Gavin Livingston

Southern Methodist University, Cox School of Business

“Curious, principled, relationship-driven leader passionate about mentorship and elevating those around him.”

Hometown: Lone Jack, Missouri

Fun fact about yourself: I led a team that flew two endangered Eastern Black Rhinos from San Diego to Honolulu—complete with a police escort down Waikiki Beach.

Undergraduate School and Degree:

Oklahoma State University:

• S. Agriculture Business
• S. International Agriculture

Where was the last place you worked before enrolling in business school? San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, Curator of Mammals

Where did you intern during the summer of 2025? JPMorgan Private Bank, Austin Texas

Where will you be working after graduation? JPMorgan Private Bank, Austin Texas

Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School

• Cox Distinguished Scholar (Full-tuition merit scholarship)
• Peer Career Coach, Cox Career Management Center
• Full-Time MBA Representative, Finance Club
• Cox Admissions Ambassador
• President, Pride@Cox
• Save Giraffes Now, Advisory Board
• Zoo Disaster Response Rescue and Recovery (ZDR3), Advisory Board

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? An experience I’m proud of is the Global Leadership Program (GLP), where SMU students work with nonprofits and startups abroad on consulting projects. My team partnered with Ronald McDonald House Charities in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Working with a diverse group of MBA peers, each bringing unique expertise, was both intellectually challenging and inspiring. The project was especially meaningful because it let us apply the analytical and consulting skills we learned in the classroom to support an organization making a real, positive impact on families in need.

As part of the program, we traveled to Buenos Aires to meet directly with the organization’s leadership and improve our recommendations. Seeing months of research, teamwork, and classroom learning come together in a real-world client project was very rewarding. I am proud not only of the strategic solutions our team presented but also of the strong relationship we developed with the organization. Knowing our work could help further their mission to assist families in need made this one of the most meaningful and impactful moments of my MBA experience.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? The achievement I am most proud of in my professional career is my long-term involvement in the effort to restore the Scimitar-horned oryx to the wild. As part of a collaboration between Sahara Conservation and the Environment Agency of Abu Dhabi, I served on the U.S. technical advisory team working to reintroduce this once-extinct antelope to its native range in the Republic of Chad. Witnessing an extinct species thrive again in the Sahel was deeply moving and a testament to what community-supported conservation efforts can achieve. What made this achievement truly meaningful was being part of a global team spanning more than a dozen countries, all united by a common goal. The project showed the power of international collaboration, strategic planning, and perseverance in making the seemingly impossible possible. It remains one of the most rewarding and humbling experiences of my career.

Why did you choose this business school? I chose SMU Cox for its blend of opportunity, community and potential for personal growth. After working in wildlife conservation in California, I wanted to return to Texas to be closer to family and pivot into a career in finance. Dallas stood out as one of the most vibrant business centers in the country, providing direct access to leaders in finance, private equity, energy, and entrepreneurship. The Cox School’s strong alumni network and reputation in banking and private wealth management made it an ideal choice. What truly made it special, however, was the people. From my first campus visit, the warmth and genuine interest shown by the admissions team and alumni made me feel welcomed and supported. I knew SMU Cox was not just an excellent business school but also a community where I could challenge myself, learn from others and connect with others.

What was your favorite course as an MBA? My favorite MBA course has been Financial Modeling. Entering the program with limited finance experience, I found this class transformative. It taught me how to build integrated three-statement models and apply core valuation techniques such as discounted cash flow, comparable company analysis, merger accretion/dilution and LBO modeling in a practical setting. The hands-on nature of the course, in which we built models ourselves rather than just discussing theory, made every concept tangible and relevant, helping the material truly “click.” At the start, even basic modeling felt daunting; by the end, I was confidently constructing comprehensive financial models and critically evaluating the assumptions behind each valuation. This course equipped me with a career-long skill set that will be invaluable in my future roles.

What was your favorite MBA event or tradition at your business school? My favorite MBA tradition at Cox is the annual holiday party. It brings together both first and second-year students to celebrate the end of a long semester and offers everyone a rare opportunity to step away from classes and recruiting pressures. After months of intense effort, the holiday party feels like a moment for the entire program to pause and enjoy the community we’ve built. It’s a chance to reconnect with classmates you might only see in passing, strengthen existing bonds, and create new memories with friends who have been your support system throughout the MBA journey. Events like this are a great reminder that the true value of business school lies not just in academics, but in the relationships, you build along the way.

Looking back over your MBA experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently and why? Reflecting on my MBA journey, I feel incredibly fortunate to have had a rich and rewarding experience. I’ve built strong friendships, taken advantage of excellent academic opportunities, and created a network I believe will support me long after graduation. If I could do one thing differently, it would be to take fuller advantage of the Cox Business Leadership Center seminars offered throughout the year. These seminars bring in accomplished leaders and provide an excellent chance to learn directly from decision-makers. During an MBA, with so many classes, events, recruiting activities, and social gatherings happening at once, some of these valuable experiences can get overlooked. Looking back, I would have been more intentional about dedicating time to those sessions because they provide a unique perspective that complements classroom learning.

What was the most impactful case study you had in business school and what was the biggest lesson you learned from it? The most impactful case study during the MBA was “JPMorgan Chase: Transforming Financial Services with Artificial Intelligence.” This case explored how JPMorgan leverages AI throughout the Private Bank, not to replace bankers but to empower them with deeper insights and more effective tools to serve clients. It showed that AI technology, when applied thoughtfully, can amplify human expertise rather than diminish it. The main lesson I took from the case is that the future of financial services will belong to those who combine technological innovation and quickly pair it with human judgment. While AI can analyze large amounts of data and detect patterns at scale, clients ultimately depend on trusted advisors to interpret insights and build lasting relationships. As I prepare to join JPMorgan Private Bank, this case made clear that the most impactful bankers will not only master markets and portfolios but also use AI as a key tool to provide the best holistic wealth management services to clients.

