Finance Skills Lead to Adidas Internship

By Meredith Cobb

Anthony “A.J.” Woodard Jr. ’20 loves music, leadership and math. He combines the first two passions in his side gig as a DJ.

“In high school we really didn’t do anything on the weekends,” he says. “So I saw an opportunity to do something for my friends. I picked up DJ-ing, kept it up as a hobby and turned it into a side gig.”

His other passion led him to a dual degree program at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business, where he is pursuing a full-time MBA and Master of Finance.

“I’ve always loved numbers, and I felt that Maryland Smith was the best way forward into the finance world,” he says.

The thing Woodard loves most about the school is the close-knit community. “If you need help or assistance, you can reach out and someone will definitely be willing to help you,” he says. “And there are so many opportunities to grow and stretch, especially as a leader.”

Woodard is working at Adidas in summer 2019 as a finance intern, forecasting sales. “This is something I hope to do long term,” he says. “Looking forward, I feel that my degree at Maryland will help set me up to be a leader in corporate finance. I see myself as a leader in whatever workplace I end up in, and my degree has set me up to accomplish that.”

When younger students come to Woodard for advice, he tells them to embrace who they are. 

“Don’t be afraid to be yourself,” he says. “There’s not enough time to be perfect in everything. Being yourself provides a unique perspective and can benefit others in ways you might not even be aware of. You just have to put your best foot forward.”

Meredith Cobb is a freelance writer based in Ellicott City, Md.