Smith Accounting Degree Gave Alumnus The “Edge” For Career In Investment Banking And Beyond

As a student at the Robert H. Smith School of Business, Ralph Dickerson ’92 was determined to make it to Wall Street. He felt an undergraduate degree in accounting would equip him with an understanding of the “language of business.” Dickerson believes you need to evolve throughout your career or risk getting left behind. Today, he is Managing Partner and Quarterback with R2 Partners, a strategic advisory and investment firm that engineers complex strategic and financial solutions, structures capital and executes high-value opportunities for businesses, investors and government entities.

In November 2024, he spoke to Smith MBA students in Nicole Coomber’s class about the power of Emotional Intelligence (EI) in leadership. “In this role as a guest lecturer, I was reminded of the enduring impact we have as leaders to influence, inspire, and ignite change. It is a privilege I do not take lightly, and I am filled with gratitude for the opportunity to contribute to the development of these future leaders,” Dickerson said. He shares more about his time at Smith and career path in the following alumni Q&A.

Tell us about your path from graduation to your current job.

If my career were a movie, it would be part Wall Street, part Gladiator (with a sprinkling of Training Day), and part Inception – a high-stakes, strategic thriller where every move opens new dimensions. I started with a clear mission: get to Wall Street, master the game, and make an impact. With my Smith degree in accounting as my launchpad, I entered investment banking, cutting my teeth at Bear Stearns and later Lehman Brothers. Those years were a trial by fire – 100-hour weeks, multi-billion-dollar deals, and negotiations that could make or break careers. I didn’t just survive; I thrived – executing high-profile transactions across M&A, capital markets, and private equity. Then came the pivot. I took my experience from Wall Street and applied it in corporate strategy and development, joining A&P to lead turnaround efforts for one of the most iconic retailers in American history. From there, I stepped into a high-impact role at the City of Atlanta, where I wasn’t just advising on investments – I was helping shape the city’s economic future. Managing strategic investments, public-private partnerships, and financial restructuring at a government scale gave me a whole new lens on business.

But I wasn’t done evolving. The next move? Building something from the ground up. I co-founded Level Therapy, a digital mental health platform designed to revolutionize access to mental health tools and therapy. Before telehealth became mainstream, we were pushing boundaries – delivering personalized, technology-driven mental health solutions, integrating evidence-based cognitive behavioral tools and seamless access to top-tier clinicians through a HIPAA-compliant app, long before the industry fully realized the need. As Co-Founder & CEO, we raised capital, built the product, scaled the business and orchestrated a successful exit – an experience that reinforced my ability to navigate high-growth environments, lead through uncertainty, and create meaningful impact.

After Level Therapy, I returned to my core strengths: high-level strategy, finance, and problem-solving. That led to the creation of R2 Partners, a boutique advisory and investment firm where we tackle complex financial and strategic challenges for corporations, entrepreneurs, investors, and government entities. Now, instead of just executing deals, I’m designing them, whether it's structuring investments, advising on acquisitions, or helping businesses navigate transformational growth.

If there’s a lesson in my journey, it’s this: evolve or get left behind. The best part? The game is still unfolding, and the next chapter is always the most exciting.

Why did you decide to get a business degree, and why did you choose the Smith School?

I chose Accounting as my major because I believed, then and now, that it was the best business degree to get me onto Wall Street and into finance. Understanding the language of business at its core gave me an edge in investment banking, corporate finance, and beyond.

Smith had the reputation, the faculty, and the right mix of rigor and real-world exposure to prepare me for that path. Plus, let’s be honest, if you can survive an advanced accounting class, you can survive just about anything.

What Smith resources or relationships played a role in your career journey?

If I’m being completely honest, I probably wasn’t the model student when it came to leveraging all that Smith had to offer. I wasn’t the one camping out in the career center, attending every networking event, or building deep relationships with faculty that I could later lean on. Some of that was on me; I had my sights laser-focused on Wall Street and was determined to carve my own path. But if we’re being fair, Smith at that time wasn’t exactly a powerhouse of career resources and industry connectivity. The structured pipelines into elite finance, consulting, and tech just weren’t what they are today. Rather than trying to extract value from what was available, I took the harder road building my own network, knocking down doors, and figuring things out on my own.

But here’s the exciting part—Smith has evolved in an incredible way. The school today is a very different institution. One that’s far more connected, better resourced, and laser-focused on providing real-world value to its students and alumni. Seeing it grow into a true launchpad for careers makes me even more excited to be part of the Smith community now.

So, if you’re a current student reading this, take advantage of everything. Smith has built something special. Use it!

How has your Smith education helped you with your professional career?

Smith gave me the technical foundation and strategic thinking skills that became the backbone of my career. My Accounting degree wasn’t just about debits and credits, it was about understanding the language of business at its most fundamental level. That foundation gave me a huge advantage when I stepped onto Wall Street, where financial fluency separates the ones making the deals from the ones just watching them happen.

The real lesson? The technical skills got me in the door, but the ability to think critically, work under pressure, and communicate effectively is what built my career.

What about your personal journey has led to your success?

Three things...Resilience, adaptability, and an unrelenting belief in my ability to figure things out.

I wasn’t handed a blueprint for success so I had to create my own. I knew I wanted to break into Wall Street, but there was no easy path. I had to hustle, network, and prove myself in rooms where no one was waiting for me.

Every major move in my career, whether stepping into corporate leadership, co-founding Level Therapy, or building R2 Partners, has required me to take risks, pivot when necessary, and bet on myself.

And through it all, my family, mentors, and closest circle have been my foundation. Success isn’t about having a flawless trajectory. It’s about having the conviction to keep moving forward, no matter what.

What are some of the achievements that you are most proud of?

• Professional Achievements
• Breaking into Wall Street without a direct pipeline.
• Leading transformative M&A deals and strategic investments.
• Launching Level Therapy and founding R2 Partners.
• Helping restructure Atlanta’s investments.
• Personal Achievements
• Raising a family and being a role model.
• Mentoring undergraduate students at Maryland.
• Building lifelong relationships.
• Never getting complacent—always evolving and growing.

What advice would you give to current students?

Let’s skip the clichés and get to the real talk:

• Your degree is a foundation, not a finish line.
• No one cares about your GPA after your first job.
• Your network is your net worth—start building it now.
• Take risks. Fail faster. Move smarter.
• Learn how to sell your ideas, your skills, yourself.
• Nobody has it all figured out. Just take action and adjust as you go.
• Take the shot. Send the email. Ask for the meeting. Bet on yourself. And wear a helmet cuz life is hard!
• The world doesn’t owe you anything, but it rewards those who make things happen.

Is there anything else you would like to add that was not covered in the questions?

The Smith School provided me with a strong foundation, but more importantly, it gave me a launching pad to build, evolve, and redefine my career at every stage. Looking back, I realize that success isn’t about having all the answers upfront. It’s about being willing to take risks, stay adaptable, and create your own opportunities.

If I could leave students and alumni with one last thought, it would be this: Stay connected. Stay

engaged. Give back. The Smith community is only as strong as the people who continue to invest in it, and I encourage everyone (students, graduates, and industry leaders) to keep pushing it forward. And if you ever need a reality check, a piece of advice, or just someone to tell you that you're thinking too small, reach out. I’ll be here, ready to challenge you to aim higher.