Melissa Smith

VP Finance

Melissa is a member of the McCombs School of Business MBA Class of 2027, concentrating her studies in Investment Management and Private Equity. In addition to serving as VP of Finance for Venture Fellows, she is, a member of the McCombs Ambassador Committee, the Graduate Women in Business (GWiB), a Board Fellow for the Lonestar Paralysis Foundation.

Prior to McCombs, Melissa was a Senior Account Associate at PIMCO in Austin, where she managed over $35 billion in institutional portfolios for insurance and bank clients. She evaluated portfolio performance and market trends across fixed income asset classes, including rates, investment grade and high yield corporate credit, mortgage-backed securities, municipals, and emerging markets. In this role, she partnered closely with traders on trade execution, cash flow management, and risk alignment, and supported client exposure to alternative and private fund strategies. In addition to her client-facing responsibilities, she led the undergraduate summer internship program, served on the PIMCO Institute Committee, and was a Women’s Fund Grant Committee Member at the Austin Community Foundation.

Melissa is originally from Savannah, GA and graduated from Georgia Tech with a degree in Finance. In her spare time, she enjoys Austin’s live music scene, walking her dog along Lady Bird Lake, and needlepointing.

Pre McCombs Career: Asset Management

Venture Fellows Spring 2026 Internship: Next Coast Ventures