“When I’m giving tours, parents always ask if it’s cutthroat,” says fourth-year Commerce student Jackie Eng. “I always tell them, honestly, it’s not. It’s way more collaborative than competitive. People really want each other to succeed.”
That perspective comes from experience. As a McIntire Ambassador, Jackie spent the past few years welcoming prospective students and families, walking them through the halls of Rouss & Robertson, and now Shumway and Cobb as well. Having given countless tours, she answered myriad questions and offered a candid look at student life. Sharing with high schoolers and quelling concerns from their parents became as much about reflection as recruitment.
“It brings me back to when I was in their shoes,” she says. “Everything feels overwhelming. I try to connect with them and show what actually makes the experience here meaningful.”
Jackie, a Finance and Accounting concentrator who also studied abroad for a semester in Copenhagen at McIntire partner school DIS, admits that though she originally knew she “wanted to go into business,” the truth was that she “didn’t even really know what that meant.” Through giving mentors, eye-opening coursework, and hands-on experiences, she found her footing. After a summer internship with Barclays in its Energy and Climate Tech group, she secured a position at the firm, returning as an Analyst in their New York office after graduation.
She credits much of her success to what she gained in the classroom.
“The faculty is unmatched,” she says. “They’ve actually done the work professionally that they’re teaching us about. It makes everything feel real.”
Two courses in particular left a lasting impression. Professor Robert Webb’s Financial Trading class demystified a field that once felt intimidating. “By the end, I could actually keep up,” Jackie says, smiling. “He brought in guest speakers from all over the industry, which made it even more tangible.”
She also highlights Professor Peter Maillet’s Foundations of Global Commerce course and his teaching style, noting how thoughtful his approach is. “It was such an involving class. He relates current events back to business and the careers that we’re all going into. It was super impactful,” she says, noting that her interest in learning with Maillet extended past the class’s official end date. “I’m so grateful that he continues to make time for us to have a group discussion a few Fridays a month to conceptualize what’s going on in the world. You can tell how much he cares about students understanding the material.”
Jackie’s enjoyed a similar level of engagement with her classmates. McIntire’s emphasis on teamwork challenged her in new ways, especially in areas outside her comfort zone. “Working in teams showed me how everyone brings something different. It made the work better, and I learned a lot from that.”
It is a framework she plans to bring with her to Barclays, along with the communication and organizational skills she sharpened at UVA. “Learning how to communicate clearly and be detail oriented is huge,” she says. “Those are things I’ll use every day.”
Before she heads to New York, though, Jackie had one more major milestone unrelated to UVA: She ran the Boston Marathon on April 20, 2026.
“It was truly one of the most meaningful experiences,” she says. “I felt incredibly fortunate just to be there. The opportunity to support such a worthy cause while doing what I love is something I’ll always be grateful for.”
For Jackie, the marathon felt like a fitting final chapter to her college experience. It is demanding, a little daunting, and deeply rewarding. Much like her time at McIntire.
“I think I’m most excited to take everything I’ve learned and actually apply it,” she says. “And to keep building relationships, just like I did here.”
