Owen Bratten is one of our two college interns this summer here at Woodward Financial Advisors. Owen is a rising junior at UNC Chapel Hill and is majoring in economics, with a minor in Spanish. He is hoping to be admitted into the Kenan Flagler Business School in the fall! He has been helping tackle a variety of tasks and projects around the office while also gaining experience and knowledge by shadowing the professionals at Woodward!
Although his time here is temporary, Owen is looking forward to meeting as many of our amazing clients as possible and is willing to assist in any way!
"As a student who is still trying to navigate his way through the business world to figure out what career I would like to pursue, I could not ask for more from Woodward! They have already taught me so much about not just financial planning, but more overarching principles in business as well. I could not ask for a better and more caring group of people to work with this summer, and I’m sure clients are happy to know they take just as much care of them as well." - Owen Bratten
Getting to know Owen:
Tell us about your family? My family is originally from San Jose, CA and moved to Chapel Hill a little over 10 years ago. Both of my parents work in RTP and my sister just graduated high school (she will be attending Texas Christian University in the fall). Overall, growing up in Chapel Hill has been an amazing experience!
Do you have pets? My family has a 7-year-old English Cream Golden Retriever named Millie. She is an extremely sweet dog who is probably my favorite living creature on Earth. She only has one eye so it looks like she is constantly winking at you!
What are your favorite books? My two favorite books are Dune by Frank Herbert and Beloved by Toni Morrison.
What is your favorite recipe to make? Although I really wish I was able to cook, the best I can do is make a salad. However, my favorite meal to eat would have to be a bowl from Cava or a Five Guys burger.
Favorite vacation destination? I have a tie between two places, depending on the season. In the winter, I love going to Vail, Colorado to ski. Last summer, I went to Greece to stay with my friend who lives there and had the best time, so that is my new favorite warm weather destination.
Favorite board game? If you count chess as a board game, that would be my favorite, although I am not very good (yet). Another one of my favorites from when I was a kid is Mouse Trap. Setting up the traps was always very fun.
Best concert you’ve been to? Last summer I saw The Backseat Lovers in Charlotte, and was shocked at how amazing they sounded live. Although that is my favorite concert, I was able to see my favorite artist Drake earlier this year and that was also a great experience.
Favorite movie? My favorite movie has to be The Shawshank Redemption, however La La Land is a close second.
What are your pet peeves? When people talk during movies.
Goals for 2024 or beyond? My major goal for 2024 is getting into Kenan Flagler at UNC. Beyond that, I am hoping to figure out the general career direction I would like to pursue. From a hobbies standpoint, I would like to learn how to play the guitar, as well as potentially start a website detailing NFL Draft prospects, team strategies, and potential player-to-team fits.
Favorite quote? “Everything negative – pressure, challenges – is all an opportunity for me to rise.” – Kobe Bryant
