Danielle Terhune had already launched a finance career with a Fortune 500 company, Lockheed Martin. But she knew that she would need an MBA to continue progressing in her field. She also believed that the degree would give her opportunities to move beyond the defense contracting industry.

As she began looking into programs, she was first attracted to Vanderbilt because of its top 25 ranking. After a visit, she was drawn to the small class sizes and the opportunity to learn from professors who’d know her name.

As she prepares to join American Airlines after graduation, Danielle believes she made the right choice. “I have had the chance to learn more about finance from some of the brightest minds in the industry,” she says, “and those skills will be directly applicable to my future career.”

But she also believes she’s taken much more from Owen than what she studied in the classroom. “I have learned so much about myself,” she says. “I have been given the chance to lead teams, be a contributing member to other teams, and better understand better how I work with others.”

“I have also become so much more comfortable with networking. Learning how to interact with such a wide variety of people, especially during the recruiting cycle, will be such a beneficial skill moving forward. Owen really is invested in helping students gain the skills necessary to succeed in business—and life!”

Fun Fact: Danielle, the daughter of an Army officer, lived in 10 different places (including Geneva, Switzerland) by the time she graduated from high school.

I have had the chance to learn more about finance from some of the brightest minds in the industry,” she says, “and those skills will be directly applicable to my future career.