What did you love most about your business school’s town? What I love most about Dallas is the abundant opportunities and energy the city offers. It’s a lively place with amazing art, professional sports, and countless restaurants and bars, making it easy to spend time with classmates and build friendships outside the classroom. Some of my favorite memories from business school are simple ones like grabbing dinner after class, going to a Stars game with friends, or taking walks on the Katy Trail. Dallas also provides an exceptional business environment. The city is ambitious and relationship-focused, and professionals across various industries are surprisingly open to meeting with MBA students. This accessibility made Dallas an ideal place to pursue an MBA and start building a professional network.

What business leader do you admire most? The business leader I admire most is my father. After serving in the U.S. Air Force as a Nuclear Missile Officer, he earned an MBA from a state university and started his consulting career without the benefit of a built-in network or a name-brand MBA. Over time, he advanced to senior leadership roles at several top consulting firms, both in the U.S. and abroad. What truly impresses me, though, isn’t the titles or responsibilities he has held, but the values and work ethic that made his journey possible. He is the hardest worker I have ever known. Growing up, I watched him face each challenge with preparation and discipline: late nights studying, traveling to client sites around the world more than 4 days a week, and a genuine curiosity about how businesses operate. From him, I learned that leadership is earned through steady effort, not shortcuts or praise. This lesson continues to influence how I approach my career, leadership style, and the standards I set for myself every day.

What is one way that your business school has integrated AI into your programming? What insights did you gain from using AI? SMU Cox has incorporated AI into both classroom learning and co-curricular activities, making it a key part of my MBA experience. We regularly use AI as a research assistant and process improvement tool, allowing us to dedicate more time to deep analysis and critical discussions. A highlight was my AI Strategy course, which examined major players in generative AI, practical ways business students can utilize AI-driven tools and the technology’s disruptive effect on industries like venture capital and private equity. Guest speakers further enhanced our understanding by sharing real-world applications.

One of the most insightful applications was in the Asset and Wealth Management Practicum, where we compared traditional screening methods on platforms like FactSet and Bloomberg with the capabilities of large language models for idea generation and research support. This experience showed that AI is not a shortcut or replacement for thorough analysis; rather, it is a powerful tool that can enhance our capabilities when used wisely. It emphasized that future leaders will need to incorporate AI into investment and strategic decisions, while still relying on human judgment, domain expertise and strong ethical principles.

Which MBA classmate do you most admire? The classmate I admire most is Kyle Brimm. Kyle was one of the first people I met at SMU, and we have been close friends ever since. What stands out about Kyle is that hard work and integrity are not just values he espouses; they are simply who he is. Kyle is the kind of classmate and friend who quietly makes the entire cohort better. He is an excellent student and a thoughtful contributor in every class. Even though he is one of the most intelligent people I have ever met, he leads with humility. His unique combination of humility, discipline, and reliability is rare. It is exactly the kind of leadership Kyle has shown throughout the MBA program that will make him a success when he joins Kearney as a consultant this summer. I look forward to continuing to learn from Kyle for many years to come.

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

Two of my top professional goals are to build a long-term career in wealth management at JPMorgan where I can mentor and develop the next generation of bankers, and to embrace entrepreneurship along the way. My journey in finance was shaped by mentors who generously shared their experience and offered honest guidance, helping me grow and pursue opportunities I might have missed. One of my greatest ambitions is to pay that forward and become a mentor who empowers aspiring professionals, especially those who are pivoting into finance as I did. I believe that true leadership is not only about achieving results but also about caring for and investing in the people around you.

I’m also passionate about entrepreneurship, whether that means starting my own business or promoting innovation within an established company. I am energized by the challenge of spotting opportunities, building something meaningful from scratch and collaborating with teams to bring ideas to life. At their core, these goals reflect my desire to continuously challenge myself while encouraging growth and opportunity for others.

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

“Some future financiers start their careers in investment banks. Gavin Livingston started his traveling the world with elephants. Gavin stands out not only for his intellectual curiosity and professional ambition, but for the extraordinary path that brought him to business school. Before arriving at SMU Cox, Gavin built a remarkable career in global wildlife conservation, serving most recently as Curator of Mammals at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, where he led complex operations (i.e. how to travel with elephants from Africa to the United States!), built international partnerships, and served as a public spokesperson promoting conservation on national and local media. His work required both scientific expertise and strategic leadership across organizations and countries. His decision to pursue an MBA represents an unconventional pivot from building conservation partnerships in the wild to building strategic partnerships in the boardroom. And it gives Gavin a wholly fresh and unique perspective from which to view the world of corporate finance, one that has already allowed Gavin to excel during his time at the Cox School. An SMU Cox Distinguished Scholar and ROMBA Fellow, Gavin’s achievements are as impressive as they are meaningful.

Leaders like Gavin are often the ones who change industries because they don’t arrive with the same assumptions as everyone else. His pre-MBA career and MBA training together have given him the rare ability to bridge worlds, bringing new ideas and bold thinking to spaces that benefit from disruption. I’ve never encountered an MBA student with the perspective Gavin Livingston brings. His leadership is shaped by experiences both inside and outside the business world. This gives him an uncommon ability to connect with anyone and turn those relationships into opportunity and impact. I can think of no candidate who brings a more unique business perspective to SMU Cox.”

Kerry Wright
Director of Operations
Spears Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership
Cox School of Business | Southern Methodist University

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