Helena Valentine

Washington University in St. Louis, Olin Business School

“Passionate brewer, community builder, and continuous learner – driven by creativity, connection, and crafting exceptional experiences.”

Hometown: Munich, Germany and Lucerne, Switzerland

Fun fact about yourself: Made the leap from Investment Banker to Beer Brewer – turning my passion into a profession.

Undergraduate School and Degree: Business University of St. Gallen, Switzerland (HSG), Bachelor of Arts

Where was the last place you worked before enrolling in business school? Goldman Sachs, Investment Banking Associate (M&A)

Where did you intern during the summer of 2024? PepsiCo in New York City

Where will you be working after graduation? Owner and operator of Great Heart Brewing Co.

Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School:

WashU Olin Business School Entrepreneurship Fellowship
WashU Olin Business School Forte Fellow
Beta Gamma Sigma Member
Olin Entrepreneurship Award
Graduated Early (in December)
Volunteer dog walker at APA MO

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? I am most proud of successfully balancing my MBA, launching my startup (Great Heart Brewing Company), and securing a full-time offer from PepsiCo – all at the same time. Being nominated for Beta Gamma Sigma was an incredible honor, and what I am most proud of is that I never let my passion for learning, working hard, or enjoying life fade. Despite the demands of running a business and interning in corporate finance, I made sure to give my best to my studies, my team at PepsiCo, and my co-founder John (who is also my incredible husband). This experience reinforced my belief that when you love what you do, hard work doesn’t feel like a burden – it’s simply part of the journey. I’m proud of pushing myself without compromising any of my professional or personal commitments.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career?  I am most proud of successfully launching Great Heart Brewing Company while pursuing my MBA. Building a business from the ground up – from conceptualizing the brand to opening our doors to guests – has been the most challenging yet rewarding experience of my career. Navigating everything from managing construction, making beers and hiring a team, all while ensuring we stayed true to our vision of creating a welcoming community space, has taught me invaluable lessons in leadership, resilience, and entrepreneurship. Seeing guests enjoy our beer and food, and watching our team thrive, has been an incredibly fulfilling achievement.

Why did you choose this business school? I chose WashU because of its strong emphasis on entrepreneurship and hands-on learning, which aligned perfectly with my goal of launching and scaling my own business. I didn’t just want to deepen my finance knowledge – I wanted to gain a comprehensive understanding of all aspects of running a business, from marketing to operations to leadership. WashU’s entrepreneurial programming, global opportunities, and applied learning experiences have been invaluable. For example, during a project in Barcelona, we analyzed whether a St. Louis-based restaurant chain should expand to Spain. Collaborating with my classmates and seeing their different perspectives gave me insights I could apply directly to my own startup. Additionally, classes like Professor Michael Wall’s marketing course, which focused heavily on startups, provided practical tools and frameworks that I have already implemented. WashU’s ecosystem has not only supported my entrepreneurial journey, but also shaped me into a more well-rounded and thoughtful business leader.

Who was your favorite MBA professor? Choosing a favorite professor is difficult because I’ve been fortunate to learn from so many exceptional professors at WashU. However, if I had to choose one, it would be Doug Villhard. Doug’s passion for entrepreneurship and his genuine belief in his students is unmatched. From the very beginning, he supported me and my business with incredible enthusiasm. As a successful entrepreneur himself, he didn’t just teach theories – he shared practical, real-world insights that I could directly apply to my startup. Beyond the classroom, Doug always made himself available for advice, guidance, and encouragement. His belief in me, paired with his deep knowledge of entrepreneurship, had a profound impact on my journey. I am incredibly grateful for his mentorship and support.

What was your favorite course as an MBA? My favorite course has been Information Technology and Supply Chain Management with Professor Ling Dong. Ling designed the class around relevant and current business cases, focusing on how the latest IT advancements impact companies and their supply chains. What I really appreciated was that we didn’t just discuss the benefits of new technologies — we also explored the challenges of implementation, which gave me a balanced and realistic perspective. Beyond the course content, Ling was incredibly supportive, often helping me think through potential IT solutions for my own business, Great Heart Brewing Company. Her practical approach to teaching and her willingness to go the extra mile for her students made a huge impact on me. I’m confident that the lessons and insights I gained from her class will stay with me and continue to benefit my business for years to come.

What was your favorite MBA event or tradition at your business school? My favorite MBA event were the global opportunties. As a class, we had the incredible opportunity to travel to Washington DC, Barcelona, and Singapore, working in teams to solve real-world business problems. What I loved most about this experience was the chance to learn firsthand how business is conducted in different cultural contexts, while also strengthening bonds with my classmates. It pushed us to step out of our comfort zones, adapt to new environments, and collaborate on meaningful projects. This experience perfectly reflected WashU’s emphasis on global perspectives and experiential learning, which has been incredibly valuable for me as an entrepreneur.

Looking back over your MBA experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently and why? To be very honest, I wouldn’t change a thing about my MBA experience! If I weren’t in the process of starting my own business, I might have considered doing a semester abroad to experience business in a different country. However, given my focus on building Great Heart, staying local and fully immersing myself in WashU’s entrepreneurial resources was exactly what I needed. I’ve learned so much, built incredible friendships with classmates and professors, and truly enjoyed every single day in business school. I wouldn’t trade this experience for anything!

