Drew Ellison

Drew Ellison is from Richmond, Virginia and uses she/her pronouns. She is a senior who is set to graduate this May!

Drew will be working for Ernst & Young (EY) after graduation.

We asked Drew to share both her post-graduation plans and Pamplin experiences with us.

How did you pick your major or concentration? Does it relate to your job?

My majors are Finance (Corporate Financial Management) and Management (Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Technology). I picked these majors because I wanted a combination of technical skills as well as soft skills going into the workforce. I also am really interested in the technology aspect of EIT, so I thought that would be the best fit for me! My majors relate pretty strongly to my full-time role, in which I will be doing technology consulting for financial services companies.

How did you find your job? What is your job title and what do you think you will do for them?

I applied to EY through Handshake and talked to them at Business Horizons as well. I think the combination of both is what led me to get an interview! My official title is FSO Technology Consultant.

What do you think the day-to-day roles and responsibilities will be in your position?

I will be doing technology consulting for financial services companies. I found out that I will be working on the "Technology Solutions Delivery" team, meaning that I will be helping implement useful technologies for my client. At EY, FSO stands for Financial Services Office, meaning that all of my clients will be financial services companies such as banks, credit unions, etc.

How did you find out about this position and how was the recruitment process?

 I found out about this position mainly through a few older friends who had interned either at EY or other consulting firms. It was great being able to ask them questions to determine how to prepare for the recruitment process, and just generally see if I think it would be a company/role I'm interested in. The recruitment process was great, I had a few behavioral interviews and one case interview! I was nervous, but all of my interviewers were very supportive and easy to talk to.

What are you looking forward to in starting your new position?

I'm looking forward to connecting with so many new people with similar career interests. EY is such a big company and there are endless resources and people to support you, and I'm really excited to learn from others and grow as a young professional!

Where is your current job located? Are you excited about your work site?

My job is located in Tysons, VA, but EY gives a lot of flexibility when it comes to working from home or going into the office.

Please give a brief description of job, internship, and or school leadership positions that you led to your future career:

 I'm a member of Pi Sigma Epsilon, which is Pamplin's largest professional business fraternity. This organization has been amazing to be a part of and I've met so many smart, driven people who really have influenced me professionally. By joining PSE in college, I was able to learn about so many different majors, companies, roles, and just overall improve my personal and professional development.

What do you want to accomplish within your first year?

Within my first year at EY, I want to gain confidence in my new role and just generally broaden my professional network.

What advice would you give to someone looking to pursue the same career as yours?

I would say that definitely focusing on classes is important, but grades aren't everything! While a good GPA doesn't hurt, so many factors go into getting a job and setting yourself up for your future career. Don't underestimate the power of building relationships and learning from others!

What type of student would you recommend to apply to this job and why? (This may include a student's interests, what they are good at, characteristics etc.)

I think a consulting role would be a great fit for an individual who is confident, flexible, and likes learning new things. Also, in consulting, you always have to be communicating with your team and your client, so someone who is good at communication and likes talking to others would succeed.

What is your favorite part of being a management and or Pamplin student?

My favorite part about Pamplin has been learning from the professors of practice. I think it is fantastic that Pamplin brings in faculty who have concrete experience in their field and can bring that knowledge to the classroom. I've taken some of my most challenging but rewarding courses with Pamplin professors of practice, and I am so glad I got the opportunity to do so!

What is your LinkedIn?

https://www.linkedin.com/in/drewellison09/

Has there been a faculty member or staff member within Pamplin and/or the MGT department that has served as a mentor or source of inspiration for you during your journey?

Denise Cordova inspires me so much! She is such a driven, hardworking professional and I have loved both getting to know her and learning from her! I admire how she wants every single Management student at Virginia Tech to succeed, and she will truly do anything to see it happen. She's the best.