Ken White graduated from Ball State University’s Miller College of Business in 1971. He is currently principal at Cornerstone Restructuring, LLC, and a retired partner at Ernst & Young. Here are Three Things To Know about Ken:
1. Ball State afforded Ken “a framework that encouraged students to achieve and explore professional opportunities:” “Ball State was instrumental in continuing my educational focus and professional pursuits. It offered a practical program to graduate with meaningful skills that were readily marketable to Indiana businesses and organizations. Ball State further positioned me to pursue and obtain a graduate degree at the University of Chicago 16 years after my undergraduate studies. I had various opportunities to pursue small liberal art colleges in the Midwest or larger universities like Indiana University, but I felt Ball State offered a more balanced mix of a smaller-college atmosphere coupled with a larger-campus environment. Upon reflection, most of my classes were not large lecture auditoriums but focused on student interaction in core programs for your desired business concentrations. And, of course, many freshman classes were large and not as personalized as the College of Business concentrations, but were still enriching irrespective of class size.”
2. As a first-generation college graduate, Ken is well aware of the value of strong alumni backing: “As the first in the family to attend college and graduate, I believe reinvesting is a must for alumni to pay forward to afford others similar opportunities. I was fortunate to have had good summer jobs in the steel mills in Lake County, Indiana. I also received monetary support from Indiana businesses to advance my education along with internship opportunities that created practical learning experiences.”
3. Ken’s advice for future students to help them have a fulfilling career and meaningful lives? “Warren Buffet and many other successful people in business advocate for developing personal mantras and a habit of keeping goals simple and straightforward. Your guiding principles might include: focusing on a few important goals and avoid a shotgun approach; taking chances and learning from your mistakes; letting go and not looking back at failures; and developing self-confidence, as it breeds success.”