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Preparation Meets Opportunity

Posted on July 28, 2026 by Teri Greene
Teri Greene

A woman with long reddish-brown hair, wearing a white sleeveless belted dress and black heels, walking down a wide set of outdoor stone stairs near a modern city building. data-lightbox='featured'
Kiera Earls ’25, a Mitchell College of Business graduate is working as a full-time client service associate in the Global Wealth Management Division at Morgan Stanley in Mobile.

When Kiera Earls ʼ25 looks back on her time since graduation last spring, she sees a path shaped by intense preparation and professional connections she began building long before she crossed the Commencement stage at South.

Earls works in the Global Wealth Management Division of Morgan Stanley in Mobile, transitioning from an intern to a full-time client service associate with the Radcliff-Schatzman Group. “My landing of this role was a combination of fortunate timing and the great connections I have made,” she says. “During my final semester, we mutually recognized the role was a great fit.”

She notes that success at a firm like Morgan Stanley requires full commitment, persistence and a willingness to adapt. Her degree prepared her more than she expected, but the corporate environment still brings daily surprises.

“I have been proven wrong on more than one occasion,” she says. “Understanding the lingo itself can be a huge learning curve.” As she works toward full licensure in investments and securities, Earls has seen the immediate value of her studies and experiences at the Mitchell College of Business.

“I have been able to catch on very quickly within my role,” she says. “I 100% credit this to my foundation in this field that professors helped me build.”

Her extensive involvement at South shaped her personally and professionally. During her time on campus she was a Jaguar Investment Fund analyst, Mitchell Ambassador, member of Alpha Omicron Pi fraternity and finance tutor, and she even studied abroad in Singapore.

“The fulfilling aspect of all of this was making the friendships, connecting with others and realizing where I wanted to take my career,” she says.

She credits her professors for pushing her academically — in particular, finance Professor Dr. Kenneth Hunsader. “Yes, his classes are hard,” she says, “but so is the real world some days.”

Her advice to students entering competitive fields: “Evaluate how you communicate with other people. Learn everything you can from those who know more than you. Find opportunities to intern, show your ability to learn, and demonstrate reliability. There is always room to learn and grow.”

This article appeared in the 2025-2026 issue of the Mitchell Magazine, an annual publication of the Mitchell College of Business. READ THE FULL ISSUE >>>

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