Student: Cole Miller

Over the past four years, there has been a constant presence at numerous College of Business events available for students. He’s no wallflower at these events, sheepishly standing alone, unsure of what to do. No. Cole Miller, a double major in finance and accounting, is working the room. He’s speaking with alumni to establish networking opportunities. He’s digging deeper and asking questions to speakers who are sharing their tips on how to succeed.

Cole Miller speaks with a student at the annual Meet the Firms event, a career fair sponsored by the College of Business and its Department of Accounting.

Miller is the embodiment of a successful student who has taken full advantage of the opportunities available at East Carolina University and the COB that will help him succeed in the business world and grow as a leader.

“ECU (and the College of Business) has given me the opportunities to get involved and experiences that have been pivotal to my learning,” said Miller, who’s set to graduate Dec. 13. “Meet the Firms, Employer in the Foyer, professor introductions, career readiness certifications, student organizations and class lectures have all been helpful to me with regard to introducing myself to people, making connections, getting opportunities to job shadow, attending (the COB’s) leadership conferences, and other similar opportunities.”

During his four years in the COB, Miller attended almost 100 meetings and events designed to help him grow, including conferences, summits and other events. He has traveled to New York City and San Francisco to meet with alumni and representatives from companies such as Google, BMG and Cisco. He has also completed numerous certifications, such as the Business Leadership Seven and the Truist Leadership Institute Emerging Leaders.

Miller also finds time to focus his attention on supporting others. If he’s not helping friends with their LinkedIn profiles and resumes, he’s working with students to organize, host and manage events designed to bring industry leaders to campus.

Working with College of Engineering and Technology students, Miller helped organize the inaugural Technology Summit (TechSummit). This program featured 18 business and technology experts who addressed technology trends, business strategies, leadership development, and what jobs look like today and will look like tomorrow. His TechSummit work led to numerous awards from ECU, such as ECU Student Organizations’ 2023-24 Outstanding Program of the Year.

In November, Miller put his experiences to work and helped launch the 2024 Finance Conference (FinCon), where more than 300 students heard from executives and alumni representing BB&T/Truist, IBM, KPMG, Goldman Sachs, Paramount, Citizens Bank, Wells Fargo and other companies. The all-day conference even featured Kelly King, former CEO of BB&T.

“We brought in high-caliber speakers, thanks to our networks. Some of these speakers have not been on campus for a long time. Their willingness to eagerly come back and speak to ECU perfectly encompasses the ‘Pirates support Pirates’ mantra,” he said.

Pirates supporting Pirates

Miller owns the “Pirates support Pirates” mindset, as well. He’s already working with other students to move the 2025 TechSummit and FinCon forward. He plans to join the COB’s Young Alumni Council, advise on future student-led conferences and attend ECU COB alumni events.

First, however, Miller will focus on his career after graduation. He plans to return to BDO USA as an assurance intern for the second phase of his internship, which will eventually lead to a full-time position. Once his full-time offer is in hand, he plans to pursue his certified public accounting license and eventually obtain his Master of Business Administration degree.

Fast Facts

Name: Cole Miller
College: College of Business
Major: Accounting and finance
Age: 22
Classification/Year: Senior
Hometown: Cary
Hobbies/interests: Going to Carolina Hurricanes games, East Carolina football, minor league baseball games, concerts, coffee and boba connoisseur, fishing, bowling, TopGolf, traveling, light reading, photography, astronomy, attending leadership conferences, personal and professional development
Clubs and Organizations: Student Leadership Board, Dean’s Student Leadership Council, frequent attendee of Society for Advancement of Management, Collegiate Entrepreneurs’ Organization, Financial Management Association, and Beta Alpha Psi.

FAVORITES

Favorite hangout: Coffee shops, networking events
Favorite place on campus: Student Technology Center conference rooms on the third floor of Bate
Favorite place to eat: Sam Jones BBQ
Favorite class: Business Leadership Classes (BUSI 1200-4200)
Professor/Staff who influenced you the most: Michael Harris, Paige Hill, Cal Christian
Favorite TV show: “Criminal Minds,” “Loki,” “Stranger Things”
Favorite band/musician: Two Door Cinema Club, Coin, Anderson .Paak
Favorite movie: “The Dark Knight,” “Men in Black”
Favorite app: LinkedIn, ESPN