Tradition Never Graduates - Megan Ohlinger '20

Published: April 5, 2024

In a word, Megan Ohlinger ‘20 is BUSY. The Georgetown University senior is getting ready to graduate in May from the McDonough School of Business with her bachelor’s degree and a double major in accounting and finance. From there, she will head to New York City, where she will work for KKR as an analyst at the private equity firm, focusing on financial services and financial technology. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

“I definitely overload my schedule, and sometimes that leads to sacrificing sleep, but I’m not giving up anything,” offers Megan, with a laugh.

On top of her coursework, she serves as Vice President of Finance and Operations for Scholars of Finance at Georgetown, an undergraduate leadership and mentoring organization. She is President of Georgetown Consulting and Banking, a key resource to more than 500 students for finance recruiting preparation, and a peer career advisor. She has worked in the economics department for three years and was previously a portfolio manager for the Student Investment Fund, which invests ~$1 million on behalf of the endowment and alumni association. Megan is also the president of the Jesuit Honors Society, plays two club sports, has spent two summers and a semester abroad – in Panama City, Panama; Bangalore, India; and Dublin, Ireland – and completed three internships.

Megan always knew a career in finance was in her future. “When I was young, I looked up to my godfather, Eric Savage, who co-founded an investment bank in India,” she says.

In high school, Megan would intern with Designetics in Holland, Ohio, during the summer between her junior and senior years. “I worked in human resources, and also the finance and accounting department, and from there, I knew business was what I wanted to do, and I never doubted my choice.”

But Megan’s favorite part of her burgeoning career doesn’t have anything to do with numbers. “For me, the best part has been meeting all kinds of new people, both at Georgetown and KKR, and around the world,” she explains. “It’s important to learn to communicate, but also to respect other people and their cultures, and my experiences have opened my eyes to the global world.”

Megan feels that her years at NDA readied her for the challenges of college and beyond. “I learned excellent study habits, and how to work collaboratively. I was definitely prepared for Georgetown, and never found the workload to be too difficult or overwhelming,” she shares.

Her advice to the Eagles following in her footsteps? “Talk to all different kinds of people! Always be open to learning about new fields or places. There’s so much to explore, don’t be afraid to get outside what you know and who you know.”