Abby (Hynson) Harney ’18: How Covenant’s Commitment to Excellence Prepared Her for Corporate Work
Abby (Hynson) Harney ’18 looks back at her time at Covenant as a place that prepared and equipped her for her calling in the corporate world. Abby chose Covenant because it was real; a place where students authentically lived out their faith. It was important to her to be in a place that would shape her into a hardworking, committed believer equipped to serve God’s kingdom. “The college didn’t just carry a Christian label—it was evident in the way classes were taught and how campus life was lived,” she says. “It pushes you to think critically, deepen your knowledge of God, lead with humility, and invest in community.”
Abby always loved logic and math so Computer Science felt like a natural fit as a major. She was fascinated by how technology and systems could solve problems for real people and loved figuring out creative solutions. Her coursework at Covenant was challenging, but she is thankful as it prepared her for both life and work. Further, she appreciates how her professors pushed her to pursue excellence. “I’m grateful for the academic rigor Covenant provided. My professors set high expectations, not just to challenge us academically, but because they believed excellence is part of our calling as believers. They cared about our character as much as our grades, which shaped how I learned to approach work—with integrity, diligence, and a desire to honor the Lord. Those habits have carried into my career in consulting, where the standards are high and quality truly matters.”
From Computer Science to Consulting
Upon graduation, Abby didn’t have a clear path for what she wanted to do with her degree and gifs, but given Covenant’s emphasis on our “big C” calling in life, to be a faithful follower of the Lord, gave her freedom to find a vocation that she enjoyed and which complemented the gifts He’d given her. “I knew I enjoyed problem solving, technology, and people, but I wasn’t sure what that looked like in a career.”
Abby’s first job was as a business analyst in an IT department working with a system called ServiceNow. She spent a year there before moving to Delta Air Lines, where she worked in their HR department implementing the HR side of the same system. After nearly two years at Delta (and many flights flown), she then joined KPMG, one of the big four accounting firms, where she found a role that truly fits her skills, interests, and gifts as a HR technology and transformation consultant. This role combines her interest in problem solving and technology as well as allows her to engage with and help people in their work. She describes her career journey: “Each transition stretched me in new ways and reminded me that God’s plans are often better than my own timelines. I learned to focus on where the Lord has me in that season, to learn what I can, and to trust that He’ll make the next step clear in His perfect timing.”
Abby finds her work for KPMG enjoyable and unique. “I get to look inside different organizations, learn their processes, and help them improve—and oftentimes then implement those improvements. My projects change every few months, which means new clients, new teams, and new challenges. That keeps the work fresh and exciting. I also work alongside fantastic colleagues, and I love collaborating with them to help clients strengthen their HR technology and processes. It’s rewarding to know that the processes and systems we improve can make people’s day-to-day work lives smoother and more meaningful.”
Work to the Glory of God
She believes her time at Covenant created a solid foundation for her work today. “Covenant holds its students to a high standard, and that commitment to excellence carries over into every area of life. The academic rigor taught me to work hard and think critically. It prepared me to tackle complex problems, serve clients well, and do my work in a way that reflects both professionalism and my faith. The community helped me learn how to build meaningful relationships, which has been invaluable both personally and professionally.”
Working in the corporate world can seem “unspiritual” compared to other careers, but her time at Covenant helped Abby understand that all work is Kingdom work. This perspective shaped the way she approaches her job: doing everything for the glory of God (1 Cor. 10:31). “My faith is the foundation of everything I do. It gives purpose to my work, direction for how I spend my time, and meaning to how I serve others. Whether I’m in a client meeting or managing a project, I try to bring excellence and care because I know even that can reflect Christ’s character.”
Abby also believes that the strong community she experienced at Covenant helped her learn to live out her faith in practical ways. “Covenant gave me a strong biblical foundation through my classes, but it was the people around me who really helped me live it out. Friends and professors challenged me to grow in spiritual disciplines and to make my faith a daily practice, not just a Sunday routine. Many of the habits I still have today were formed during those years.”
As Abby’s time at Covenant taught her, excellence is something to strive for in all areas of life, not out of pride or in order to receive accolades from the world, but because it honors and glorifies Christ.