As a former collegiate gymnast, Elaina Greco knows a thing or two about competition. But as a junior in the finance program at the BYU Marriott School of Business, Greco has learned that succeeding in the face of opposition stems not just from willpower or talent—true progress is often the result of mutual support and shared growth. Greco fueled an early desire for financial independence by enrolling in accounting, personal finance, economics, and equity research courses while attending high school in Pepperell, Massachusetts.

On top of her studies, Greco trained at an Olympic gymnastics center for around 24 hours each week. Through the intense training, Greco learned to navigate rigorous situations and handle critical feedback constructively. “The competitive standards and constant evaluation forced me to develop resilience and a high threshold for frustrating results,” she explains.