Courtney Parry, a 2010 ESTEEM Program graduate, joined the team of Graham Allen Partners in Innovation Park at Notre Dame after graduation last August. Graham Allen Partners is an investment firm that develops early-stage technology businesses, providing capital resources and management expertise that helps transform these ventures into successful companies.
Courtney is an Associate with Graham Allen and works in new venture development and strategy. Her current focus areas are cloud computing and data analytics/business intelligence. She was instrumental in orchestrating the launch of Graham Allen’s most recent investment, a company which works in the areas of cloud security, storage, and backup. She also handles due diligence, market research, and various project management activities for the firm.
Through her position, Courtney has enjoyed working alongside accomplished entrepreneurs and learning more about how to successfully grow a young company. From accounting to finance; legal work to branding; contracts to lease agreements, working in a young company is an incredible opportunity to see how all areas of a business work together. A math major by training, Courtney enjoys the challenge of analyzing new ideas and putting logic around projects lacking structure; she likes to “connect the dots” between great ideas, talent, and market opportunities. In the future she looks forward to taking a direct management or operational role in an early stage company.
During the ESTEEM Program, Courtney worked alongside Professor Prashant Kamat , a leader in nanotechnology research, to develop strategies for market analysis, financial projections, and project timelines for the commercialization of his research. Courtney stated that “ESTEEM provided a great capstone business experience, and offered a focus on science and technology that was outside the traditional MBA curriculum. The program revealed a lot of high growth opportunities related to science and technology-based businesses.” Prior to working with Graham Allen, Courtney had experience in financial forecasting and healthcare consulting. Before receiving a master’s degree with distinction from the University of Notre Dame in Engineering, Science, and Technology Entrepreneurship, she graduated summa cum laude from Saint Mary’s College with a double major in mathematics and economics.