Juliana Duvall
Client Manager, Beecher Carlson; Founder, Upbeat Boutique
University of Georgia BBA ‘16
Marietta, GA
While Juliana had the opportunity to attend several out-of-state colleges, her ultimate decision to attend the University of Georgia was made in consideration of the HOPE Scholarship. “I looked at a few schools and actually got accepted to a few schools. I looked at Auburn, Clemson, other schools, and got accepted to all of them. But UGA being in-state, and obviously the HOPE and Zell Miller Scholarship was a pull and lead me to choose to go there.”
“It was a huge impact. It just took off a financial burden so that I was really able to fully focus on my studies while I was at UGA and really strive to be the best well-rounded student I could be. Anything from academic, to volunteering, to getting involved in groups, and social aspects, it just really allowed me to become my best self.”
Juliana was not only able to understand what career would be best for her at the University of Georgia, deciding against veterinary school and finding that risk management was a better fit, she also learned the importance of professional relationships. “I really learned that networking is invaluable and it’s just priceless. Anything from your current classmates, just being able to meet different people and get different perspectives, different backgrounds, cultures, different majors. I even joined a mentorship program through the Terry College of Business. The mentor I got through Terry while I was in college ended working at the company that I work at now. So, it’s just full circle. I kept in contact with him over the years and it ended up being that they were hiring this time around.”
Juliana is now a Client Manager with the insurance brokerage firm, Beecher Carlson. “I enjoy working with different service groups. I’m in the casualty department and what I’ve noticed is that the casualty department can work with the property department, the executive liability department, and you can work with different states all across the country, and so I just really enjoy that.”
She also is the founder of the online clothing boutique, Upbeat Boutique. “I come from a very entrepreneurial family. I decided I wanted to really just kind of take the plunge and start my own business, so I did and really enjoyed it. It’s been a great experience.”
In the future, Juliana hopes to pay it forward and become a mentor. “I really want to be to the point where I can mentor somebody else. That mentorship experience was invaluable to me, and I just want to give that to somebody else.”
She lives in Marietta with her husband Chase, and their two dogs Lady and Molly.