Not Just a Number

How UT Tyler Paved the Way for Finance Alumna’s Success

While management styles may differ and marketing strategies may vary, finance and accounting principles and practices are generally uniform throughout the world. From the age of 18, Simran Bhakta of Austin was enthralled by that idea, which led her to a career path in finance.

The 2019 alumna graduated from UT Tyler with a Bachelor of Business Administration in finance and currently serves the Greater Texas Capital Corporation, a certified development company that promotes economic development and job creation throughout Texas through partnerships with lending organizations.

Bhakta performs various duties a credit or financial analyst would, which includes creating a credit memo to submit to SBA for a small business loan approval, analyzing business history, analyzing credit history, analyzing personal borrower history and performing a full financial analysis for potential business owners. She credits UT Tyler and the Soules College of Business faculty for her personal development and professional success.

“UT Tyler nurtured me into the person I am today, both in career and in personal development,” said Bhakta, who has worked at the corporation for almost two years. “All of my professors knew me by my name – not just a number, and they all wanted to help me to succeed. Listening to some of my friends talk about their college experience and the extent of their professors’ involvement in their education has really shown me how above and beyond the UT Tyler faculty go.”

During her time at UT Tyler, she was heavily involved with the University’s chapter of the financial honor society, Beta Alpha Psi, which gives accounting and finance majors the opportunity to make connections with recruiters in top tier companies such as KPMG, PWC, Chevron and Goldman Sachs.

“The experiences I had on these trips and working through the organization really helped develop me into a young professional and help me determine what my career values were,” Bhakta said.

“A Desire to Lead and Make a Difference”

Todd Buchanan consistently sees what UT Tyler graduates bring to the table as employees and was instantly impressed by Bhakta. He currently serves as president of Greater Texas Capital Corporation and has been in the industry for over 30 years. Nearly half of his staff of 15 employees – including Bhakta – are UT Tyler graduates.

Buchanan said that when hiring, he likes to see prior work experience, but most importantly he is looking for “character, integrity, and a desire to work hard and get the job done right.”

“I am looking for people who took their education seriously and demonstrated strong school and life balance,” Buchanan said. “All of my ‘UT Tyler’ hires, including Simran, were involved in various organizations and demonstrated a desire to lead and make a difference.”

Strong Reputation in East Texas

Buchanan said UT Tyler has a strong reputation in East Texas, and, after relying on two UT Tyler graduates in senior management positions, the company started utilizing UT Tyler student interns and saw equally strong results ­– many who are now full-time employees within the business. Buchanan also appreciates the community-minded partnerships that the Soules College of Business emphasizes and work ethic the school instills in their graduates. 

“We were impressed with not only all of the graduates’ knowledge, but also their professionalism,” Buchanan said. “The school really focuses on preparing their graduates for the modern workplace. Students are not only academically prepared, there is also a focus on ensuring they are ready for the work world, which can be a very different environment.”

Some Advice for Students

What advice does Buchanan offer for those who are looking to start a career in the industry?

He tells students not to wait until they graduate to invest in their future; there are three things he adds that they can do now to invest.

“First, know that every day, every journey, every class, every task has a point B. Know where point B is and how you are going to get there from point A,” Buchanan said. “Secondly, find mentors that have had success and emulate them, pick their brain and grow from them. Finally, know that you are always part of a larger team, organization, brand or calling. Find it, be it, and give it your best every single day.”

Buchanan said the team hopes to continue their five-year plan and diversify their revenue stream to find multiple ways to help small businesses and make an impact in the communities they serve.

Bhakta plans to return to UT Tyler to earn an MBA and become a chartered financial analyst. An avid volunteer with the local Girl Scouts organization, she enjoys teaching young women financial literacy. She also travels and writes poetry in her spare time.

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