Washington and Lee University
Hometown: Mumbai, India
Majors: Business Administration and Economics
Extracurricular Involvement:
Off-Campus Experiences:
Internships
Study Abroad
Post-Graduation Plans: Investment Banking Analyst with Lincoln International in Chicago, IL, followed by an MBA .
Favorite Classes: Principles of Micro and Macro Economics with Professor Diette, which introduced me to the fascinating world of Economics and convinced me to double major. Strategic Management with Professor Pirkle, or as he would prefer, "Business for Seniors.”
Favorite W&L Event: The annual Diwali dinner--its great to see so many members of the W&L community turn up in traditional Indian clothes to celebrate the festival and eat Indian food.
Among the various liberal arts universities I applied to, the strength of Washington and Lee’s nationally accredited business program made it my pick for early decision. Looking back at my four years, I couldn’t have made a better choice.
As a freshman, I was determined to follow in my father’s footsteps as a stock broker and intended to major in accounting. However, W&L presented me with several different options. I switched to a double major in business administration and economics and changed career paths from broking to investment banking. The professors in the Williams School of Commerce, Economics, and Politics have made it possible for me to attain every goal I set out to achieve and more.
To me, the biggest boon of a W&L education is the opportunity to gain a variety of real world business experiences. During the spring and summer of my sophomore year, I interned with the Department of Finance in New York as part of the New York Internship Program (NYIP). The NYIP, coordinated by Professor Rush, is a testament to one of Washington and Lee’s greatest strengths--its alumni, who go out of their way to hire W&L students for internships and full-time opportunities. I interned later that summer with a real estate investment firm in Houston, founded by alumnus Paul Davey ’86. He is now a friend, mentor and guiding force.
Another fascinating aspect of Washington and Lee is that more than half the students study abroad during their time here. I attended the London School of Economics’ General Course Program during my junior year. Initially, I was concerned about being away from Lexington for a full year at such a critical juncture in my academic career. However, my time away helped me appreciate the importance of a study abroad experience. I was exposed to a different method of teaching and learning and gained an understanding of a variety of cultures and societies.
Dr. Straughan, the associate dean of the Williams School, suggested that I maintain a journal of my year at LSE for circulation amongst the W&L community. The journal helped me put my experiences abroad in perspective, and the responses I received to my memoirs made me feel like I was on campus despite being thousands of miles away. A part-time internship during the academic year with Tishman International, a real estate investment firm, and an investment banking internship during the summer with Deutsche Bank, both in the United Kingdom, ensured that my initial worries about being away from campus were uncalled for. More importantly, Mr. Davey’s assistance in ensuring that I landed these internships taught me that the commitment of an alumnus to Washington and Lee never ends.
Back in Lexington as a senior, I’ve seen professors go to unprecedented levels to help students land the right job. Professor Wheeler drove me a hundred miles for a half an hour interview at UVA! Besides off-campus internships, there are opportunities to get hands on experience with the real business world right here in Lexington. A visiting speaker in my Strategic Management class, Michelle Leder, recruited me as a research assistant for her Web site, footnoted.org, when she visited campus. Working for one of the top ten business blogs in the world (as ranked by Business Week, CNN and the Financial Times) is very exciting and has exposed me to the fascinating field of business journalism.
I’ve traveled 8,000 miles from home to attend Washington and Lee, and the knowledge, experiences and opportunities gained have made the journey well worth it.
