Empowering young business alumni: Katie Golden ‘25

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 she landed on Clemson

Katie Golden ’25 always knew she liked solving puzzles, was pretty good with numbers and wanted a college experience that felt like a true community. That led her from New Jersey to Clemson University, and eventually, to Morgan Stanley in New York City.

Golden grew up just outside of Manhattan, New York, in River Edge, New Jersey. Although her hometown was small, New York City was somewhere she often visited. “We used to go all the time since my dad worked there,” she said. “I think that’s how I grew to love it and knew I wanted to go back after graduating from Clemson.”

But before she made a move to the big city, Golden decided first to attend college in Clemson, South Carolina. On April 21, 2021, Golden and her mom visited campus for the first time on Golden’s birthday, just one week before the decision deadline. They did a self-guided campus tour due to pandemic restrictions, and even so, she remembers being struck by how many students stopped to offer help or share their own stories. “Everyone was just so beyond welcoming,” she said. “I figured if they loved it that much, there had to be something special about this place.”

That hunch turned out to be right. From day one, Golden found people who encouraged her to explore, including business faculty like Bill Tumblin, who taught her first business class. “He really pushed us to get involved and was always willing to meet one-on-one,” Golden explains. “He connected me to so many people and helped me feel at home when I didn’t know anyone else here.” That early support snowballed into connections, internships and ultimately, a job offer.

Balancing numbers and creativity

Golden chose to major in economics and minor in finance because she had an affinity for math growing up, but she had a creative side, too. When she learned about the brand communications minor at Clemson, it appealed to that creative side, so she decided to take on a second minor.

One of the most influential parts of Golden’s Clemson Experience was her time with Cadency, Clemson’s student-led creative agency. “It felt like an authentic job,” she said. “We had a client, we had deliverables, we worked as a team. It gave me a preview of what post-grad life could be like.”

From intern to full-time

Golden now works at Morgan Stanley in New York City. She started as an intern but was offered a full-time job as an investment banking analyst starting this summer. So far, she has loved her experience.

“The culture at Morgan Stanley was incredibly supportive. People were willing to answer questions and really wanted us to learn,” she said. “But honestly, I think the most important thing that helped me land that role was networking.”

Golden used the Clemson alumni network to connect with alumni working in finance, reaching out through the Tiger Ties mentorship platform and LinkedIn. “It kind of spiderwebbed from there,” she said. “Everyone I talked to wanted to help.”

As she transitions into this new stage in life, she is excited but will miss Clemson. “Clemson taught me how to build relationships, how to ask better questions and how to keep learning,” Golden says. “I’m forever grateful for the experiences, the people and the sense of community that has helped me become who I am today.”