Alumni Spotlight

In 2020, Laura Swedo graduated from the Kelley School of Business with a BEPP degree, having majored in economic consulting and co-majored in business analytics.

“I was always interested in economics, and the business economics courses were my favorite, along with econometrics and managerial economics,” says Swedo.

In one of her business analytics classes, they worked heavily in Excel until the department started to realize that it was wise to introduce students to programming languages.

“We did programming in R, and I thought it was so interesting because what took eight times longer in Excel could be done in two lines in R,” says Swedo, who was eager to learn more about the deeper backside of computers and analytics so she pursued a master’s degree in information systems. She graduated from the program in May 2021.During her time at IU, she appreciated the bonds she created with each one of her BEPP professors. Unlike finance and accounting majors with classes that are held in giant lecture halls, BEPP is one of the smaller majors with smaller class sizes.

“Connecting with professors means you feel more comfortable asking questions or going to office hours,” says Swedo. “IU is massive. Even the business school is massive so to find those connections in a smaller department is really cool.”

While at IU, Swedo was involved in a club called TAMID, which trains college students in finance and consulting skills. During the summer of 2018, Swedo travelled to Tel Aviv, Israel, for two months, interning for startups in industry.

 

“It was great to get that work experience in an entirely new culture and country where I didn’t know the people or the language,” says Swedo. “It was a cool opportunity to learn to adapt, and it was the most fun I’ve ever had in my life.”

Now addicted to Mediterranean food, Swedo loves falafels and gyros.

A Carmel, Indiana, native, Swedo’s favorite season is spring because each year after a harsh Midwestern winter, she welcomes that gorgeous 65-degree day that feels so perfect. In June 2021, however, she moved to Austin, Texas, to begin working it the IT department of General Motors as a software developer. She quickly learned that Texas summers are brutal.

“My place has an adorable patio, and I was so excited when I moved in because I thought it would be the perfect place to sit outside or have dinner, but it’s too hot during the day and the bugs are too atrocious during the night,” says Swedo, who hopes the patio can be her go-to spot when temperatures fall.

Swedo and her Cockapoo named Zoey, whom she calls “20 pounds of fluff and cuteness,” love to take walks and go hiking.

 

 

“I’m hoping to find some water around my new place because she likes to swim, especially in 95-degree heat,” says Swedo.

Though the last year has been challenging in so many ways, Swedo appreciates the new perspective she has gained from it all.

“I really do believe that you should take all the chances you have to see your friends and family because I think back to college when I put schoolwork before anything else and I feel like I missed a lot of great social opportunities,” says Swedo, who admits she often gave in to fatigue while in college, opting to chill out at home by herself and read a book or watch TV after a long day of classes rather than hang out with friends.

“The pandemic happened and all I wanted was to see people, go places, and do things, yet all I could do was be alone!” says Swedo. “I’ve learned to set aside time to catch up with a friend or see my parents. You can always make time for work, but connections and friendships will last forever.”