Share:

FSB finance majors named to P&Q for Undergrads Best and Brightest list for 2021

Maddie and Grant head shots with P&Q logo

A pair of Farmer School students, Maddie Krueger and Grant Stierwalt, are this year’s Miami University representatives in the Poets & Quants for Undergrads’ 100 Best and Brightest Business School Students for 2021.

In its 6th year, the Best & Brightest “features seniors who personify the best in business education” based on factors such as “academic excellence, extracurricular leadership, personal character, innate potential, a striking personal narrative, and overall impact on the program.”

Krueger is a finance major with minors in business analytics and marketing. She has been an FSB Ambassador, an FSB undergraduate assistant, part of the Business Honors Program, and president of the Business Student Advisory Council.

“The best advice I would give to a student would be to say ‘yes’ to every opportunity that comes along. I have had so many unique experiences throughout my time in Farmer, and I attribute most of those experiences to saying “yes”. For example, I joined the Business Student Advisory Council my freshman year when I knew so little about it. I jumped right in and did not know the impact this organization would have on me. From there, every opportunity that was presented to me I made an effort to take full advantage of it,” Krueger said in her profile. “I have had lunch with CEOs. I have met Sanjay Gupta from CNN. I have built relationships with our deans. I even took a selfie with Steve Wozniak, the co-founder of Apple, all because I decided to make the most out of the short time I had in Farmer. I would tell future students to just say ‘yes.’”

“Maddie leads with grace.  She is intelligent and hardworking, but always humble.  She has been a student of mine for three classes, and she has made me a better teacher with her questions and insightful comments.  She inspires me and everyone around her,” marketing senior lecturer Jan Taylor said.

Stierwalt is a finance major with a minor in analytics. He has been in the Business Honors Program, VP of Professional Development for Alpha Kappa Psi, VP of Honor Code for the Business Student Advisory Council, Project Manager for East Bridge Consultancy, and an advisor for the Miami University COVID Consulting Initiative.

“Investing in relationships is the best decision you can make in school and beyond. I received invaluable help throughout college from peers and faculty with whom I had fostered strong relationships. These people ultimately opened doors for me that I am sure would not have been available to me otherwise. Business has taught me a simple truth: you don’t make it alone in this world,” Stierwalt said in his profile. “My other piece of advice would be to start getting involved early. Clubs and organizations will not only help you professionally, but also make college feel more like home and help you “find your people.” I see too many sophomores (and even juniors) wake up one day and realize they need to fill in their resume because they waited too long to get involved on campus.”

“Grant Stierwalt is a spectacular student. He earned the highest score in my class by a very wide margin. However, that is not what sets him apart. Grant is relaxed, confident, humble, and curious about everything,” Dr. David Shrider said.

Stierwalt will be an associate consultant with Bain & Company after graduation, while Krueger will work for West Monroe Partners as a customer experience consultant.