Maverick Kelley, Senior Risk Analytics Consultant, Wells Fargo

Invest: spoke with Maverick Kelley, senior risk analytics consultant at Wells Fargo, about the role High Point University played in shaping his career in banking and analytics. “When I graduated from High Point, none of us knew how quickly this environment would evolve, but the university gave me the ability to adapt,” Kelley said.

What led you to High Point University, and how did it shape your career path?

I grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and attended a college prep school in West Virginia. When I was looking at colleges, I focused mainly on schools in the South, particularly in Virginia, South Carolina, and North Carolina. I visited around 12 schools, and High Point was my last stop. It was the most impressive campus I had seen, but what stood out most was the people. They genuinely cared about students and wanted to know how they could help them succeed.

From day one, High Point took an interest in students’ well-being and success, and that made it feel like home. Academically, the university gave me a strong foundation as a mathematical economics major, but what really differentiated it was the emphasis on learning outside the classroom.

There were business etiquette classes, dining etiquette sessions, guest speakers, and opportunities to hear success stories from professionals. Those experiences gave students practical skills that helped prepare them for the workplace. Everyone gets an education, but not everyone develops those life and professional skills that help you stand out after graduation.

I graduated during COVID, which was obviously an uncertain time. Around then, High Point launched a master’s program in communication and business leadership. I was also working full-time at First Citizens Bank, where I had interned while at High Point. Being able to combine the academic side with real-world experience accelerated my growth because I could apply what I was learning immediately in a professional setting.

Looking back, High Point didn’t just prepare me academically; it helped me develop the mindset and the habits that were critical for my success and where I wanted to be in 10 to 20 years from now.

How has the banking and analytics industry evolved since you entered the field?

The biggest shift I have seen is the move from backward-looking reporting to forward-looking analytics. Early on, much of the work focused on reactive reporting, quarterly results, and variance analysis. Today, organizations are much more proactive.

With AI, automation, and more advanced analytics tools, companies are trying to anticipate risks before they happen. Instead of only reporting on loan performance, for example, we can now model how portfolios may behave under different stress scenarios or economic conditions.

A major focus today is learning how to integrate AI into daily work and use it effectively. There has been enormous growth in the amount of available data and the tools used to analyze it. You need to be able to interpret data, think in a forward-looking way, and adapt quickly to new technologies.

When I graduated from High Point, none of us knew how quickly this environment would evolve, but the university gave me the ability to adapt. It taught me how to seek opportunities, connect with industry leaders, and learn from people who are successfully implementing these tools and technologies.

That adaptability has been especially important because you never know what new technology or tool will emerge next.

What makes Charlotte such an attractive market for young professionals in finance and analytics?

When I graduated, I was evaluating different financial hubs and trying to decide where I wanted to build my career. Charlotte stood out because of the strong pipeline of universities feeding talent into the market. You have schools across North Carolina and South Carolina, including High Point University, all within close proximity.

Charlotte also offers a strong quality of life. You have the mountains nearby, the coast within reach, and a more affordable cost of living compared to cities like New York or San Francisco. That combination makes the city attractive to young professionals.

The city also continues investing in infrastructure and economic development. Banking remains a major industry, but there is growth in healthcare, automotive manufacturing, and other sectors. That creates opportunities across a wide range of industries.

Charlotte has become a place where both experienced professionals and new graduates want to be. There is a strong talent pipeline, a competitive professional environment, and continued investment across sectors.

How is High Point University helping strengthen the talent pipeline inFF Charlotte?

High Point does a great job of exposing students to opportunities beyond the campus. The university attracts students from across the country, and once they arrive, it connects them with companies and alumni in different cities and industries.

One of the most valuable things the university does is host alumni events in places like Charlotte. Those events bring together alumni, current students, professors, and professionals from different industries. Students get exposure to different career paths and perspectives from people who have built careers in the area.

Those connections help students understand what opportunities exist and how they can pursue them. The university really helps bridge the gap between the classroom and the professional world.

What advice would you give to students pursuing careers in finance and analytics?

I would focus on three things: consistency, adaptability, and relationships.

First, being dependable and consistently delivering quality work will take you a long way. Reliability builds trust over time.

Second, adaptability is critical. Being open to learning and stepping outside your comfort zone will define your ability to grow. The faster you can adjust to change, the more opportunities you will create for yourself.

Finally, relationships are incredibly important. You should be intentional about the people you surround yourself with and the network you build. Your network and your reputation tend to grow together over time.

You never know when a new opportunity may emerge or when someone you worked with previously may reach out with another opportunity. Those relationships compound over time and can play a major role in long-term success.

What excites you most about Charlotte’s future?

I am excited by the continued growth and diversity of opportunities coming into the region. Charlotte has done a good job attracting companies and creating an environment where businesses want to invest and establish headquarters.

While banking and analytics remain major sectors, it is exciting to see growth across healthcare, manufacturing, automotive, and other industries as well. As more companies move here, they bring experienced talent, new ideas, and additional opportunities for professionals.

For people working in data-driven roles, there is also flexibility to move between industries, which creates even more career opportunities. Seeing Charlotte continue to grow into a larger business hub is exciting, and it will be interesting to see what the city looks like in the years ahead.