Max Graves
For Max Graves, coming to Georgia State was a step outside his comfort zone. But the soon-to-be senior quickly found his footing at the university, helping fellow students prepare for successful careers.
Interview by Jordan Ferguson
Tell me about yourself and how you got to Georgia State.
I’m a rising senior at Georgia State majoring in risk management and insurance. In high school, when I was looking for colleges, I wanted a different environment. I didn’t want to go to a small college town with the same people I grew up with. I knew I wanted to do something in business, and I wanted to make a mark in the big, fun city that is Atlanta. Plus, Georgia State is a great school. It’s all you make of it. I live in downtown Atlanta and have some of the biggest Fortune 500 companies in my backyard. During my first year, I tried to hit the ground running. I wanted to get involved with the university as much as possible and make a name for myself.
Speaking of activities and clubs, what extracurricular activities are you involved in?
I wanted to get a job and advance my career from the moment I arrived, and at the start of my sophomore year, I became a peer career adviser at the Robinson College of Business Career Advancement Center. There, I do resume reviews and bring in different companies that will work with students on resumes and potential hiring opportunities.
I also joined Gamma Iota Sigma as a member and then became the external relations officer. I brought in around 60 different insurance companies, ranging from actuarial and claims to underwriting and brokers in the retail and wholesale space, to speak to the group. They talked about company culture and relations and for what roles they were looking to hire. I have been somewhat involved in the finance, consulting and commercial real estate clubs, too.
Last year, I was able to travel with the Robinson College of Business’ Panthers on Wall Street cohort.
Tell me about your experience with Panthers on Wall Street.
I was part of the September 2023 cohort, and we went to New York City with Dean Richard Phillips, Associate Dean Jason Aldrich and President M. Brian Blake. During my first year, when I was trying to get immersed in the Robinson College of Business, the Wall Street trip sold me.
We visited eight companies and met with different alumni at a dinner reception. It was a great way to connect with potential employers, network, get advice from alumni and hear stories about what it takes to get to Wall Street.
That’s been my favorite experience at the university. I would highly recommend upcoming students think about pursuing it.
Why risk management and insurance?
The risk management and insurance major is an incredible opportunity filled with the best professors you’ll ever meet. Many of the professors are ex-industry people, so they want to give back to their students with the real-world experience they obtained. The insurance industry is so vast, but you also have the risk management part of the major.
You can be a corporate risk manager, where you can analyze risk for a bank, a marketing company or anything else. Risk is all around the world. Every company has a risk management department, and every company needs insurance. The opportunities are plentiful within this major, and it’s recession proof. There will never be a lack of jobs within the industry.
What advice would you give to the incoming first-year class?
Take advantage of every opportunity that Georgia State offers. To tailor my answers to business students, attend every club meeting you find exciting and meet as many people as possible.
The best part about George State is that everybody is willing to help. Everyone is going through the same process you are going through or have been through. Find some older friends. Find a mentor to show you the ropes.
Georgia State will give you everything you want out of it, but you have to be the one to take that first step. The best thing you can do is go out there, be proactive and figure out what you want to do. Georgia State has resources, professors and industry professionals in its alumni programs, and they are more than willing to sit down with you.
What is your favorite spot on campus and why?
My favorite part of the campus is a little nerdy, but it’s the Career Advancement Center. It’s like a family and community. I love my bosses. They laid the roadmap for me and helped me build up many of the skills I’ve acquired at Georgia State. And they always have time to help students. They’re passionate about helping students. They love it when students come through the door.
