Theo Koulianos

Student Experience

Class of 2018

Hometown

Mobile, Alabama

Nationnality

United States

Undergradate Education

Hampden-Sydney College
Economics, 2017

Interested Industry

Natural Resources

5 Random Facts About Me

My Greek heritage is fundamental to who I am. Much of my childhood consisted of serving in the Altar, attending Greek school each Wednesday, practicing with my Greek dance troupe, and annual summer trips to the island of Leros.
Each Memorial Day weekend, I help my mother run a camp called Christ the Good Shepherd, which is for Greek Orthodox families with kids who have special needs, primarily autism. At camp, I specialize in taking the children fishing. The happiness on the children’s faces is extremely heartwarming when many children catch their first-ever fish.
I am a morning person. I often wake up in the early hours of the morning to get a head start on my work, which gives me more free time in the afternoon to participate in other activities.
I consider myself a foodie, and I love experimenting with new dishes by getting creative with ingredients. Also, I am the least picky eater you will ever meet. One of favorite ways to experience new cultures is through eating the food.
When I meet someone new, I often get asked if I am from Australia because of my accent.

Why I'm Interested In My Industry

My life experiences in the outdoors have made me very passionate about our natural resources and issues relating to them, so my career goal is for my work to align with those passions in some capacity. I grew up on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, so I had a firsthand experience living through the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010. This experience effectively changed my way of life for a year and was transformative, as it helped me understand the connection between industrial responsibility and sustainable environmental practices.

Why I Chose MMS

I largely limited my search to programs that provided an international component. When I applied to Fuqua, I was greeted by a very welcoming environment that made me feel like I was at home. The program aligns with my professional goals—I want to work in the United States after graduation, and the program provides me the opportunity to build my network in the U.S. while also having the opportunity to spend a semester in Asia and experience Asian culture. Moreover, I chose Fuqua because of its career resources. Fuqua’s career resources have been unparalleled and have changed my perspective on my career search.

Before MMS

Initially, I was interested in sales, trading, and fixed income securities, but during an internship I realized I wasn’t passionate about the work. This led me to explore career opportunities that would allow me to apply my skillset to topics I’m passionate about.

After MMS

I hope to start in a position with a good training program, work there for a few years to develop my skills, and then move on to work in a function where I can work directly in the natural resources industry.