Young Alumni Feature: A Future Finance Leader

On her visit, she sat down for lunch with her mom in Rebel Market, where a professor chose to sit with them. The professor got to know Larissa and her mom, and they talked about what Ole Miss had to offer compared to the other colleges Larissa was considering. This conversation helped her feel confident that Ole Miss was the place for her to further her academic career and become career-ready.

Today, Larissa lives in Jacksonville, Florida, working for Deutsche Bank as an Internal Audit Analyst. Her job responsibilities include facilitating internal audits for the bank and ensuring that the control and risk management environment is effective, which means making sure certain areas of the bank are acting in line with laws, regulations, and rules. Additionally, she has the opportunity to grow by serving on multiple audit teams. Larissa is able to gain exposure to different facets of banking, such as Anti-Sanctions and Embargoes, Investment Banking Sales and Trading, and Private Banking.

When reflecting on how she was able to land her current job, Larissa explains:

“The School of Business helped start my career by teaching me invaluable skills that helped me transition from classroom to career. In my classes, I was taught to be a critical thinker and think outside the box in all my work, which has helped me early in my career. Ole Miss helped me in the interview process because the classes not only focused on textbook content, but also on how that content can be applied to real life. Being able to participate in programs like the RMI Program and the Ole Miss Business School Ambassadors helped me kickstart my career by strengthening my resume and developing my interpersonal and professional skills.”

As a Finance and Risk Management and Insurance dual major, Larissa’s favorite class was Financial Statement Analysis with Dr. Ivonne Liebenberg. Dr. Liebenberg builds strong relationships with her students and helps them understand course content while preparing for their professional careers. A recurring theme in Larissa’s experience at Ole Miss was the people who offered support and insight. Ole Miss provides a community that truly cares about students as individuals and supports their success not only on campus, but also beyond their academic careers. This sense of community also brings alumni back for various events. Recently, Larissa has taken up running, and she will return to Oxford this month to participate in the Double Decker 10K.