Class of 2024 Profile: Montinae Porter

Montinae Porter’s journey at Mizzou has been one of self-discovery, resilience and growth. Coming from Chicago, she chose Mizzou not only for its renowned business school but also to carve out her own path as the first in her family to leave the state for college. Initially uncertain about her career, Montinae found her passion in the Finance Department and overcame personal challenges that deepened her leadership and communication skills. 

In this Q&A, Montinae reflects on the lessons she’s learned while attending the Robert J. Trulaske, Sr. College of Business and looks ahead to the exciting opportunities in her future after graduation. 

Why did you choose Mizzou?

I chose Mizzou because I envisioned a career in business, and Mizzou has a really great business school. Being from Chicago, I also loved that it's not too far from home, but it's not too close as well. The main reason I chose Mizzou was that I wanted to be different from my siblings. I'm the first in our household to go out of state for college.

What motivated you to pursue your field of study at Trulaske?

I came into Mizzou undecided. I had my eye on real estate, but I wasn't too sure about it. After taking my first finance course, I noticed that I enjoyed the subject a lot. I began to research finance a bit more and ultimately decided this was what I wanted to pursue a career in. Finance is tough, but I'm always up for a challenge.

What person at Trulaske played an instrumental role in your college experience and what lessons did you learn from that person?

My roommate TaNeah Reynolds played an instrumental role in my college experience. We were assigned roommates randomly, and now we're sisters. I would not have made it at Mizzou without her. TaNeah has always included me, believed in me, been there for me, etc. Throughout our four years, we were inseparable. The most valuable lesson I learned from TaNeah is to stand on your beliefs and to always be true to yourself. Being around TaNeah helped me realize I don't have to hide who I am from anyone nor do I have to allow things I'm not comfortable with. We both helped each other grow into the amazing women we are today.

What business class at Trulaske made the biggest impression on you and why? 

Marketing 3410 taught by Anthony Vatterott left the biggest impression on me during my years at Trulaske. Marketing 3410 is a role-play-based sales course. Professor Vatterott continuously pushed me to break out of my shell and was the first professor that made me feel seen. I used to be quite shy and did not really speak up in class settings, but Professor Vatterott challenged that. He often used me as a volunteer or even called me out when he noticed I was trying to hide. He also helped me with understanding and identifying internships available to me. I had no idea about internships, but this course gave us many opportunities. If I had never taken his course, I wouldn't be as outspoken or career-ready as I am today.

Was there an obstacle that you had to overcome while a student at Trulaske and if so, how did you overcome it?

During my senior year, I acquired an eating disorder, which made it extremely difficult to complete my coursework. I'm a restrictive eater, so it tends to cause even more health problems, including having difficulty focusing, a lack of motivation, severe anxiety and severe depression. I've always done well in school, so adapting to my new normal was very hard for me. I'm not completely out of the woods, but my MU resources were pivotal in my recovery. The MU Counseling Center, CARE Team, Student Health and Disability Center helped me overcome this obstacle. I could NOT have made it without them and the overwhelming support of friends and family.

What kind of leadership skills have you gained at the Trulaske College of Business?

Some leadership skills I have gained at Trulaske College of Business are resilience, communication, accountability, adaptability and relationship-building. Throughout my career at Trulaske, I have become so much better at public speaking and everyday communications. I learned these skills through various class projects over the years. I learned that you can't make others take accountability, but you can take accountability for yourself. In addition, I learned how important it is to network and build relationships. Building relationships can lead to so many great opportunities and potential career connections. I also learned to be resilient through my personal experience at Mizzou. My college experience was quite rough, but we're here. On Friday, I will be a graduate of the Trulaske College of Business! 

What experience-centered learning opportunities at Trulaske have helped you the most and how will you apply them to your business career?

All the business administration courses helped me extraordinarily during my time at Trulaske. BA3500 and BA4500 were the most impactful to my experience. BA3500 allowed me to work with True-North, which helped me understand the importance of operations manuals and making sure everyone is aware of necessary procedures. Additionally, BA4500 changed my life. The internship I held for the course was with Veterans United Home Loans here in Columbia. VU has changed me for the better in more ways than I can explain. I'm so grateful that the Trulaske College of Business pushed us to make these real-world connections. My experiences in BA3500 and BA4500 helped me build upon the leadership skills I mentioned earlier.

What are your favorite Mizzou memories?

My favorite memory at Mizzou is all the Welcome Week activities. As a 2020 incoming freshman, I didn't get the typical Mizzou welcome. In my sophomore year, I signed up to be a Welcome Week leader, and it was so much fun. I actually did it again during my junior year and this past Welcome Week. The energy, the aura, the vibes—it's just always a good time at Welcome Week, and I am happy I got to experience it.

Looking back on your college career, what are the biggest lessons you’ve learned?

Looking back on my college career, the biggest lesson I learned is that you cannot control everything. As a perfectionist, this was one of the hardest lessons I learned as well. I've had to accept that you cannot control the actions of others, even if you have good intentions—which goes back to my points about accountability. I have no problem taking accountability, but throughout my college career, I've encountered several situations where I've tried to encourage others to take accountability for their actions, which is ultimately out of my control. Things would've been very different had I not tried to be so "in control".

What advice would you give to incoming freshmen?

My advice would be: BE TRUE TO YOU. Everything around you is noise. Focus on YOU and what matters most to you. Break out your shell. This is your life, your story, and you have to fight for you!

What’s next for you?

After graduation, I plan to apply for a full-time position at Veterans United. After my lease expires, I plan to move back to Chicago and continue my life there. I just hope the future is good to me!