Melanie Auclair ’22, ’23 MBA

How did you choose your course of study?

My sophomore year I went to the career fair and started talking with Bryant Trustee and PwC Partner Bob Calabro. He asked, “So why aren’t you an accounting major?” I thought stereotypically the accounting field was filled with a lot of men. I also wanted to be very client-facing and interactive. Bob told me how dynamic the accounting role has become because of technological advancements. He’s the reason I became an accounting major.

When I later did an internship at PwC, I saw how tech was involved, and I thought coupling applied analytics with accounting would allow me to stand out.

Accounting is like the backbone of business where a lot of different decisions come from a financial aspect. By understanding that and applying it to other roles, you can go into so many different avenues.

What’s a highlight from your undergrad experience?

I completed an Honors Thesis my senior year: 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and its Effect on Vertical Equity for Homeowners. The accounting faculty were incredibly supportive. I wanted to make sure I chose a topic that was relevant and interesting, and my presentation was accepted by the American Accounting Association. Bryant flew me out to San Diego. It was a really cool experience to present my thesis at a conference.

Tell us about your internship at PwC.

After I ran into Bob at the career fair, PwC had a program called Advance. It’s a three-day program, and I interviewed and was accepted. Then I was offered an internship for the following summer. I had an amazing experience. I was fortunate enough to receive a full-time offer as a consulting associate, and they were flexible with my start date. When I decided to go for my master’s, I was able to push off my start date.

Why did you stay at Bryant for the One-Year MBA?

I wanted to go to grad school to have the 150 credits to be eligible to sit for my CPA Exam, and the MBA program would allow me to continue to hone skills and learn assets in management. I thought that learning different management strategies was crucial to my career path.

We went to Dubai over winter break, and I really loved my experience. Dubai is the reason I chose my MBA concentration in international business. It fundamentally changed my perception of how I wanted to operate moving forward. Also, since PwC is a global company, I thought it would open some doors for additional traveling experiences.

What are you most excited about for your future?

I’m excited to see where the opportunities at PwC go. They have a lot of upward mobility the longer you stay. I have no idea where my career will take me, but Bryant has made me a well-rounded candidate, which will allow me to take advantage of any opportunities that have yet to present themselves.