Calder LaBriola

University of Georgia, Terry College of Business

“Curious, fiercely loyal, adventure-driven, relentlessly pursuing growth in people and ideas.”

Hometown: Griffin, Georgia

Fun fact about yourself: While at the McCain Institute for International Leadership, I worked for five U.S. ambassadors and a retired three-star general. It was incredible to learn from leaders at such a high level and served as a great influence for my own leadership style and journey.

Undergraduate School and Degree: Davidson College, AB in Political Science

Where was the last place you worked before enrolling in business school? U.S. Army, Captain.

Where did you intern during the summer of 2025?

JPMorgan Chase, Wilmington, Delaware

Where will you be working after graduation? JPMorgan Chase, Senior Associate

Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School:

• President – Graduate Business Association
• Georgia MBA Graduate Honors Recipient 2026
• MBA Career Ambassador
• MBA Admissions Ambassador
• Scholarship Recipient – Rosenthal Student Veterans Fund, Terry College Student Veterans Fund
• Volunteer – MBA Veterans Club

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? I organized a volunteer event with the Sandy Creek Nature Center in Athens, Georgia, that brought together MBA students for a day of community service. Students learned about invasive plant species from local experts before spending three hours removing invasive plants and rubbish around a community center. The event bonded first- and second-year MBA students outside of the classroom and also benefited the community.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? In the Army, I worked to establish a new NATO battlegroup in Slovakia from the ground up. The battlegroup would house over 5,000 NATO Soldiers and was rapidly created after the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. With no permanent U.S. Army force in Slovakia, I was tasked with founding new supply chains, constructing life support, developing training areas, repurposing vehicle motor pools, fielding new equipment from the Pentagon, and establishing ammunition storage for NATO and its allies. This work was extremely rewarding through its direct support of NATO and its mission to Ukraine. And with no playbook, I had to be creative and work with partner forces from Slovakia, Czechia, Germany, Slovenia, and the Netherlands. It was a powerful experience, and one in which I was grateful to play a part.

Why did you choose this business school? What uniquely stands out for me at Terry is the “can do” attitude that permeates the school. Former titles and accolades are left at the door, and all that matters is accomplishing the task at hand. Students rotate through different roles on teams and genuinely support each other both in and out of the classroom. This attitude extends to the faculty and staff at Terry who continue to bring in valuable voices from their own networks and to create new support programs that help students succeed.

Who was your favorite MBA professor? Dr. Santanu Chatterjee brought in timely real-world concepts into his economics course that challenged all experience levels. He took the time to learn about each student in my cohort, addressing each of us by name. He did this all while serving as the associate dean and later as the interim dean. I really value a high-level leader who takes the time to teach and connect with students. I think it speaks to who Dr. Chatterjee is as a person and how he teaches his courses. No question is too small, and everyone brings value to the conversation.

What was your favorite course as an MBA? Financial Statement Analysis (ACCT 7600) with Dr. Robert Resutek taught me how to dig into a company’s 10-K and really investigate their earnings and statements. I started my MBA not knowing much about earnings reports, and this class gave me the confidence to look at both GAAP and non-GAAP reports, interpret what they show and conceal, and then generate reasoned forecasts. I learned to evaluate companies and their business models with a critical eye in this course.

What was your favorite MBA event or tradition at your business school? The annual Georgia MBA Golf Tournament is a memorable event that brings first- and second-year cohorts together to learn about golf and foster a competitive spirit. The tournament is an opportunity for students to learn the rules of golf, connect with fellow students, and try networking in a different setting, as some deals get made outside of a board room. While there is a winning team, most students walk away with a newfound appreciation for the sport.

Looking back over your MBA experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently and why? I wish I took data management and analytics courses earlier! I knew data analytics were vital for every business, but I failed to realize how data management can shape a business and its products. Now, I regularly use coding to parse through different datasets to answer strategic questions and understand business structures.

