My Shot: Virtual to Reality 

Going all-in on the network.

Brad Williamson (MSF’16) began the Master of Science in Finance program virtually from his home in Denver, Colorado, while working at his local bank. After two semesters, Williamson felt he was missing a key component of the Georgetown experience: the relationships. “I was really missing that in-person feeling and networking. I decided, it’s time to go ahead, pick up everything, and move to D.C.,” he said. As he began his second year in the program, Williamson left his job in Denver, moved to Washington, D.C., and embraced the risk.

Williamson immediately immersed himself in campus life. His roommates were fellow Hoyas, he became a teaching assistant, and he spent his days in the Hariri Building. From making lifelong friends to gaining valuable experiences, Williamson launched his career in finance. “The life-changing thing I learned from moving to D.C. was that where I expected my career to go is not where it ended up going,” he said. Williamson now works in legal finance, a route he never would have taken—or found—without his experiences and connections at Georgetown McDonough. “I had a great time, I met tons of wonderful people, and I kickstarted a really great career. All positive things came from me taking that risk.”

This story was originally featured in the Georgetown Business Fall 2022 Magazine.