McCombs Made

Alana Williams is the founder and Chief Financial Officer of Founding Principals. Previously, she worked in investment banking and business development at companies like Apple, Evercore, and Whole Foods. After receiving her JD from the University of Baltimore, she joined McCombs to attain her MBA in 2018. In this conversation, host Firdous Khezrian spoke with Alana about her personal and professional career, the wisdom she's gained along the way, and how minority women can overcome the challenges of working in the business and financial industries.

Energy moguls Marcie and Bob Zlotnik are invested in student success at McCombs, with their names on spaces in UT's Rowling Hall and the AT&T Center. In this episode, host Miranda Bradley speaks with Marcie and Bob about their time in the energy industry, their relationship and family, and the legacy they hope to leave behind.

 Marissa Jarrett is currently the Chief Marketing and Sustainability Officer at 7 Eleven. She's also a two-time graduate from the McCombs School of Business, obtaining both a BBA in Finance and an MBA in Marketing. She also received a BA in Spanish.   Among her many accolades and roles, she is currently a member of the Dean's Advisory Council for the McCombs School of Business. She is also a member of the Executive Committee for the Dallas Regional Chamber and the Dallas Museum of Art. In this lively conversation, host Firdous Khezrian speaks with Marissa talk about her upbringing, her approach to innovation and creativity, and the lessons she's learned as a student of both UT and of life. 

In this episode, hear from Arthur Mills IV, who graduated from the McCombs School of Business with his BBA in 1996 and his MBA in 2004, before graduating from the Yale School of Management in 2012. His passion for giving back has led him to serve on the McCombs Advisory Board, for which he serves as Chair Emeritus. Arthur talks about his many different career pathways, the importants of education and how he is paving the path for others to succeed.

Gay Gaddis is a Longhorn who received her Bachelors of Fine Arts in Commercial and Advertising Art in 1978 at the University of Texas at Austin. After graduating from UT, she founded the Think Tank, also known as T3, a digital marketing agency that she grew for 30 years, leading it to be the largest independent female-owned agency in the United States. Among her many titles and accomplishments, Gay is the author of Cowgirl Power, a book that aims to inspire women to be successful, a McCombs Hall of Fame honoree, a lecturer of the McCombs Women Who Mean Business program, and an artist. In this conversation, host Firdous Khezrian spoke with Gay about her upbringing and the inspiration she has called upon throughout her life to become the successful woman she is today.

Bill Cunningham is a UT alumnus who wore many important hats as a Longhorn, like Chancellor of the University of Texas Systems and President of the University of Texas at Austin. In this episode, host Mahlah Freeman talks to Cunningham about his time at UT, the many influential leaders he met as president of the university and what he wants his legacy to be.

For this episode, host Mahlah Freeman spoke with Kelly Stuckelberg, a powerhouse McCombs alumna who earned her MBA in 1991. She went on to become the CFO of Zoom and a staunch McCombs supporter.  We talked about how philanthropy plays a role in her life, how the lesson she learned at Macomb shaped her, and what she wants her legacy to be. 

For the first episode of season two of "McCombs Made," hear from Neal Golden. He's a University of Texas alumnus who continues to be a guiding force at McCombs. Mr. Golden is a very active Texas Ex and holds leadership roles with the McCombs BBA Board and Dean's Advisory Board. In this episode, Mr. Golden discusses how his parents helped shape his career, his latest foray into the beverage business and the importance of giving back. 

For the final episode of season one, hear from Lillian Mills, the dean of the McCombs School of Business. In this episode, you'll hear her thoughts on how to build community in business, what she would say to the undergraduate version of herself and the legacy she hopes to leave in her position as dean. --- This podcast was produced by The Drag Audio Production House. Want to work with The Drag? Reach out here.  

April Underwood has worked at Google, Apple, Twitter and Slack. She's the co-founder of #ANGELS, the investment collective focused on restructuring the ways in which we look at gender inequality, not just in wage gaps, but in financial equity. Most recently, she co-founded the venture capital firm, Adverb Ventures. In this conversation, you'll hear about the ways in which communication and relationships play a role in successful workplace teams, the importance of financial and social equity for the fields of business and technology and what characteristics she looks for when investing in people and ideas.  --- This podcast was produced by The Drag Audio Production House. Want to work with The Drag? Reach out here.  

