Name: Evan Masters
Graduation Year: 2019
Major: Finance & Management
Current Position: Financial Analyst – I Pour Life
City and State: Springfield, MO
Tell us about your career and what you do now.
My career began as an internship during my senior year in the Global Operations Department at I Pour Life. I Pour Life is an NGO based in Springfield that focuses on developing at-risk youth populations for self-sufficient futures. Currently, my role is a financial analyst and in that role, I work on everything from day-to-day finance activities to program development and strategy for our local and global communities.
What is your favorite memory from Evangel?
When I reflect on my time at Evangel, some of my favorite memories are sitting in the academic buildings late at night drinking coffee and trying to do homework with some of my closest friends. It’s funny because my best memories from Evangel are not the big events or the most exciting things, but living everyday life with a community of friends for four years.
How did Evangel help you identify/develop your calling?
Coming into Evangel, I knew that I wanted to do something within the business and finance field, but I never would have imagined working in the non-profit sector. However, my experience of using entrepreneurial action to create a positive impact on the world through the Evangel Enactus program planted a seed and a desire to use business to design sustainable mechanisms for human thriving.
During my junior year, I had the opportunity to travel to Ethiopia and collaborate with I Pour Life on a community-led project in one of the most socially isolated parts of the country. It was during that trip and the weeks and months following that I knew that I wanted to use my God-given business skills to do something that would have a direct impact on people.
How did your experience at Evangel prepare you for life after graduation?
Evangel equipped me with all of the practical skills I needed to begin a successful career. What really set my education apart is how my professors were able to integrate faith with what we were learning in the classroom. This teaching has shaped the lens through which I view the world.
What advice would you give a current student preparing for the workforce?
I would encourage current students to focus on developing a teachable spirit. I believe that anyone can understand just about anything if they are willing to learn. To be successful in the workplace, you will need to constantly learn new things and continue to develop as a person.
What would you look for if you were in a position to hire new graduates from Evangel?
I would look for new graduates to show an ability to be adaptable in their work and not let change derail them from the broader task at hand. I would also look for graduates who have a teachable spirit and aren’t afraid to ask questions and learn new things.