Viveca Henry
University of Michigan, Ross School of Business
“I am a star that illuminates others.”
Fun fact about yourself: I worked with Ryan Coogler (Sinners, Black Panther) on his graduate school Thesis Film.
Hometown: Redondo Beach, California
High School: Bishop Montgomery High School
Major: Business Administration
Favorite Business Course: The Power of Prestige: How Status and Reputation Creates Competitive Advantage with Professor Michael Jensen
Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles During College:
REC• (Ross Entertainment Conference): Founder – As founder, I helped build a vibrant Media & Entertainment student club at Michigan, creating a supportive space for students interested in careers in entertainment. I spearheaded our annual summit, inviting Hollywood directors and media professionals to campus to share insights on both the creative and business sides of the industry. Through these initiatives, I have fostered a welcoming community, connecting aspiring creatives with inspiring leaders and opening doors to new opportunities in entertainment not only at U of M but the greater state of Michigan.
BBA Ambassador and Peer Recruiter for Outreach – I support prospective students and parents during the application process, traveling to out-of-state high schools and participating in workshops and admitted student receptions.
Career Development Office Peer Coach – I help undergraduate students navigate club, internship, and full-time recruitment by conducting mock interviews, providing resume reviews, and offering practical career planning advice. In addition to 1:1 coaching, I help host workshops and provide high-level information, equipping students with tools for professional success.
First Place in the Sanger Leadership Crisis Challenge – Led my team to first place in a 24-hour crisis simulation, acting as CEO and launching a robotaxi fleet under intense pressure. I navigated ethical, financial, and public safety issues, delivering strategic solutions and press statements to a panel of judges. I learned the importance of clear communication, empathy, and decisive leadership in high-stakes situations
BA 100 & 102 Peer Mentor- Assisted freshmen and transfer students as they navigated their transition in their first year. I offered guidance, advice, and facilitated connections to resources.
Where have you interned during your college career?
Grades of Green – El Segundo, CA – Program Development Intern
DaVita – Denver, CO – Redwoods Summer Analyst in Growth Strategy
Where will you be working after graduation? DaVita, Redwoods Analyst
Who is your favorite business professor? Dr. Marcus Collins leads a master class in what it means to continually perfect your craft. I have been able to learn from him not only inside the classroom but outside as well. He shows up 110% for his students, allowing us to have hands-on learning experiences while learning about brand identity that inadvertently helps us learn about our own brand.
What is the biggest lesson you gained from studying business? Learning to communicate and build varied connections and relations is an invaluable skill I will be taking with me from business school. I learned very quickly that one of the keys to success is sharing those ideas and inviting others to be part of your journey. Speaking up about what you are working on allows others to be able to support you.
Actively talking about what you’re working on and learning from as many people as possible helps you build a strong community, something that’s invaluable both personally and professionally. The ability to connect with others and actively listen is a skill I continually strive to improve. It’s not just about networking; it’s about fostering genuine relationships where people help each other grow. I firmly believe that life is a team sport, and the more you share and collaborate, the farther you’ll go together.
Looking back over your experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently in business school and why? Looking back, I wish I had taken more finance courses during business school. My core finance class turned out to be surprisingly engaging and challenged me in ways I hadn’t expected. I enjoyed analytical problem-solving and found myself genuinely interested in the material. Expanding my finance coursework would have been a great opportunity to see how quantitative skills could complement my creative interests like film. I think diving deeper into finance would have broadened my perspective and opened up even more possibilities for combining creativity with business strategy.
What is one way that your business school has integrated AI into your programming? What is one insight you gained from using AI? AI has been seamlessly integrated into our core curriculum. One of my favorite experiences was in a Law and Ethics class, where we explored the ethical and future legal ramifications of AI use. Through thoughtful discussions and engaging guest lectures, we had robust conversations about how AI may affect the workforce and our everyday lives. An insight I gained is the importance of proactively considering and establishing ethical guardrails when implementing AI in business and personal projects. These experiences have helped me understand not just the practical applications of AI, but also the responsibility that comes with its use.
Which academic, extracurricular or personal achievement are you most proud of? My proudest accomplishment at Ross has been founding and serving as President of REC•, the Ross Entertainment Conference. Building this club from just seven members to over sixty has been an incredible journey. I spearheaded the largest conference focused on entertainment and business, not only for University of Michigan students, but for the broader Michigan community. Our goal was to bring more film and entertainment opportunities to the state and to bridge the gap between business and the entertainment industry, especially here in the Midwest.
Through REC•, we’ve been able to expose students and community members to new career paths in entertainment and foster connections that didn’t previously exist. I’m proud that this organization is helping put Michigan on the map in entertainment, while creating a lasting impact for students and the community alike.
Which classmate do you most admire? Carter Dvorak has been a source of inspiration during my time at Michigan. While our interests have often run parallel yet distinctly different, I’ve admired how he interacts with peers to genuinely amplify those around him, something I strive to do myself. He’s a go-getter who somehow finds more hours in the day, always pursuing his own goals while helping others reach theirs. Carter truly embodies what it means to enthusiastically support and uplift those around him.
Who would you most want to thank for your success? Lisa Picotte has nurtured me into who I am today. She began as my acting coach at the age of 6, helping to shape me into the woman I am today – one marked by resilience, creativity, and hard work. One of the key things I have garnered from Lisa is her passion for vision boards and the need to always have goals and dreams to work towards. Having a vision has allowed me to make more informed and deliberate decisions towards my long-term goals.
What are the top two items on your professional bucket list?
1. I aspire to own my own production company, complete with an accompanying studio lot, where I can bring together diverse storytellers and nurture creative projects from start-to-finish. Having both the company and studio space would allow me to support and collaborate with filmmakers, providing the resources needed to develop, produce, and showcase powerful, original content. This dream reflects my passion for uplifting voices in entertainment and shaping narratives that inspire audiences worldwide
2. I’d love the chance to live and work abroad, exploring how different cultures approach business and creativity. Working in an international setting would expand my worldview, spark new ideas, and challenge me to adapt and grow. It’s an adventure I look forward to, both for the personal experiences and the professional opportunities it brings.
What made Viveca such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2026?
“Viveca Henry is a shining star at Ross. Yes, her smile lights up a room — but SHE lights up our whole community. Viveca is a Ross Ambassador, traveling to meet potential students and guiding them here on campus. She also founded a thriving Media/Entertainment club for anyone in the greater Michigan community wanting to work in entertainment. She spearheaded an annual summit and brings in Hollywood directors and media creatives to network and speak about the business of entertainment. And her proactive approach comes across in other ways too: Viveca recently won the Leadership Crisis Challenge with a small group of people she’d never met, pretty extraordinary since this was a high-stakes crisis management and press relations experience with 380 participants, tough industry leaders, and seasoned reporters. In class, Viveca is curious, bright, and her discussion comments push the learning forward for everyone. In life, she is proactive about making things better in our Ross community, she is a friend to many, and she’s got That Smile!”
Sarah Zimmerman
Lecturer of Business Communication
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