When Ayman Elhassan started his freshman year at the Carlson School of Management (CSOM) at the University of Minnesota’s Twin Cities campus, he was energized by the large, active campus. But coming from a small high school—his graduating class had about 50 students—he realized he needed to find his place in order to stay grounded.
“Being at such a big school can be a double-edged sword,” he says. “But everyone here can find their community. There are so many niches and pockets of students on this campus where everyone belongs.”
Elhassan, a management information systems and business analytics double major in his third year at the U, quickly found a community within the University of Minnesota’s chapter of the National Association of Black Accountants (NABA), where he currently serves as vice president. Elhassan was impressed with the supportive atmosphere he found at NABA, unlike some business-related organizations that tend to focus on résumé building and personal prestige.
“I see the value in aiming for professional achievements, but with NABA, the focus on community was what really stood out to me,” he says. “It’s about being part of something meaningful and letting the benefits come naturally from that.”
Solving problems
When he thinks about his future career, Elhassan envisions a role in consulting, possibly focused on economics, technology, or management. He credits CSOM instructor Amee McDonald and her class focused on problem solving with sparking his interest in consulting.
“Her course completely rewrote how I think about solving problems,” he says. “The real-world application and the projects were something I’d never experienced in a course before.”
Elhassan had a chance to test the skills he’s been developing in the classroom while interning as a tech consultant for Ernst & Young this past summer.
“Tech consulting is different from typical management consulting,” he says. “Once the client signs on, you’re taken along for the entire ride, from selling the product to seeing it through implementation. You have to live with the decisions you’ve made, which gives you a greater sense of responsibility.”
Giving back
Elhassan is grateful that he’s been able to fully engage with his college experience and credits scholarships—such as the Richmond Family Student Leadership Scholarship—with giving him the time to focus on his studies, pursue photography (a new hobby), and build meaningful relationships with his peers and mentors.
“Scholarship support has probably been the most important aspect of the benefits I’ve received from college,” he says. “Without it, I’d likely be working 25 to 30 hours a week to fund my education. Instead, I get all those hours back to explore who I am and what I want to be.”
This time for personal reflection has allowed him to develop a clearer understanding of his priorities as he works toward graduation and prepares for his future. While he certainly wants to excel in college and launch a successful career, Elhassan has a strong commitment to helping other students find their way. He currently does this in his role with NABA, and his aspirations include starting a nonprofit aimed at helping Black students develop professionally and build generational wealth.
“Mentorship of Black and African American students is really big for me,” he says. “I want to make sure I never lose that aspect of giving back. I want to make a difference for the students who come after me.”
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