David Druley received his BBA and MBA from McCombs and currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Cambridge Associates. He interned as an investment analyst at the Teacher Retirement System of Texas and started his own investment management firm, called Druley Investment Management, for 9 years.  In this episode, host Firdous Khezrian spoke with Druley about risk management and tolerance in business and life, the traits of some of the best portfolio managers and the legacy he hopes to leave as a Longhorn.  --- This podcast was produced by The Drag Audio Production House. Want to work with The Drag? Reach out here.  

Cindy Lo is the founder, CEO and chief event strategist of Red Velvet, a renowned full-service and independent event planning agency. She's also a 1998 McCombs graduate. In this conversation, hear about her unexpected path to a career in event planning, her approach to planning her personal and professional life and the ways in which she has carried herself throughout her career.  --- This podcast was produced by The Drag Audio Production House. Want to work with The Drag? Reach out here.  

Billy Freed has invested in entrepreneurship and in its innovation in all his communities. In 2023, Mr. Freed generously donated $1 million dollars to the Herb Kelleher Entrepreneurship Center at McCombs. As a result, the pitch competition was renamed the Freed Family Pitch Competition. In this conversation, you'll hear about the lessons he's learned about entrepreneurship, the role that family has played in his career, and the most important qualities of successful entrepreneurs. --- This podcast was produced by The Drag Audio Production House. Want to work with The Drag? Reach out here.  

In 2018, Phil Canfield generously donated $20 million to the Business Honors Program at the McCombs School of Business. The program was renamed after him. In this episode, hear about his career as an investor, his time as a student at McCombs and his connection to the city of Austin. --- This podcast was produced by The Drag Audio Production House. Want to work with The Drag? Reach out here.  

Kendra Scott founded her namesake jewelry company in Austin, Texas in 2002. In the more than two decades since, the jewelry brand has grown into a household name. In 2019, Scott created a $13.25 million endowment to start the Kendra Scott Women's Entrepreneurial Leadership Institute, which is now part of the McCombs School of Business. In this conversation, you'll hear about the lessons she's learned from her career as an entrepreneur, the importance of philanthropy in her personal and professional life, and the legacy she hopes to leave on the global community.  --- This podcast was produced by The Drag Audio Production House. Want to work with The Drag? Reach out here.  

Since Swapnil Agarwal graduated from McCombs in 2003, he's grown a real estate investment empire. In this episode, hear how Agarwal's upbringing as an Indian immigrant influenced his personal and professional life, the role intention plays in all of his pursuits, and the legacy he hopes to leave behind. --- This podcast was produced by The Drag Audio Production House. Want to work with The Drag? Reach out here.  

New York for McCombs is a leadership program designed to strengthen the school's network, increase career opportunity, and encourage alumni engagement. 2023 marks the program's 10th anniversary. In this special bonus episode, host Firdous Khezrian sits down with Paul Aaron and Dean Tom Gilligan, two founding members of the New York for McCombs Council. Tom Gilligan is a former dean and Clinical Professor of Finance at the McCombs School of Business. Paul Aaron is a McCombs 1985 graduate.  --- This podcast was produced by The Drag Audio Production House. Want to work with The Drag? Reach out here.

Tiffany and Leon Chen started their groundbreaking cookie business, Tiff's Treats, when they were just 19-year-old sophomores at the University of Texas at Austin. In this episode, Tiffany and Leon speak about the drive they've carried throughout their careers, the pillars of partnership and the value of kindness in community-based businesses.  --- This podcast was produced by The Drag Audio Production House. Want to work with The Drag? Reach out here.  

In the first episode of “McCombs Made,” host Firdous Khezrian sits down with Gary Kelly, former CEO and current executive chairman of Southwest Airlines to get a glimpse into his indelible 35-year tenure at the company. Gary and his wife, Carol, discussed Gary's transformative career, the importance of functioning as a team, and persevering through challenging times. This podcast was produced by The Drag Audio Production House. Want to work with The Drag? Reach out here.  

The McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin isn't just one of the top business schools in the country. It's a place where chances are taken, dreams are born, and boldness is celebrated. Perseverance, drive, and a welcoming sense of encouragement are at the center of Texas McCombs. Hosted by UT student Firdous Khezrian, the “McCombs Made” podcast features interviews with trailblazingMcCombs alumni and friends, highlighting their successes and sharing advice for the next generation of world-changers.  This podcast was produced by The Drag Audio Production House. Want to work with The Drag? Reach out here.