The Wilbur O. and Ann Powers College of Business empowers students to evolve into innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders thriving in the dynamic global marketplace of ideas. This young alumni series highlights recent business graduates who are putting their Clemson education to work in bold, meaningful ways. From their first day on campus to their first big career move, these Tigers are showing the world how Clemson Powers Business.
How it all started
Anna Sear ’24 had her sights set on Clemson for reasons she says a lot of out-of-state students do—the sunshine, great weather and the school spirit. But what got her to stay was the people.
“I felt the Clemson Family immediately,” she says. “There’s a sense of pride here that’s real. When people say, ‘I go to Clemson’ or ‘I went to Clemson,’ they mean it, and they light up when they say it. I knew I wanted to be a part of that.”
In the summer of 2020, she packed her bags, and moved from Illinois to Clemson, South Carolina. What she found was a new home away from home, one she’s loved since her first night in her dorm room.
Today, she’s living in downtown Chicago, close to where she grew up, as a commercial insurance broker with Lockton Companies. She works with clients across industries to help manage risk and protect what matters most to their businesses. “Every day is different. I’m constantly learning about new industries and challenges, and I love that,” she says. “I wouldn’t be here without the connections I made through Clemson.”
An unexpected surprise
When asked about her favorite memory that has made a lasting impact on her as a student, she immediately knew what to say.
“I took Environmental Law and Economics with Professor Watson in my final semester,” she says. “As a second-semester senior with a job lined up, I wasn’t expecting to love the class as much as I did. He pushed us to think critically, and that has really stuck with me.”
The class was memorable, but what made it special was how it ended. “Professor Watson invited the whole class for an end-of-year celebration at his home. He cooked for all of us, chatted and shared stories,” Sear explains. “That moment really was amazing. He truly cares about and believes in his students.”
Exploring student opportunities
While Sear toured colleges before she had made her Clemson choice, she loved the colleges that had student-led tours the most. When the chance arose for her as a business student to join the Powers College of Business Recruitment Ambassadors (COBRA), she knew it was something she wanted to try.
One of the best things to come out of being in COBRA was Sear growing her communication and leadership skills.
“COBRA taught me how to connect with people. Sometimes I’d talk to families from Chicago. Other times, they were from somewhere completely different. No matter what, we’d find something in common. It was so special to share our stories and experiences and have fun while touring the College or learning about its vast opportunities,” she says. “COBRA has really given me confidence in my professional career and taught me invaluable lessons about working with people”
The power of the Clemson Family
Even in a big city like Chicago, where Sear lives now, Clemson is still always just around the corner. While at work one day, a visiting client noticed her Clemson ring, and they immediately bonded. Sear says that type of interaction is what makes being a Clemson alumni so unique.
“Being part of the Clemson Family is being part of an amazing community. It means showing up with integrity, working hard and helping others do the same.”
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