“I love the social aspect of business, because you’re constantly working with people,” says Nora Bame. “I also love the tangible differences that you can make. You can problem-solve,” she explains regarding what drew her to becoming a Commerce major: interpersonal engagement and impactful action. As a result, Bame’s efforts have ensured that her time at UVA has been both expansive and enlightening.
A dedicated student who served as a counselor for the University Judiciary Committee, Bame was also a volunteer and Director of Social Media and Publicity for Food Assist. With the latter student organization that bridges the gap between food waste and food insecurity in the Charlottesville community, she helped deliver food from dining halls, Greek life, and restaurants to local food banks. Bame also led her intramural basketball team as captain for all four years of her time on Grounds. You could say that she led and learned when and where she could—and even in those rare instances when she couldn’t, her persistence and willingness to grow were rewarded with fulfilling opportunities.
Her commitment to broadening her horizons was exemplified by her participation in study-abroad programs, which significantly shaped her perspective. Bame recounts, “The summer after my first year, I did UVA in Valencia for my Spanish minor, which was also one of the most impactful experiences of my undergrad experience. Getting to live with host parents who 100% only spoke Spanish was great for my language learning, but it was also my first time being abroad by myself. And I think that—especially being a first-year—helped build who I’ve become.”
Later, her global journey with Professor Stefano Grazioli’s J-term Global Commerce Immersion course in Mendoza, Argentina, allowed her to delve into winery consulting, blend her consulting aspirations with her linguistic skills, and connect real-world application of business theory while opening more doors to cultural experiences.
Bame also credits her development to deeply influential courses and exchanges with McIntire professors that elevated her educational journey. “The Promotions class has definitely been the most impactful class for me in my Commerce experience. Carrie Heilman is an incredible professor. We got to learn from her all of fall semester and then work hands-on in a real-life situation that required student leadership and initiative,” she says, highlighting the collaborative nature of the course, which allowed her to foster friendships and develop skills that went beyond traditional classroom teamwork.
Additionally, Bame’s participation in Professor Marcia Pentz’s Advanced Business Speaking course proved transformative. “For me personally, the biggest growth I’ve had from Commerce was learning to have confidence in my ability to learn whatever I needed to and to advocate for what I believe in,” the Finance and Marketing concentrator says. “That class did great things for my confidence in speaking up and in communicating my thoughts.”
Outside of class, Bame candidly shares that her leadership experiences in her sorority helped her to nurture resilience and introspection. “It was really important, since I value all the friendships I have there so much and thought it would be great to get involved. The first time I ran, as a second-year, I was not elected. That felt disappointing because it was something I wanted to do, and it was an election by my peers. But in hindsight, it was the best thing that could have happened. I ended up being elected the next year for a much bigger job with more responsibility that I really enjoyed and found greatly rewarding,” she says about how setbacks can serve as steppingstones to unforeseen later successes.
The Austin, TX, native’s internship experiences also contributed to her substantive growth. Time with Boston Consulting Group imparted crucial insights and skills that galvanized her self-assurance. “Broadly, learning how to problem-solve was something that already came naturally to me, but tying into the confidence aspect of it—especially my first time in a corporate setting—could have been intimidating to be given something that I initially didn’t know how to do,” Bame admits. “Learning to tackle an issue without an immediate answer and knowing that I have the problem-solving skills to resolve it were rewarding—as well as learning to not be afraid to ask for help, especially at a company like BCG.”
Anticipating her post-graduation role with Boston Consulting Group in San Francisco, Bame looks forward to applying her enhanced skills in a new setting. Yet before embarking on this next chapter, a celebratory journey with friends to Europe awaits, another step in her personal journey of discovery and cultural immersion that has defined many aspects of her UVA experience.
