Making the most of his time outside the classroom, David McGrath aligns his passions and interests to create a multi-faceted business education.

Returning to campus for the autumn semester looked and felt different for everyone. Third-year finance major David McGrath is finding comfort in the familiar, despite a class schedule that is entirely online, and he’s learning how special it is to be a Buckeye.

“It’s still nice to be on campus,” says David.

Capital in the Capitol

David grew up watching his dad run his own business and after learning the ins and outs of business under his father’s tutelage, David discovered his own passion for entrepreneurship.

“I was curious about the importance of capital and liquidity. I became interested in how finance enabled people to start, scale and sell businesses,” says David. 

As a high school soccer player in Michigan, David was familiar with Columbus because he participated in a player development program run by Columbus’ Major League Soccer team, Columbus Crew SC.

His time in Columbus wasn’t just about soccer. It afforded him the chance to learn more about the city, Ohio State and, ultimately, Fisher.

“I knew that Ohio State had a strong business school and an Entrepreneurship and Innovation Scholars group,” says David.

With his admission to both Ohio State and the scholars program secure, David evaluated the benefits of a degree from Fisher. With the scholarships available, attending Ohio State was more affordable than staying somewhere in-state.

Clubs and Connections

Along with his full class schedule, David participates in Fisher Futures, Buckeye Capital Investors and Business Builders, an entrepreneurship-focused student organization. His other activities also included participating in the OnRamp program through The Ohio State University Center for Innovation Strategies as well as the Keenan Center for Entrepreneurship’s Best of Student Startups (BOSS) competition, for which he and his teammates won startup funding.

He also takes time to stay connected to the sport that brought him to Columbus in the first place by playing goalie on the Ohio State men’s club soccer team.

“My club and program activities at Fisher have really helped me to develop a more holistic view of the business world and my business acumen,” says David.

David says his favorite Fisher experience (so far) has been the Fisher Futures Program, a highly competitive cohort that exposes students to investment banking, financial modeling, forecasting and business valuations.

“It’s certainly enhanced my knowledge of the industry, but the best part of Fisher Futures is the networking with alumni and site visits in New York and Chicago,” says David.

Unfortunately, the pandemic prevented traveling so site visits and networking sessions were held virtually.

“It was a different experience than I’d hoped for, but still valuable nonetheless. We’re still creating those alumni connections, they’re just via different means of introduction and communication,” says David.

Grateful Leader

David is the recipient of two named scholarships, The John W. Paynter Honors Scholarship Fund, and the McNamara Family – Goldman Sachs Scholars Fund. He was also one of 150 students who received support from the Sesquicentennial Student Scholar Leadership Program during Ohio State’s sesquicentennial celebration year.

David acknowledges the support scholarships have provided him in his Fisher experience. He doesn’t worry as much or feel the need to focus on financing his education, allowing him time and flexibility to embrace the many opportunities available.

“If I could say one thing to a donor, I would just want to say: ‘Thank you first and foremost. Your contribution has enabled me to be involved in as many things as I can here on campus — it’s really enriching my experience,’” says David.

David will graduate in May 2022. He is pursuing a career in investment banking in the middle market space.

“Ohio State is special,” he says. “I think I’ll look back on this time with fondness, from all the friends I’ve made to the lessons I’ve learned — it’s a place where I’ve developed my character to be closer to the person I truly want to be, which will allow me to be the business leader I need to be.”