Krystal Daibes Higgins' connection to Oregon Tech began long before she ever stepped into a classroom. What started with childhood memories of basketball games, summers at the old campus pool, and growing up in Klamath Falls eventually became the place where she developed the skills that propelled her into finance and entrepreneurship.
Growing Up Around Oregon Tech
Krystal was raised in Los Angeles and moved to Klamath Falls with her family when she was 9 years old. Her parents, who were entrepreneurs, owned several gas stations and commercial real estate in Klamath Falls, including a gas station near Highway 97 that served many people connected to Oregon Tech, the hospital, and the surrounding community.
Krystal’s parents encouraged both her and her older sister to attend, recognizing the value of a strong education nearby. Her dad often took the family to Oregon Tech basketball games, where Krystal remembers the energy around the team and the legacy of longtime coach Danny Miles.
Finding Her Direction
Krystal enrolled at Oregon Tech at 17 after graduating from high school. She studied business with a focus in small business management and marketing.
Growing up, she had worked in her parents’ businesses and learned what it took to keep operations moving — sometimes doing whatever needed to be done. That early exposure sparked an interest in business, entrepreneurship, and eventually finance.
“I knew that I wanted a more technical skill,” Krystal said. “But I wanted it to be in business and finance.”
At the time, she could imagine two possible paths: law or finance. Oregon Tech helped her build the foundation to pursue either. After graduation, she went directly into a master’s program at the University of Oregon, where she earned an MBA specializing in finance and later received her Charter of Financial Analysis (CFA) designation..
The Scholarship That Made a Difference
Krystal also received a scholarship at Oregon Tech, something she remembers as helping ease the financial burden of college. Her older sister had received similar awards and helped show Krystal the path toward applying.
“It helped quite a bit with covering all the books and some of the tuition,” she said. “That was really nice.”
For Krystal, college was always part of the plan. Education was important in her family — something she describes as non-negotiable. But the scholarship helped make the path feel more possible and more certain.
Stepping Into Leadership
At Oregon Tech, Krystal got involved — maybe, by her own admission, a little too involved. She worked, participated in student council, and became involved with the Diversity Center, where she eventually served in a leadership role.
Those experiences taught her how organizations worked, how decisions were made, and how to lead when things felt unfamiliar.
The Diversity Center also became a place of friendship and community. Krystal remembers being surrounded by people with fun personalities, strong friendships, and a shared commitment to putting on meaningful events.
Building a Career in Finance
Today, Krystal is a Senior Vice President of Equity Research and Portfolio Management at Fergeson Wellman Capital Management.
Her work focuses on public equities, where she analyzes stocks and covers the technology sector — the largest sector in the S&P 500. It is highly technical, analytical work, and in some ways, it brings her Oregon Tech experience full circle.
One of the classes that challenged her most as a student was accounting. She remembers feeling overwhelmed by the subject early on. Now, analyzing financial statements is part of what she does professionally.
“It’s funny how that class, I remember being so crazy and daunting,” she said. “And now it’s one of the many ways I can analyze companies and stocks.”
Krystal’s career has also taught her something about approaching challenges: sometimes the hardest things become possible by simply taking the first step.
She remembers hearing how difficult the CFA exam and how low the pass rate was, but she decided to try anyway. “I think I’ve surprised myself,” she said. “Maybe that’s the one differentiating factor — I just tried.”
The Entrepreneurial Itch
Krystal’s entrepreneurial spirit never went away. It began with her parents’ businesses in Klamath Falls and continued into her professional life, where she has spent years studying business models and investment frameworks.
In addition to her career in investment management, Krystal is also the owner and investor of Lüz Aesthetics, a growing medical spa in Portland, with two additional locations in Santa Monica and Houston.
Balancing Work, Business, and Family
Krystal is also passionate about her role as a mother of four. She believes that while career success is important, it should never come at the expense of the people who matter most.
“At the end of the day, there are more important things than work,” she said. “Family, friendships, and being present for the people you love—that’s what matters.”
Advice for Students
Krystal’s advice to current students and recent alumni is practical and grounded:
Take the first step. Even when something feels intimidating, try. Whether it was in accounting, the CFA exam, or entrepreneurship, Krystal found that progress often starts with one small step forward.
Keep the big picture in mind. Career matters, but it is not the only thing that matters. Family, friendships, perspective, and being present all matter too.