BEPP Graduate James Snyder (middle) with his parents.
James Snyder graduated from IU in 2022, having studied economic consulting and business analytics.
While at IU, Snyder was involved in a number of activities, including participating in Greek life, playing on a volleyball team, and working as a campus tour guide. The cherry on top was auditioning for and securing a spot in the a Capella group, RPF, as a senior.
“When I walked out of that audition room, I was overcome with emotion,” says Snyder. “I didn’t realize how much I had missed singing!”
In April 2022, his group was invited to sing the National Anthem at the Little 500 race.
“That was so cool!” he says. “We sang during the warm-up lap, and then we had to book it across the track so we wouldn’t be stuck in the middle for the race.”
Following graduation, Snyder moved to Denver, Colorado, where he has worked for the past two years as a business analyst at McKinsey & Company. Studying BEPP helped develop the skills Snyder needs for his career.
“In the majors I was in with BEPP, you think about solving problems using an econ lens, like the economic consulting kind of angle or maybe public policy,” says Snyder.“ The other side of it is you solve problems using more of an analytical data lens.”
As a business analyst, Snyder is asked to solve problems using different frameworks, but economics and analytics frameworks are always involved to some extent.
James Snyder (right) with BEPP Senior Lecturer Thomas Youle
“It really helped me learn how to think through a problem and how to use different tools to solve a problem,” says Snyder. “Those are helpful skills to have in consulting. It’s good to know how to analyze data and use Excel, but it’s also good to know more about the nuances around economics.”
Working across campus with all kinds of people from different backgrounds set Snyder up to be a social and collaborative teammate.
“Whether I was working on the volleyball court or as my fraternity’s president, I was solving problems of all different kinds,” he says. “Knowing how to effectively work in small teams is probably the greatest skill because if I couldn’t make a team connection, I couldn’t be effective in my job.”
Snyder thoroughly enjoyed being a part of a Big Ten campus. Just nabbing a job as a campus tour guide for three years felt like he was getting away with something.
“I got paid, but it certainly didn’t feel like a job,” he says. “I love talking to students!”
It’s something he still does as Snyder works with the McKinsey Recruiting team for IU, helping to organize the IU campus visits, networking events, and coffee chats.
While at IU, Snyder especially appreciated Thomas Youle, who was both his teacher and senior advisor for his honor’s thesis. Snyder makes sure to grab coffee with Youle anytime he’s back on campus.
When he’s not working, Snyder enjoys skiing, golfing, and playing pickleball.
Because he grew up in Illinois, he’s a big Chicago sports fan.
“Bears and Cubs mostly. Bulls and Blackhawks are a tier below only because I’m more of a football and baseball guy,” he says.
His favorite R&R spot is Sun Valley, Idaho—a small resort town where his grandparents reside.
“It’s where I learned to ski and love the outdoors,” says Snyder. “It’s full of infinite beauty.”
Currently, Snyder is single and embracing this newfound peace and quiet.
“I lived with 20 dudes for three years at college,” he says with a chuckle. “Now I’ve done a full 180.”
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