Alumni

Name: Henry Hawthorne

Home country: USA

"My name is Henry and I'm originally from Wilmington, North Carolina. I came to Glasgow looking to learn the business side of technology startups after being inspired by entrepreneurs I worked with previously. After the suggestion from a Scottish friend to look into Glasgow, the idea snowballed through interest in Scottish philosophy as an undergrad, curiosity for the business history and present of Glasgow, and desire to get a bit adventurous. 
 
I now live in Nashville, Tennessee, where I work as an IT Project Manager in the healthcare industry."

Why did you choose the Adam Smith Business School? 

I was highly curious about Glasgow's history and present from an economic and business perspective. From the bones of the industrial city and center of academic and scientific thought as it once was, to the decay of the manufacturing and industry, to the highly international, innovative city it is today, Glasgow is a fascinating place, and has an energy that drew me in. For me, studying business is one thing in the classroom, but a satisfying education meant getting uncomfortable, seeing the process in action, and finding ways to learn from those with experience. Glasgow offered that, all in a 1 year package, which was perfect for my needs. 

What did you enjoy the most about your programme? How has your degree helped you in your career?  

The most rewarding part of the programme was working with the highly experienced professionals in small non-lecture settings. While lectures were taught by the academics and were highly useful for setting the ground work, the opportunity to practice skills with those who had decades of nous and experience was massively useful. Getting to strike up conversation outside class with these professionals about their careers, their outlook on the world, economics, and the world of business was outstanding. That, and the accounting course was amazing as well. 
 
The degree helps me in every day of my career both in hard and soft skills - but greatest of all in that it showed me my abilities as a self starter. Whether it be reading tons of material and working out a working knowledge of accounting in a couple months, or developing research in a full dissertation, this programme showed me I was capable of a whole lot more than I imagined. 

What have you been up to since graduating from the Business School? 

Shortly after graduating, I moved to Nashville, Tennessee to take a job as in IT project management in the healthcare industry. It's a fantastic balance of relationship-first work, using business hard skills, and getting curious and creative about technology and how it can be applied in our business. 

What was the most important thing you learnt while studying at Glasgow? 

To do something really personally fulfilling, sometimes you have to go it alone. This means sticking your neck out regularly, zigging when others zag, and saying yes to a challenge, even if you don't know how you'll succeed. It was scary with some resilience pays off in a massive way. 

What is your top piece of advice for current students – our future alumni? 

To be open and curious, and actively pursue what excites you while you're a student. This is the of the few times in your life where you are in almost full control of the work you are doing. You may be in the middle of a class you hate, but keep meeting as many different people studying different things as you can, ask them tons of questions, and stay curious. Eventually, you will find something you can't stop asking questions about, reading about, and thinking about in your spare time. That will likely turn into a research topic, a job description, or even a life goal or mission after you graduate. Take advantage of the library while you have it. 

 Tell us about your fondest memory at the Business School. 

On an academic level, the last meeting with my dissertation advisor just days before my final submission where I got to look back on the crazy journey I'd been on in such a short amount of time (which included scrapping a full literature review draft). On a personal level, the experience of exploring and creating a home in an amazing city. 

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First published: 12 June 2024