Name: Isaac Woods
Degrees Earned: BBA in Finance
Class Year: 2004
Current Profession: VP and Treasurer, Rockwell Automation
We’d love to share more about your professional success with our current and future students – please describe your career path to this point as well as your current profession:
When I finished at SAU, I wanted to work in the financial services sector. I moved to St. Louis and got a job working for Edward Jones Investments. I spent two years there as a Retirement Plan Specialist. I then left Edward Jones to pursue my MBA full-time at Washington University in St. Louis. At Wash U. I landed an internship in Corporate Finance at S.C. Johnson in Racine, WI. Through that internship, my interest shifted from financial services to corporate finance, specifically with an interest in corporate treasury. My internship was successful and resulted in a full-time offer post-graduation, which I accepted. I stayed at S.C. Johnson for 6 years, 3 of which I spent working in Treasury, before moving to Rockwell Automation. At Rockwell I had the opportunity to move through a few roles in my first few years there supporting corporate development, investor relations, treasury, and financial planning & analysis. Prior to my current role as Treasurer I had the opportunity to support one of our $1B+ global business units as finance director. I have served as Vice President & Treasurer since October of 2020.
How did your experiences in the Rankin College of Business prepare you for your professional career?
The breadth of courses in the core business curriculum combined with the great extracurricular activities offered in the business program helped me learn to bring a balanced understanding to business. Despite being a “numbers guy” you need to and are expected to understand implications of marketing, human resources, business information systems and other functional areas. Having that wholistic view has proven invaluable.
Were there any specific courses or areas of study that were especially useful to you?
Financial Institutions & Markets, Organizational Theory & Behavior, and Advanced Financial Management have all proven very useful.
Do you have any favorite memories from your time at the Rankin College of Business?
Traveling with Phi Beta Lambda and Enactus (formerly SIFE) for National competitions are among some of my best memories.
What advice would you offer to a new student beginning their course of study at the Rankin College of Business?
Get involved with business organizations, take a broad breadth of coursework (not just within your major), network with your fellow students, seek out internship opportunities, build relationships with faculty, and have fun!
