By Will Wieters
Alex Smiley
Alex Smiley, a current junior majoring in both Finance and Data Analytics at Tennessee Tech University, found his path toward success through Vanderbilt’s Accelerator Summer Business Immersion. Having gone through the program in the summer of 2023, Smiley’s experience not only provided him the opportunity to gain essential professional skills but also resulted in him securing two prestigious internship offers—one being with J.P. Morgan and the other with Raymond James.
Discovering the Vanderbilt Accelerator Program
Smiley discovered the Accelerator program through an online advertisement. “What really drew me to it was an ad I saw for it online,” he recalls. It was pure happenstance. As a freshman interested in investment banking but lacking the industry knowledge, Smiley saw Accelerator as an opportunity to kickstart his career. He explains, “I really didn’t know much about it when I applied. I just saw the Vanderbilt name, and I saw business.”
Immersive Learning Experience
Given the intense, hands-on curriculum of the program, Accelerator was a great challenge for Smiley. He describes a typical day in the program as having “classes in the morning, breakfast, more classes, lunch, then working on projects for the rest of the day.” The format allowed for both this theoretical learning and practical application, a balance that mimics the long hours and fierce demands of the consulting and banking industries.
One of the program’s exceptional resources for Smiley was the exposure to high-level executives. Day one, he noted, “Executive contact really prepares you. It makes you feel comfortable operating around people like that, speaking to people like that.” This early interaction with industry leaders set the tone for the program’s high expectations within a professional environment.
Diverse Perspectives and Collaborative Growth
Smiley was surprised by the diverse backgrounds of his fellow participants. Contrary to his expectations, “It wasn’t just eight HOD majors on the team. There was a girl from SCAD, and a history major from Emory.” The diverse backgrounds among students fostered this rich, collaborative environment, allowing students to learn from one another and the various perspectives each individual brought to the table in their approach to problem-solving.
The intensity of the program proved to be both challenging and a means for significant growth. Smiley shares, “Working 70 hours per week, Sunday through Friday, you are on.” However, despite the demanding schedule, he found the work engaging and exciting, further providing a solid foundation for his future career aspirations in investment banking.
Career Exploration and Skill Development
The Accelerator program at Vanderbilt provided Smiley with a comprehensive view of various career paths, opening him up to new considerations through career panels and hands-on projects. “They do a great job of keeping it open and letting you get your toes wet in a lot of different careers,” he says. Such vast exposure was particularly valuable for Smiley , coming from a smaller university in which such opportunities were limited.
The program honed critical skills such as teamwork, professional readiness, and networking. Smiley learned to function cohesively within a team, with each team member working on deliverables, and trusting one another to deliver high-quality work. These experiences translated directly to his ability to navigate job interviews and professional settings given his ability to speak on such projects and experiences.
From Accelerator to Career Success
Smiley’s participation in the Accelerator program significantly impacted his efforts in the ambiguous job search. “Just having it on my resume made people really interested in what the program was and provided an immediate topic for conversation…it gave me a lot of good answers to questions like ‘What are your strengths and weaknesses?’” he explained. The program provided these concrete examples, allowing Smiley to have collaborative conversations with interviewers.
The confidence he gained through Accelerator was evident in Smiley’s subsequent career moves. Following the program, he secured a spring internship with a lower market bank and later received three return offers for summer 2025 banking positions. Smiley reflects, “I felt very comfortable going into those rooms because of interacting in Accelerator. It made me comfortable with upper-level management.”
Advice for Future Vanderbilt Accelerator Participants
For students considering Vanderbilt’s Accelerator Summer Business Immersion, particularly students outside Vanderbilt, Smiley offers encouraging words: “If you are coming from a non-Vandy school, don’t be scared or overwhelmed about the environment.” He emphasized the program’s ability to level the playing field and provide tools for continued growth.
Smiley’s journey through the Accelerator program at Vanderbilt showcases the transformative power of an immersive, real-world learning experience. From an inexperienced freshman to an informed junior with promising career prospects, Smiley’s story displays how Accelerator can shape a student’s professional career trajectory and open doors to new and exciting opportunities.
To learn more about the Accelerator Summer Business Immersion program at Vanderbilt, click here.