What was the most impactful case study you had in business school and what was the biggest lesson you learned from it? I often think about a case study on Sprouts Farmers Market that we did in my Financial Statement Analysis class. Grocers operate on very low margins, so it was fascinating to learn how this grocery store grew rapidly over the past several years through healthy produce, internal distribution, and an efficient store format. It underscored for me that a thoughtful approach that focuses on quality goods and services can still upend a traditional business model in an established industry.

What did you love most about your business school’s town? Athens is a town with something for everyone and really fills you with a sense of community. It has a rich restaurant and music scene that allows you to hop from one spot to another, an independent movie theater that shows classic films (as well as the latest movies), a minor league hockey team (Rock Lobsters), and of course SEC football.

What business leader do you admire most? I really appreciate the operational experience and leadership of Apple CEO Tim Cook. Cook revolutionized Apple’s supply chain model to a lean system that allowed the company to develop a financial moat during his tenure. He continues to grow Apple’s revenue stream and is introducing new products into the Apple ecosystem. Cook’s leadership highlights that if you can get the basics right, everything else will follow.

What is one way that your business school has integrated AI into your programming? What insights did you gain from using AI? Each of my professors has taken a different approach on AI. I have had some courses that allow students to use AI on portions of an assignment and then require us to interpret the results and its accuracy. I have also had professors who let students use AI creatively for assignments, if we document its use. Overall, I have primarily used AI as a thought partner during my MBA. AI is an incredible tool that speeds up decision-making and provides alternative viewpoints. Like all tools, it is only as good as its user and Terry professors have worked hard to show students how to improve prompts and select good sources of data to feed into AI platforms.

Which MBA classmate do you most admire? I really admire Bryan Hatcher. I had the good fortune to get to know Bryan through our work on the Graduate Business Association, where he was a real team player and went above-and-beyond. Bryan is supportive of everyone he meets and gives back to his community. It amazes me how he juggles school and community engagement, all while running his own business. Bryan brings a valuable perspective to every conversation and ensures everyone is included.

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

1. Manage my first P&L. I would love to learn the ins-and-outs of a business and be responsible for its success. Profit and loss managers require strategic vision and get to weigh cost-benefit analysis questions in real time. I think this experience would broaden my understanding of other business functions and groom me for higher level leadership.
2. Own my own business. Similar to managing a P&L, I want to own a business that adds value to people’s lives. Every decision is strategic when building a business and requires flexibility and creativity. I like the idea of a dynamic environment that challenges me to be better and allows me to set the vision for an organization.

What made Calder such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2026?

“Calder has been an invaluable leader for the Full-Time MBA Class of 2026, particularly through his role as president of the Graduate Business Student Association (GBA). He approaches leadership with intention, discipline, and a strong sense of responsibility to his peers. Calder consistently delivers thoughtful programming while maintaining the operational rigor required to run a student organization effectively. Just as importantly, he understands the strategic role GBA plays as a bridge between students and administration. He actively seeks feedback from classmates, elevates diverse perspectives within the leadership team, and ensures initiatives reflect the needs of the broader MBA community. Under his leadership, GBA programming has intentionally connected students across cohorts and across programs, including collaboration with the M.S. in Business Analytics, strengthening the sense of community across Terry’s graduate business programs.

His leadership extends beyond programming to mentorship and service. Calder has prioritized supporting incoming students by fostering mentorship and guidance that help them navigate both the academic and professional aspects of the MBA experience. He has also expanded opportunities for community engagement, including organizing a service day at Sandy Creek Park where MBA students partnered with park experts to identify and remove invasive species. In the classroom, Calder leads with the same level of accountability and collaboration. As the designated group leader for our International Business consulting project, he manages communication between the faculty instructor, client company in Brazil, and his team, ensuring the group remains aligned and delivers meaningful work. Calder’s leadership is defined not only by what he accomplishes, but by how intentionally he builds connection, accountability, and impact within our community.

Samantha Sharp
Associate Director of Student Engagement
Full-Time MBA & M.S. Business Analytics Programs

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