07-03-2025
Choosing the Mitch Daniels School of Business my senior year of high school changed my life in ways I didn’t know were possible. Initially, I was uncertain about my major. I had enjoyed my math and AP micro- and macroeconomic classes in high school. I applied to multiple liberal arts schools for economics. For good measure, I applied to Purdue’s Daniels School, too.
When I was accepted into the business school at Purdue, I went on a tour of the campus. I was nervous and apprehensive, but every student I came across was kind and helpful. They answered any questions I had, pointed me in the right direction and talked about their experiences at Purdue. I fell in love with the campus and the people made me feel at home.
Upon my acceptance into Purdue, I received an email inviting me into the Larsen Leaders Academy (LLA) with a grant to use for experiential learning. The grant persuaded me to consider how to make a smart financial decision. Additionally, the academy really intrigued me and made me curious to know, what exactly is Larsen Leaders Academy?
LLA is designed for high-achieving business students who build a community of driven individuals who are committed to personal growth. LLA empowers emerging professionals through immersive experiences, targeted development and student leadership. Here is where I could develop valuable business and leadership skills that would help me succeed.
As my senior year of high school continued, I grew more interested in business because of my passion for communication and working with people. I still needed to choose a major field of study. I looked closely at the Economics major at Purdue. It fit my interests. I was accepted into the John Martinson Honors College as well and knew this would push me academically. I decided to take a giant leap of faith and attend Purdue.
I didn't know what to expect from a business school. My dad is a small business owner in the steel industry and guided me, but he studied industrial management. Most of my close friends and family also hadn't attended business schools. Not thinking business would be my path in high school, I didn’t focus on it. That left me wondering if business really would be for me.
At the Larsen initiation, I felt behind because my peers were already networking, and I hadn’t even made a LinkedIn account yet. This made me strive to be the best business student I could be, but I couldn’t do that alone. I needed someone to show me the way.
The peers and staff of LLA were the perfect support system. Their resources helped me excel and I made lifelong friends. I became outgoing and hardworking, even going to study groups and office hours.
I loved LLA and decided to apply for a leadership position on the executive student board at the end of my freshman year. I became the vice president of marketing for Larsen first. This was out of my comfort zone, but when I was promoted the senior vice president of marketing and communications position, I could look back at my growth. In all, I spent six of my seven semesters on the Larsen executive board. Each year presented new challenges and gave me broad experience.
Another extraordinary opportunity at Purdue was being in the Honors College. Through it, I attended a class in my freshman year taught by Mitch Daniels. Having him as a teacher was a wonderful experience. There were 25 of us, and we had the opportunity to speak with him during office hours.
One opportunity led to another! At Purdue’s Doster Leadership Conference the following year, our board was looking for a guest speaker. Having had first-person experience with Mitch Daniels, I knew he’d be perfect to ask. Fortunately, he was available. Being able to get the former president whom so many students admire to speak at our conference made me feel accomplished. I knew with just a short time at Purdue that I had grown and really found my feet.
It wasn’t all easy. I struggled in my coding classes. Most of my classmates had a background in coding, except me. Feeling behind, I went to office hours, asked my classmates for help and was very persistent. From this experience, I learned I don’t have to be the smartest in the room. What matters is being willing to learn and work through the hard stuff.
The undergraduate years are for making the most of education. For me, it meant applying to study abroad in Barcelona, Spain, and because I couldn’t afford it alone, LLA awarded me a scholarship. They didn’t want money to be the main reason students miss out on experiences that can shape who they are.
During my sophomore year, I attended LLA’s first annual camping trip. Through lectures on leadership from alumni and team-building activities, my peers and I learned leadership skills outside of the classroom. Everyone was driven, but no one wanted to succeed alone. We supported each other and celebrated each other’s accomplishments.
Early on, I made the decision, with the help of my academic advisor, to finish my undergraduate degree in three and a half years. I loved being involved and building something for myself, but I knew since I work so hard that I wanted a little break before starting a full-time position in August. Graduating a semester early allowed me to spend time with my friends and family, train for a half marathon and go on trips.
After three and a half years at Purdue, I found out just how perfect business is for me. It isn’t just the numbers, it's about people, curiosity and to never stop learning.
Gianna Stephan is from Elmhurst, Illinois, and graduated from the Mitch Daniels School of Business in three and a half years with dual degrees in Quantitative Business Economics and General Management. She was the senior vice president of marketing and communication for the Larsen Leaders Academy for two years, and a member of the Sigma Kappa Sorority. She is an incoming commercial banking analyst for Wells Fargo and will start in August 2025.
