Alumni Update: Carter Casey '23
Carter Casey '23 reflects on his journey from Carrollwood Day School to Duke University and the experiences that led him to a career as a Business Analyst with McKinsey & Company.
After graduating from Carrollwood Day School in 2023, Carter Casey ’23 arrived at Duke University with an open mind and a desire to explore what might come next. While he had a variety of interests, he had not yet determined how they might shape his future career. That journey ultimately led him to study economics and political science and discover a passion for consulting. Along the way, Carter explored different industries, studied abroad in Barcelona, and gained hands-on experience through internships that helped him understand not only what he enjoyed, but also what he did not want to pursue.
His exploration began freshman year when he attended Duke’s club fair and joined the TAMID Group, a nonprofit organization that develops the professional skills of undergraduate students through hands-on interaction with the Israeli economy, connecting students with opportunities in consulting, investment research, and internships. As a leader within the organization, Carter gained firsthand experience working with Israeli startups while developing the business and consulting skills that would become increasingly important as he considered his future career.
That early experience led Carter to pursue opportunities that allowed him to explore different areas of business. The following summer, a connection with CDS parent Bradley Snyder led to an internship with Atlantic American Partners, where Carter analyzed properties and gained firsthand experience in the real estate industry. The experience helped him realize that real estate was not the path he wanted to pursue, so the following summer, he joined Orchid Black as a Summer Analyst. There, he discovered a stronger interest in consulting and gained exposure to the consultant recruitment process. During his junior year, Carter spent a semester studying abroad in Barcelona before returning to Duke and applying for a McKinsey & Company internship. He spent the following summer as a Business Analyst intern in the firm’s 10-week program. Although the experience was fast-paced and came with a steep learning curve, Carter loved the environment and knew he had found a career path that excited him. He received a return offer from McKinsey and will begin his career as a Business Analyst following his upcoming graduation in the Spring of 2027 from Duke.
While Carter’s college experiences helped shape his career direction, his time at CDS gave him experiences and skills that continued to serve him well beyond graduation. Speech and Debate, in particular, became an important part of his CDS experience and later helped him navigate the interview process as he pursued opportunities in college.
“CDS is a very unique experience. It's a very warm and welcoming environment with a lot to offer from both an academic and extracurricular perspective. It's easy to get involved on campus, and found myself creating relationships with teachers and students that continue to impact me.”
That preparation extended into the classroom as well. Carter found the structure of CDS familiar when he arrived at Duke, particularly the length of classes and block schedule. Beyond academics, the freedom to get involved and try new things gave him the chance to discover interests that would continue to evolve throughout college.
“The most positive aspect of my time at CDS is the variety of opportunities. You can play sports year-round, be in an executive position in extracurricular activities, or even start your own club through Breaking Ground. I felt like I got to explore all sorts of interests at CDS which helped me narrow down what I wanted to pursue in college.”
For Carter, the relationships he built at CDS have been just as lasting as the experiences that helped shape his career. Whether gathered around a grill or cheering from the sidelines, some of his favorite moments were simply time spent with friends.
“My favorite memories of CDS are the time spent with my friends. Whether it was cooking up burgers at Grill Club or going to a sports game, I established a strong community at CDS that I still keep in touch with today.”
One of those lasting connections came through the Patriot Buddy program, a tradition Carter hopes will remain part of the CDS experience for future students.
“A favorite CDS tradition of mine is the Patriot Buddy program - I greatly appreciated spending time with my buddy, and I feel that I learned just as much from his perspective as he did from mine. It's a great tradition for all parties involved and I hope CDS continues it for years to come.”
As Carter prepares to begin his career at McKinsey, his path reflects the many ways a CDS experience can continue to shape a student long after graduation, through the skills they develop, the opportunities they explore, and the relationships they carry with them.
We love sharing our alumni achievements with the CDS community. If you are a CDS Alumni and would like to share your accomplishments, please contact our Alumni Engagement Coordinator, Carli (Gauthier) Mianne '16 at cmianne@cdspatriots.org and let us know what you have been up to since leaving CDS. We look forward to hearing from you!