When One Door Opens
By Justin Walker
Miriam McCormick, BBA ’21
FP&A Analyst
5&2 Studios
Austin, Texas
Behind the scenes of a global television series, away from the lights and cameras, are the business operations that keep the series running and shared with the world. Budgets are built, forecasts are adjusted and decisions are made that shape what millions of viewers eventually see.
Miriam McCormick works in that space.
As part of the financial planning and analysis team at 5&2 Studios – the production company behind “The Chosen” – she helps steward the resources behind a story that reaches audiences around the world. The independent studio develops and produces faith-based films, television series and other media designed to share stories that inspire audiences around the globe.
Her own story, however, began much closer to home. McCormick grew up in Waco, with a strong connection to Baylor University, where her father worked at the Hankamer School of Business.
Still, when it came time to choose a college, McCormick initially imagined herself leaving Waco for somewhere far off. Like many high school seniors, she wrestled with the presence and uncertainty of deciding what came next. Amid that tension, her mother offered a simple solution.
“Through all that stress, my mom said, ‘Well, I’m going to pray for a clear answer,’” she said. “That clear answer was Baylor.”
What initially felt like an unexpected answer soon became the first of several moments where McCormick sensed a path opening before her. The Business School provided the intellectual challenge she hoped for while offering opportunities that expanded her world.
“I got a rich, deep education, and I was also able to go geographically far from Waco and spread my wings with study abroad opportunities,” she said.
Those opportunities took her across Europe and the Middle East, including programs in Germany, Italy and the Netherlands, as well as a trip through the George W. Truett Theological Seminary to the Holy Land. Each experience broadened her perspective and deepened her curiosity about the intersection of faith, culture and business.
Academically, McCormick found her footing in the Baylor Business Fellows program, where she pursued a finance degree alongside a secondary major in mathematics. The program allowed her to explore disciplines beyond business while diving deeper into advanced coursework earlier than most students.
“The Business Fellows program is fantastic,” she said. “It allows exploration and a real depth of learning, as well as breadth. I got to take a ton of classes inside the Business School and accelerate to those upper-level classes earlier than a typical schedule would allow.”
The combination of exploration and rigor became one of the defining elements of her Baylor experience.
“When I think of my coursework at Baylor, I love that I can point to econometrics, consumer behavior and financial modeling,” she said. “But right there with those business classes are creative writing, calculus and Christian history courses.”
Faculty also played a meaningful role in McCormick’s development, investing time through teaching and mentoring. Antonio Macias, PhD, and Mike Steggemuller, PhD, stood out as professors who helped develop her professionally and personally.
“I had a lot of professors who invested in me and took the time to answer my questions, whether it was related to coursework or not,” she said.
When McCormick graduated in 2021, the world was still navigating the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The job market was uncertain, and the path forward didn’t unfold exactly as she once imagined. Instead of joining one of the large companies she had envisioned, she accepted a role with Brookshire Grocery Company in Tyler, Texas.
What initially seemed like a detour soon proved to be an invaluable starting point.
“I received a good baseline working with Excel, spreadsheets and learning the basics of how merchandise ends up in a grocery store,” she said.
McCormick later moved into the company’s financial planning and analysis team, where she developed a deeper understanding of how organizations operate and make strategic decisions.
“It gives you a broad view of the company and all the moving pieces while still trying to see the big picture,” she said.
Looking back, she can see how Baylor had quietly prepared her for those challenges.
“Within the Business School, you get a really good mix of theoretical learning and a foundation of technical skills,” she said. “Developing a problem-solving mindset has been very helpful, and the Baylor coursework helped prepare me for that. The theoretical basis helps you understand what you’re seeing, and the technical foundation is good to build from.”
Another opportunity soon emerged through a former colleague who had joined 5&2 Studios. Just as McCormick began considering a move to Austin, the studio was hiring for a role in financial planning and analysis.
Today, she works behind the scenes, helping steward the financial resources that support 5&2 Studios’ work.
“A lot of my work is done on spreadsheets or video calls, but working with ‘The Chosen,’ you hear stories about how the show has impacted people’s lives,” she said. “Christianity is a message for the world, but it’s also a message for the world made up of individuals. And when the show is able to touch one person’s heart, one person’s soul, one person’s mind, it’s a really good day.”
Looking back, McCormick sees a clear thread connecting each step along the way. What once felt like uncertain decisions now feel like moments of guidance.
“Each major decision-making juncture in my life – what school to attend, what job to take or whether to make a career shift – there’s generally just been one door open for me,” she said. “But behind that door has been more than I could have asked for or ever imagined.”
