Caitlyn Talbert ’16 didn’t know anything about her parents’ finances when making her college decision. All the Austin native knew was that her parents, Neera ’87 and Tony Talbert, told her to follow her heart—and for her, that involved a choice between Texas A&M University and Duke University.
She already had an affinity for Texas A&M due to her Aggie mom and relatives, but the perks of a maroon-and-white engineering degree tipped the scales. “A degree from Texas A&M’s J. Mike Walker ’66 Department of Engineering offered the best value, in part due to in-state tuition,” she explained. “As one of the nation’s top mechanical engineering programs, I knew the department would train me in technical and problem-solving skills that would help me be effective and competitive in the workplace.”
With the “where” figured out, it was time to think about the “how” of paying for college, and—unbeknownst to Caitlyn—that might have been challenging. But an encounter with Aggie generosity would soon change not only her life but also future generations of mechanical engineering students.
Finding Her Footing
Both Caitlyn’s parents grew up in middle-class families who valued education, and as successful professionals, they understood the importance of financial planning. Early on, Neera and Tony established and regularly invested in a college savings fund for their only child. However, an economic downturn stripped the college fund of much of its value before Caitlyn stepped foot in Aggieland.
Fortunately, her decision to enroll in Texas A&M’s College of Engineering led to scholarship opportunities—including an Advisory Council Scholarship and the Mr. and Mrs. Douglas E. Broussard ’44 Scholarship in Mechanical Engineering—that covered most of the cost of her education.
These scholarships also provided an incentive to maintain a high GPA and make the most of her college experience. “Mechanical engineering has a daunting courseload, so it’s easy to get bogged down in the ‘school’ part of school,” Caitlyn said. “But there’s also value in growing as a person while in college through expanding your views and communicating with people who have different opinions.”
As a result, Caitlyn sought opportunities to stretch herself outside of the classroom. That led to Fish Camp, where she served as a counselor, and a women’s organization, both of which gave her a sense of community and experiences tied to leadership, socialization and philanthropy. “The Caitlyn who graduated high school in 2012 is completely different from the Caitlyn who graduated college,” she noted. “I was very introverted and quiet coming into Texas A&M, but those experiences pulled me out of my comfort zone.”
When I graduated, my Pop-Pop said, ‘You need to give some of what you earn back to whatever community you feel tied to.’ Mechanical engineering at Texas A&M is one of those communities, and I’m happy to have the opportunity to support future generations of Aggies.
Drilling Deep
The Aggie’s emerging talent soon gained notice, with Shell giving her three internships before hiring her after graduation. She now serves as a project engineer for Sparta Development, one of Shell’s deepwater projects, and credits Texas A&M for her preparation.
“I’m here to solve problems, be fluid and go where they need me to go,” she said. “Mechanical engineering prepared me well by teaching me how to think strategically and providing a great technical foundation. Another big part of what I do is stakeholder management and communications, and I learned a lot of that through Fish Camp and other organizational opportunities.”
As for her future, she continues to follow the excellence that sets Aggies apart. She’s pursuing an Executive MBA from Duke University to deepen her knowledge of finance and economics so she can play a broader role in the organization. “I would love to be a leader who delivers value to Shell and its shareholders while also continuing to support an inclusive culture where we live the values we speak and people feel safe to be authentic,” she explained.
A Family Tradition
The Aggie, who stays involved with her alma mater by mentoring a mechanical engineering senior design team each year, didn’t learn of her parents’ 2012 financial situation until after she graduated. However, she has watched their determination over the years to pay forward the support she received by establishing three College of Engineering scholarships using matching funds from their respective employers, Microsoft and IBM.
“Giving back to the community—especially financially—is something my parents have always done and have been adamant about,” Caitlyn explained. “I’m inspired and guided by them because no matter their financial situation, they made sure to give back to the community however they could. Unsurprisingly, as their financial situation has improved, their contributions have only grown.”
Caitlyn followed, creating the Caitlyn Talbert ’16 Scholarship for mechanical engineering students in early 2018 using Shell’s matching program, and she ultimately credits her paternal grandfather for inspiring her to give back. “When I graduated, my Pop-Pop said, ‘You need to give back to whatever community you feel tied to.’ Mechanical engineering at Texas A&M is one of those communities, and I’m happy to have the opportunity to support future generations of Aggies.”