Tell us about yourself.

Thank you so much for having me! My name is Ayo Kolawole, and I’m from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I’m a senior at the University of Wisconsin, double majoring in finance and real estate.

What is the Diverse Leaders of Tomorrow?

Diverse Leaders of Tomorrow, or DLT, is an organization I joined during my first semester of freshman year. It’s been the longest-standing part of my collegiate career, and now, in my last semester as a senior, I’m still involved.

Our goal at DLT is to equip underrepresented students at UW with the skills, network and training necessary to secure top-tier internships and post-grad opportunities. We originally started as a Business School-focused organization, but we’ve grown to include students from a variety of majors, like journalism, biology and computer science.

When I joined as a freshman, we had around 20 members. Now, we’ve grown to over 80 members, gained corporate sponsors and expanded to high school outreach programs in the Madison area. The growth has been really cool to see.

What does your position as head of corporate development entail?

My roles in DLT have evolved. In my second semester of freshman year, I became the CFO, managing our budget as we started securing corporate sponsorships. DLT is unique in that we have partnerships with companies like Grainger, Baird, Baker Tilly, BP and Accenture. My job back then was handling the funding they provided so we could run career development programs, networking events, and corporate treks.

Sophomore year, I served as president, which was a big undertaking since we were still in the early stages of expanding. It was a lot to manage alongside being a full-time student, but it was an invaluable experience. Now, as head of corporate development, I focus on maintaining relationships with our corporate partners and overseeing our expansion to other campuses. DLT now has chapters at GW, Michigan, Cornell, Howard and Minnesota.

My role involves managing these chapters, providing outreach, and ensuring a smooth transition for future leadership here at UW, as many of us graduate this year.

What kind of professional development or leadership opportunities does DLT offer its members?

DLT is all about preparation. We help students develop their professional skills so they’re ready for competitive internships and job opportunities. Unlike other business orgs like IBC or RePack, which are highly selective, DLT is open to all students, regardless of prior experience. A big part of what we do is offering resume workshops, networking guidance, cover letter help, and interview prep—especially for freshmen who may have never gone through those processes before.

Beyond workshops, we offer networking events and corporate treks. We actually just got back from a two-day trip to Chicago, where we visited companies like Baird, Baker Tilly, and BP. These visits provide students with direct insight into what these firms look for in candidates, their internship timelines, and what day-to-day work is like. We also collaborate with other business school organizations to host info sessions, mock interviews, and networking events.

Overall, we aim to give students exposure early on so they feel confident and prepared.

How can students get involved in DLT? 

We have two recruitment cycles — one in the fall and one in the spring. But even outside of recruitment, anyone in the org is happy to chat or help out. We accept students from all majors, GPAs, and backgrounds. It’s really not difficult to get involved—we want to be as accessible as possible.

How does Diverse Leaders of Tomorrow support underrepresented students in preparing for their careers?

This is the foundation of what DLT was built on. When you think of highly competitive fields like investment banking or private equity, the reality is a lot of people land these jobs because they have existing connections. They might have family members or mentors in the industry who can refer them.

But for first-gen college students or those from underrepresented backgrounds, those connections often don’t exist. Our goal isn’t just to “fill a quota” but to give these students the same opportunities to compete. It’s about getting them in the room, ensuring they have a shot at the interview, and then giving them the tools to succeed. Once they get that opportunity, it’s up to them to showcase their skills — but we make sure they’re as prepared as possible.

What has been your favorite part about being a part of DLT?

Right now, my favorite part is seeing the growth of everyone in the organization. It’s crazy to look at freshmen who joined a few years ago, see how they’ve developed, and now watch them land incredible opportunities. I see a bit of myself in them because I was in their position not too long ago — showing up to meetings, asking questions, putting in the work. Now, some of them have secured top internships and jobs, and it’s rewarding to know that DLT played a part in that.

What are your plans after graduation?

I will be moving to New York to join Morgan Stanley in their real estate investing branch. I interned there for the last two summers, and now I’m finalizing everything for my full-time role. My official start date is July 7th, so it’s coming up fast!

What’s the most valuable piece of advice you’d give to incoming students as they begin their college journey?

That’s a great question. One thing I wish I had known earlier is that college is a fresh start. You have the opportunity to reinvent yourself and take advantage of so many different opportunities. But with that, it can also feel overwhelming. A piece of advice I once got—and I stand by it—is that it’s better to be a mile deep and an inch wide than a mile wide and an inch deep. Meaning, instead of trying to be involved in everything, you should focus on a few key areas and go all in. When you first get to campus, it might feel like you have to join every club, attend every event, and be part of everything.

But spreading yourself too thin won’t serve you in the long run. Instead, pick a couple of organizations that truly align with your interests and commit to them fully. Consistency is key—whether it’s in your grades, extracurriculars, or networking. If you stick with something, put in the effort, and stay engaged, you’ll naturally find yourself in leadership positions and meaningful opportunities.