Elizabeth Patterson graduated from Georgia Tech with a business degree and a concentration in finance. But she had long been interested in pursuing a graduate degree in the field. “The MSF degree,” she explains, “allowed me to do more career exploration. The extra year enabled me to find a job that mixes my interests in finance and my desire for a client-facing role.”

She was drawn to Vanderbilt, she says, for the MSF program’s “challenging curriculum and extensive network” and its location in Nashville. Once the program began, she was also impressed by the opportunities to be part of a close, vibrant community, from the week-ending “Closing Bell” events with other students to interactions with faculty and leadership development coaches. “The community at Owen has made my experience,” she says. “The faculty are among the best researchers in their field. My classmates were pivotal in my learning and personal experience. Our cohort supported each other through the interview process, inside and outside of the classroom.”

Elizabeth credits her leadership development coach for enabling her to “talk through my strengths and weaknesses with someone who is extremely successful in her career. We were able to dissect different parts of my personality,” she says, “so I could better understand how I react in stressful, uncomfortable situations”—a skill that would be particularly valuable for client interactions.

A competitor by nature and experience—Elizabeth played on the volleyball team for four years in college—she is a proud member of the team that won the Turner MBA Impact Investing Network & Training at Owen, which allowed them to compete at a national level at the Wharton School. “Representing Owen is a big responsibility,” she says, “and I am proud to have worked alongside my team to get to Wharton.”

Upon graduation, Elizabeth remained in Nashville and accepted the kind of client-facing investment position she sought. “Vanderbilt,” she reflects, “helped me develop my understanding of different career paths in Finance and identify where my values coincide with my interests. It opened my eyes to an ecosystem of innovation and entrepreneurship.”

Fun Fact: Elizabeth is a published, award-winning photographer.

Vanderbilt helped me develop my understanding of different career paths in Finance and identify where my values coincide with my interests.