What is the biggest myth about your school? The biggest myth I encountered about WashU was that most business opportunities would be centered around St. Louis. However, my experience was completely different. From day one, WashU’s network reached far beyond St. Louis. Even before starting my MBA classes, I was introduced to the Forte Fellow network, which helped me secure a Finance internship at PepsiCo in New York City. Additionally, I met successful businesswomen at PepsiCo who also studied at WashU, showing me how strong and widespread the alumni network truly is. WashU’s reach is global, and I’ve felt incredibly supported in pursuing opportunities far beyond the local market.

What did you love most about your business school’s town? What I love most about St. Louis is the incredible Midwest hospitality. People here are genuinely open, warm, and welcoming — wherever I go, someone will strike up a conversation or offer a helping hand. It creates such a strong sense of community, which has made me feel at home very quickly. On top of that, St. Louis has so much to offer, from free attractions like the zoo and art museum to an amazing sports culture. I’m proud to now call St. Louis my home and truly enjoy the kind-hearted spirit that the city embodies.

What movie or television show best reflects the realities of business and what did you learn from it? One movie that I believe reflects the realities of business, especially in entrepreneurship, is Moneyball. The film captures how Billy Beane, the general manager of the Oakland A’s, challenged traditional baseball scouting methods by using data and analytics to build a competitive team on a limited budget. Rather than relying on intuition or conventional wisdom, he leveraged objective data to identify undervalued players, ultimately transforming the team’s performance.

As an entrepreneur, I find this approach incredibly relevant. Starting our brewery, Great Heart, has required a similar mindset – thinking outside the box, challenging industry norms, and making the most of limited resources. Whether it’s optimizing our menu to reduce waste, pricing our beer to balance profitability and accessibility, or creating a welcoming atmosphere without a massive marketing budget, we constantly rely on data and creative problem-solving to make smarter business decisions.

Moneyball also reinforced the importance of resilience and conviction when pursuing a vision that others may not initially understand. In business, especially as a founder, it’s easy to fall into the trap of doing things “the way they’ve always been done.” However, true innovation often comes from questioning the status quo – and that’s something I strive to embody every day.

What is one way that your business school has integrated AI into your programming? What insights did you gain from using AI? We had several classes that introduced us to AI, both in theory and practice. What I appreciated most was that WashU didn’t just focus on the advantages of AI, but also made a point to highlight its limitations and potential risks. Many professors encouraged us to experiment with AI tools while also teaching us to approach them critically. As a business owner, I found this incredibly valuable — it opened my eyes to how AI can streamline operations, improve customer engagement, and support decision-making at Great Heart. The guidance and practical insights from professors have inspired me to think creatively about how we can best incorporate AI into our business. I’m excited to keep exploring its potential to enhance efficiency while staying true to our mission of fostering genuine human connection.

Which MBA classmate do you most admire? Emmalene Sunaz – she is not only incredibly kind and funny, but also remarkably driven. While completing her MBA early, she managed to work full-time at NGA and simultaneously began planning her own business. Balancing all of that with such grace and positivity is something I deeply admire. Beyond her impressive work ethic, Emmalene has been a true friend – always bringing humor and lightheartedness to class, making even the longest days more enjoyable. She’s been an inspiration both personally and professionally, and I can’t wait to see where her entrepreneurial journey takes her.

What are the top two items on your professional bucket list?

1. Build Great Heart into a beloved community gathering place – My husband and I started Great Heart with the dream of creating a space where people feel welcomed, connected, and inspired by the warmth of European hospitality. I’d love to see our brewery become a St. Louis staple, known not only for great beer and food but also for fostering memorable experiences and a sense of community. We already see many regulars but cannot wait to grow!

2. Create a platform to give back to the community – As Great Heart grows, I’d love to find meaningful ways to give back to the local community that has supported us from day one. Whether it’s through hosting fundraisers or collaborating with local organizations, I’m passionate about using our platform to make a positive impact. Building something that not only serves great beer but also supports and uplifts the people around us would be incredibly fulfilling.

What made Helena such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2025?

“From the moment I met Helena, I knew she was a fortunate addition to the WashU Olin community. After review of her resume, I knew Helena would be a high achiever, but witnessing her excel in coursework, secure a coveted internship, and bring to life a German-inspired brewery — that has already garnered significant acclaim in St. Louis — was truly impressive.

One semester, Helena workshopped Great Heart Brewing in my MBA Introduction to Entrepreneurship course. Just a year later, I took the next class on a field trip to visit her newly-opened brewery!

Helena demonstrates a relentless passion for the customer, alongside a strong grasp of margins and profitability. This unique blend of vision, customer-centricity, and business acumen makes her an extraordinary candidate not just for Poets & Quants MBAs to Watch, but also for positively transforming the lives of those around her.”

Professor Doug Villhard

DON’T MISS: MBAS TO WATCH: CLASS OF 2025

 

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