Student Spotlight: Carter Liebe

For Carter Liebe, choosing NDSU was a family tradition, but his experience as a Business Bison is anything but traditional.

The Milbank, South Dakota, native is the third of three siblings to attend NDSU. Growing up on his family’s corn and soybean farm, which has been in the family since 1880, Liebe developed an appreciation for hard work and problem-solving early on.

When it came time to choose a college, the College of Business stood out.

“It’s one of the strongest business schools I looked at. And I liked that the College keeps up with what’s changing in the business world. The program doesn’t look the same as it did 20 years ago.”

That focus on what’s next fits Liebe well. He is double majoring in business analytics and finance, combining his interest in financial decision-making with his love of solving problems using data.

A summer banking internship at First Bank & Trust in Milbank sparked his interest in finance. But Liebe also wanted a more technical and analytical side to his education. His experience working as an automotive mechanic reinforced something he already knew: he enjoys figuring out how things work and finding solutions.

“I love analyzing data and using that information to solve problems.”

Liebe is also part of the inaugural NDSU Honors College cohort, where he is exploring topics beyond his majors and challenging himself to look at issues from different perspectives. He appreciates the opportunity to work alongside other students in the first Honors College class and help set the tone for the program.

That community extends beyond the classroom. As a member of the Bison Fund, Liebe gets to apply what he’s learning to real-world market concepts while working alongside other students.

He’s also seeing firsthand how quickly business is changing. As a student studying analytics and finance, Liebe is particularly interested in how artificial intelligence and technology will shape the way businesses operate.

“The business landscape will continue to change significantly, which will be evident during my time at NDSU.”

He sees AI as a tool that can streamline processes and help people make better decisions, while still leaving an important role for people to interpret data and put it into context.

As he looks ahead, Liebe hopes to use his time at NDSU to build his network, take on meaningful problems and make a measurable contribution.

And for students trying to decide if the College of Business is the right fit?

“Anyone can find their fit here.”

That might be the best description of Liebe’s NDSU experience, too. He’s building an education that combines finance, analytics, technology and the Honors College, creating a path that is uniquely his own.