MPA Alumnus Joins Hall of Fame

Accounting background ‘a leg up’ in celebrated career of Brien Smith, BBA ’79, MPA ’81

When Brien Smith, BBA ’79, MPA ’81, was inducted into the Texas McCombs Hall of Fame last fall, he told the audience of lifelong friends and family that he credits his time at UT for preparing him for success — not only in business, but in life. “I love this university. It’s given me everything,” he said.

He says his love for the school began after he watched the Longhorns win “The Game of the Century” in 1969. A then 13-year-old Smith told his parents, “I want to go to the University of Texas.” His dad’s work moved their family from Minnesota to Texas the following year, and he eventually fulfilled his dream of attending UT to study business.

He met his future wife, Anne, BBA ’79, in a finance class. After they both earned degrees in finance, Smith decided to pursue his MPA. He says an accounting career appealed to him for its stability.

“My accounting background gave me the freedom to keep my family rooted in Texas,” he says. When his first employer required an out-of-state move, Smith left to work as a director with Mason Best Company investment advisers in 1987. Then in 2001, he started with Neuberger Berman as managing director based in Dallas, eventually serving as chief operating officer for its private capital division.

“My accounting background was always the keel on my boat,” he says. It served him well as he navigated his company through financial downturns, including multiple savings and loans crises, Y2K uncertainties, and the global financial crisis in 2007-2008. “Through all these financial issues, I always knew I had a leg up because I knew accounting,” Smith says.

A top priority for the Smiths was shielding their family — sons Patrick and Will — from the stress of their work lives. They learned how in a class taught by Ronya and George Kozmetsky that they took while Brien was working on his MPA; the Kozmetskys later wrote a book, “Making It Together: A Survival Manual for the Executive Family,” that Smith says he highly recommends for young couples.

“Probably the most valuable life education I got was in that class,” he says, noting it solidified his and Anne’s resolve to always champion each other’s work. “The most important element of my career has been my bride,” Smith says. “I would not be where I am if I didn’t have her by my side for 45 years.”

After 24 years of managing private capital relationships for Neuberger Berman, Smith has shifted to a senior adviser role, which allows more time to enjoy his grandchildren and what he calls his “hobby” — giving back to UT.

The Smiths have shown their gratitude to the university through decades of generous support, including scholarships, donations for building projects, and exemplary philanthropic leadership. Smith is currently serving in his seventh year on the board of directors for the Texas Exes alumni association, this year as president and chair.

“Anne’s and my shared hobby has been the university, and our passion is making sure students emerge from college with a good education and not a burden of debt,” Smith says.

He says his induction into McCombs’ Hall of Fame was about more than celebrating an incredibly successful career in accounting. It was about celebrating the supportive community that made his career worthwhile.

“My favorite part was that my sons, their wives, my siblings, and my close friends were all at the event with us,” he says. “Seeing them there was about this journey for us and how special this university is to Anne and me.”

By Alexis Brubaker