Alumni Connections  /  Everyone Has a Story
  • Companies & Organizations
  • Prospective Students
  • Current Students
  • Alumni
Home // Programs & Centers // Undergraduate Business // Our Community // Meet Our Students

Balancing Dance and Finance

Brittany Kidd interned at Deutsche Bank, competed in various finance competitions, and inspired others through dance.  How has the combination of hard work and passion prepared her for a career as an analyst?

Brittany in New York CityThe Road from Trenton

 

I was born in Trenton, New Jersey and people I meet are often surprised when they find out I grew up in a pretty tough neighborhood. However starting from middle school through high school, I received a scholarship to attend a private school in Princeton, New Jersey. When I visited William & Mary as a prospective student, I feel in love with the campus and the friendly nature of the students. Now I couldn’t be happier with my final choice to attend the College.

I originally came to W&M with the intention of being an Economics major. After taking a few math courses, I realized I was more interested in using math when it directly applied to tangible, real life situations. After taking Financial Management with Prof. Claire Rosenfeld during the Foundation Semester, I decided to become a Finance major. My Individual Program of Study (IPS) also includes a concentration in Process Management & Consulting. In addition, the flexibility of the curriculum has allowed me to pursue my interest in dance and fit dance classes into my schedule.

Brittany dances with SyndicateWhere Dance Meets Finance

One of the best things about the Mason Undergraduate Program is that it encourages students to pursue interests outside of the Business School. I’ve been involved with Syndicate, an on-campus hip-hop dance team, since my freshman year and served as President my sophomore and junior years. I absolutely love to dance and choreograph. Syndicate gives me the opportunity be creative and also collaborate with other students who love to dance as much as I do. We are truly like one big happy family. One of my greatest accomplishments as a member of the dance team was helping to establish a small scholarship for dance students in financial need in the local Williamsburg community.

Within the Business School, I am a member of the Finance Academy. I attended the Cohen Career Center's Wall Street Program my junior year, which was vital in offering alumni connections and led to great internship opportunities. I highly encourage anyone who is interested in investment banking to apply for this amazing opportunity.

I have also been involved with two special topics classes, the Student Managed Investment Fund and Applied Financial Concepts. They were the most challenging and interesting classes of my business school career. I have also worked part-time and interned while studying on campus. During my junior year I interned for AVID, LLC in Yorktown, VA, and worked in their finance department to help keep track of the company’s cash flow.

Brittany and her team won the Navigant Case Competition Using Finance Skills Beyond the Classroom

It is difficult to choose one highlight since I have been afforded so many opportunities within the Business School. Participating in the CFA competition has been an unforgettable journey. My three team members and I spent the past seven months learning the ins and outs of a chemical additives company, writing an investment report and ultimately designing a pitch with Prof. Gjergji Cici, Prof. Peter Gore and Prof. James Haltiner as our advisors. We won first place in our state CFA competition, beating out schools such as UVA, Richmond University and JMU. We also recently traveled to Omaha, Nebraska for the national competition and met Warren Buffet.

Another highlight was winning the Navigant Consulting Competition my junior and senior year. Being put in the position of a consulting firm, finding a solution for a real-life business issue and putting together a presentation in less than 24 hours was not only a learning experience but an adrenaline rush. Finally, being named the first undergraduate Alvin P. Anderson Scholar is a blessing for which I will forever be grateful. I have learned a lot about Mr. Anderson from his wife, friends and family, so to be chosen as someone who exemplifies the qualities he possessed is beyond an honor.

Becoming an Analyst at Deutsche Bank

After interning within Deutsche Bank’s investment banking division this past summer, I received a full-time analyst offer. Following graduation, I will be working at Deutsche in their New York office. Additionally, the global training for my position will be held in London from July through September, and I am extremely excited to do some traveling overseas!