Building Confidence, Skills, and a Career—One Goal at a Time
When Le’Ajah Weddle sets a goal, she doesn’t just hope to reach it – she maps out exactly how to get there. As a Wisconsin Lutheran College junior and All-In Milwaukee scholar, her approach has paid off semester after semester.
“A goal I set for the [spring 2025] semester was to have good grades and make the dean’s list,” Le’Ajah shares. “This has been a goal of mine every semester, as I wish to keep up the quality of work I do in all of my classes.”
The goal? Achieved. Le’Ajah has made the dean’s list every semester at Wisconsin Lutheran, earning all A’s and one AB each term since her freshman year. Though she rightfully celebrates these wins, her accomplishments are about more than grades – they’re reminders of her capability and fuel for continued growth.
“Having this goal gives me something to strive for throughout the semester,” she explains. “Accomplishing it reminds me that I have the ability to thrive in college and encourages me to keep up my hard work.”
This fall marked another milestone for her: she officially declared her double major in finance and marketing. The decision reflects her unique vision of bringing creativity into business through marketing, while building the financial knowledge to help others.
That knowledge is already being put to work. Le’Ajah recently completed a summer internship in risk management at Baird, where she quickly learned to trust her team.
“My manager told me that it was easy to get projects for me from other members of the department because they knew that I would do a good job on them,” she recalls. “This made me feel confident in the work I had done so far and proud that I was able to meaningfully contribute to the department.”
The experience taught her lessons that extend far beyond finance. Le’Ajah learned that early career success isn’t just about technical skills, but about understanding how an organization works and knowing who to turn to when you need guidance. Building those relationships and connections becomes the foundation for growth when you’re still learning the ropes.
What does the future look like for Le’Ajah? She will return to Baird for summer 2026, excited to build on the foundation she’s established. Academically, she also hopes to complete a management minor alongside her two majors and maintain her dean’s list streak through graduation.
For Le’Ajah Weddle, success means reaching the goals she sets, no matter how big or small. With each semester, each internship, and each connection made, she’s not just planning her future. She’s building it, one intentional step at a time.