"I also was blessed with a few mentors within the Gatton community who were critical to my development as a young professional. They consistently provide honest, constructive feedback, but also encouragement and direction when I need it and everything I learn from them helps to prepare me for my current and future roles."
1. Tell us what led you to UK, particularly to Gatton College, after your graduation from Bullitt East High School.
After participating in the Governor’s Scholars Program, I had access to scholarships that enabled me to attend the University of Kentucky. Graduating debt-free was a goal that was important to me as a first-generation student; GSP was a critical step in achieving that and I wouldn’t have been able to attend without it. Family is also important to me, so I wanted to go somewhere not too far from home. I appreciated the recently built dorms and I wanted to feel like I was doing something new (and having the ability to attend football and basketball games didn’t hurt)! As for Gatton College, I heard what was happening within the Wall Street Scholars program through a connection and that compelled me to reevaluate what I was planning on studying after high school.
2. Here at UK, you were involved in a leadership capacity with groups that included Wall Street Scholars and Wildcat Advisory Group. What professional skills did you hone while involved with those programs?
Honestly, right after graduating high school, I had intentions not to be super involved and acquire any leadership roles during college. In my mind, I had worked hard during high school, as many do, and I thought I would be happy to sit back for a change. Thinking on this now, I cannot imagine the detriment this would have had on my professional development and post-college employment. Wall Street Scholars and the Wildcat Advisory Group both forced me to hone my technical skills, heed the importance of professionalism, be conscious of how I was branding myself, develop attention to detail, and forced me to get comfortable asking questions while taking on unfamiliar opportunities.
3. Many undergraduates dream of landing a high-profile internship. You not only landed an internship with KKR & Co. in NYC, but you turned that internship into a full-time position as an analyst. Can you share the process that led to that and what advice would you give current students on how to navigate the ups and downs of landing and maintaining a high-profile internship?
I knew that I wanted to work for a company that truly lived their values. When I was starting the search for junior summer internships, I felt I was constantly seeing firms with a list of values on their website, but those values did not permeate throughout the employees and culture of the firm. KKR is not one of those firms.
However, knowing this alone was not enough. It was also critical that I was aware of the recruiting timeline, that I was intentional about the team I was applying for, and that the role was specifically for someone from my graduating class.
Advice: Feedback is a gift. Be very mindful of your attitude, your brand, and always take the opportunities you are given seriously and with a high degree of professionalism. The quality of your work is critical, but it is also important not to discount the attributes that extend beyond your technical skills. Maintaining relationships with your team members and fellow interns is also important.
4. This past July you were back on the University of Kentucky’s campus as an Instructional Coach for the Governor’s School for Entrepreneurs. How did you come to be involved with GSE and what did you learn from that experience?
A friend of mine was the other Instructional Coach on UK’s campus and leading up to the summer he had reached out about the program. When it came down to it, I had always wanted to work for a summer program, I recognized the value in being able to think like an entrepreneur, I knew it would be a unique opportunity, and the timing was just right.
I often said that I learned more from the Es than they did from me. It was a pleasure to get to know them, it was encouraging to see their enthusiasm and energy, and I definitely shed a few tears on demo day!
Aside from that, learning how to think on my feet, be more comfortable in a leadership role, and how to develop a more entrepreneurial mindset are all takeaways from that experience. It also didn’t hurt that the role required long hours, so it helped me get back into the routine ahead of starting my full-time role.
5. What are your hopes for your professional career and how has Gatton College helped prepare you for your current and future successes?
In my personal experience, I have found that it is a good thing that the hopes I had in mind throughout high school and the beginning of my undergrad did not come true. If you had told my high school or early college self that she would be in NYC, working in real estate, and working at KKR – I would have been afraid, and I probably would have said “You have the wrong Lauren!”
What I have learned from that, though, is that I hope going forward I will not box myself in regarding where I hope to see myself in the future. Right now, I believe in doing the best job I can with my new role, being open to change and opportunity, and doing it with a positive attitude and servant heart.
Beyond Gatton providing me with the opportunity to participate in the WSS and WAG programs, I also was blessed with a few mentors within the Gatton community who were critical to my development as a young professional. They consistently provide honest, constructive feedback, but also encouragement and direction when I need it and everything I learn from them helps to prepare me for my current and future roles.
