, whether in class or in the hallway. In my Financial Management course—one that students often describe as rigorous—he consistently showed up prepared, engaged, and ready to contribute. He sat in the front row and, as an accounting major with strong quantitative instincts, he was often the person I could turn to for calculations or to sanity-check a result in real time. He handled that responsibility with both confidence and humility.
What stood out just as much as Ryan’s technical ability was his character. He was the type of student who elevated the classroom environment, supportive of his peers, thoughtful in his questions, and always professional. He also had a keen attention to detail: more than once he caught small inconsistencies on the Blackboard page (like assignment deadlines) and kindly flagged them so I could correct them, which is proof that he was not only attentive, but invested in the course running smoothly for everyone.
Even now, when we run into each other on campus, Ryan makes a point to stop, say hello, and connect—often with that same warm smile—something that speaks to the relationships he builds and the respect he shows others. In short, he combines high-quality work with an equally strong personality and integrity. Ryan represents William & Mary extremely well, and I’m confident he will continue to do so wherever he goes next.”
Professor Osman Nal
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