Shadi Al Tori 

Marian University of Indianapolis, Byrum School of Business

“An example, an inspiration, and a light of hope—turning humble beginnings into great success.”

Fun fact about yourself: Growing up in a truly diverse family and community gave me the chance to become fluent in four languages: English, Arabic, Hebrew, and Romanian. These have  shaped how I connect with people across so many cultures.

Hometown: Rahat, Israel

High School: Dar El-Qalam, Israel

Major: Accounting & Finance (Double Major)

Minor: Global Studies

Favorite Business Course: Business Analysis Competition (Mergers and Acquisitions). Team lead in Eli Lilly’s acquisition strategy competition.

Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles During College:

• Student-athlete (Tennis), served as team captain since sophomore year.

• Competed in the Indiana Collegiate Accounting Competition, finishing in 3rd place (2025-2026)

• Honored as an Outstanding Accounting Student by the Marian University Business School (2024-2025).

• Awarded Best Professional Growth Student Employee by Marian University (2024-2025).

• Dean’s List (each semester)
• Involved with the Israel Tennis and Education Centers, serving as the face and one of the main ambassadors in the United States, regularly traveled nationwide to attend nonprofit and fundraising events and serve as a guest speaker, sharing personal experiences from an underprivileged and conflict-affected background while promoting coexistence and living together (unity).

Where have you interned during your college career? 
Go Destination Services (Carmel, IN) – Accounting and Business Process Team Intern
Allison Transmission (Indianapolis, IN) – Internal Audit Intern
CliftonLarsonAllen LLP (Indianapolis, IN) – Tax & Audit Intern

Where will you be working after graduation? After graduation, I will be joining Republic Airways’ Leadership Development Program in Carmel, Indiana.

Who is your favorite business professor? This is a very hard question because I was lucky to have incredible business professors throughout my collegiate career. If I had to choose one, Professor Charlie Pride really stood out. I took his Cases in Accounting course, which was one of the most interesting and unique classes I’ve had. The class was a semester-long competition, where every week we worked on and presented a new case. By the end of the week, we had to compete against everyone else in the class. It pushed me to think differently, work under pressure, and clearly explain my ideas. Professor Pride was always very communicative and supportive, always willing to give feedback, whether it was good or bad, and he genuinely cared about preparing us for our journey after graduation.

At the same time, my growth did not come from just one professor. Professors Denise Gates, Tom Hinkley, and Madeline Kurcz were just as impactful in different ways, whether through technical knowledge, guidance, or even personal support. Together, they all played a huge role in my development during college

What is the biggest lesson you gained from studying business? The biggest lesson I gained from studying business is that it applies to every part of life. Success comes from going beyond expectations and taking ownership of your personal growth. Business taught me that real progress happens when you put in extra effort, stay disciplined, and hold yourself to a higher standard. I’ve seen this clearly through both academics and tennis—when you commit fully and consistently, that’s when growth, impact, and long-term success follow.

What advice would you give to a student looking to major in a business-related field? My advice to a student majoring in a business-related field is to not get too comfortable. Business gives you a strong foundation, but it’s on you to go above and beyond. Do your own research, challenge yourself, and explore different areas because there is so much more to business than what you learn in class.

There are many different approaches and paths within business, and that’s what makes it so interesting. The more curious you are and the more effort you put in, the more opportunities you create for yourself to succeed in life

Looking back over your experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently in business school and why? Looking back, the one thing I would do differently is put more effort into using Marian University’s alumni community. Marian has an incredible alumni network, and many graduates have launched great careers. Building stronger connections with alumni could have helped in many ways, whether for guidance, mentorship, or learning from their personal experiences. Those relationships can also open doors to internships and full-time opportunities, but more importantly, they provide real advice and support from people who have already been through the same journey.

What is one way that your business school has integrated AI into your programming? What is one insight you gained from using AI? When thinking about all the business courses I have taken, research has always been a big part of the work. With the amount of information available today, it can sometimes be overwhelming to do research. Integrating AI into the program has helped make the research process easier and faster. One insight I gained from using AI is that while it is a helpful tool, it still requires effort and responsibility to make sure the information is accurate. Overall, AI has been a great support in helping with research and understanding different business areas.

Which academic, extracurricular or personal achievement are you most proud of? People often ask me what achievement I am most proud of, and my answer is always the same. The achievement I am most proud of is where I am today. When I look back at the path I’ve taken and everything I had to go through to get here, it’s honestly unbelievable.

Coming to the United States as an international student from Israel and traveling across the world to pursue my education was not easy. Balancing academics, work, and leadership roles while building a future from scratch in a new country required hard work, patience, consistency, and hope. There are many achievements along the way, but each one leads to the next. One achievement creates another, and that’s how life works. That’s why I’m proud of the person I’ve become.

Which classmate do you most admire? One classmate I truly admire is George Giles. He’s not only my classmate but also a very good friend. George is an associate financial advisor, and his brain is honestly like a library. He knows so much and is very persuasive in the way he communicates his ideas. Being in the same classes with him challenged me in a positive way because it pushed me to think deeper and hold myself to a higher standard. He is a great example of a hardworking, disciplined, and bright individual.

Who would you most want to thank for your success? The person I am most thankful for when it comes to my success is my dad. His journey to becoming a lawyer was extremely hard. He had little money and no one to help pay for his education. He studied law while working at the same time, and there were semesters where he had to pause his studies just so he could go back home, work, save money, and then return to school to keep going. Even after graduating and passing the bar exam, success did not come easily. His path was very difficult, and many people would have given up, but he never did. He kept pushing forward, and today he is a successful lawyer.

My dad taught me that success is not given and it does not wait for anyone. It requires sacrifice, patience, and hard work. Whenever I struggle or go through tough times, I think about his journey, and that pushes me to keep going and do even better.

What are the top two items on your professional bucket list? One item on my professional bucket list is to eventually become a Vice President or CEO at a company where I can truly contribute and have a real impact, both internally and externally. I want to be in a position where my work matters, where I can help drive decisions, support teams, and represent the company the right way. Another item on my bucket list is to be an example for others by showing that long-term success comes from consistency, hard work, and doing what’s right. Being able to lead by example and create opportunities for others would truly matter to me.

What made Shadi such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2026?

“Shadi consistently exemplifies the qualities of an exceptional leader, both within the academic environment and the broader community. His leadership extends across multiple domains, from his dedication as a student-athlete and his role as an ambassador for the Israel Tennis and Education Centers to being honored for his work as a student employee.

Whether guiding case study teams to success or enriching classroom discourse through his contributions, Shadi sets a distinguished standard for his peers. His integrity, work ethic, and commitment to excellence are evident in every endeavor, earning him profound respect from other students, faculty, and staff members.”

Charlie Pride, CPA 
Assistant Professor of Accounting 

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