Meet Rochester Simon’s MBA Class of 2019

Choudhury Shahariar (Shah)

Simon Business School, University of Rochester

Describe yourself in 15 words or less: A sales guy at heart waiting to make his first sale. Proud Bangladeshi.

Hometown: Rajshahi, Bangladesh

Fun Fact About Yourself: Due to work, I had the chance to live in Siberia for a while and trust me, it is cold!

Undergraduate School and Major: Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Mechanical Engineering

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation:

Reliability Engineer, Chevron

Drilling Services Engineer, Schlumberger

Business Consultant, SELISE

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: In 2014, the oil and gas industry weathered the worst industry cycle in 20+ years, and I had to pursue key strategic choices to continue. It was a tough period seeing many of my friends and colleagues having to leave the industry. Surviving that period successfully, and finding the right transition at the right time, is something I am extremely proud of. I left drilling engineering, something I loved, for a program management role at Chevron which I had little knowledge of. At the end, it was an equally rewarding journey. This experience early in my career has taught me my biggest lesson in life: the importance of irrational optimism when all seems lost.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in the MBA program so far: During the winter quarter kickoff ceremony at Simon, I was asked to give a speech to the school about support, one of our core values. Sharing stories about how everyone in the school thrives on this and how this defines our day to day activity was an amazing experience. Especially when I could help everyone remember small defining moments.

Looking back on your experience, what one piece of advice would you give to future business school applicants? Every program is different with its own core values and strengths. I’d advise applicants to commit to defining what they’re looking for in a business school, writing down those criteria, and analyzing programs which fit their interest. In addition, study for GMAT at the same time!

Getting in touch with different people is the best way to start. We have all been on the other side and now want to help individuals make informed decisions. I found school information sessions, campus visits, and networking with alumni and current students to be extremely helpful in determining where to apply and what areas to focus on. Finally, start the process early!

What was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you? An on-campus visit to Simon for Scholarship Weekend cemented my desire to attend the school

From the moment I had my admission decision, I’ll never forget how current students literally donated several hours out of their busy schedule to familiarize me with Simon and to explain to me different career paths. Visiting Simon, I witnessed the shared enthusiasm and passion amongst the student body for the school and its entire support system.

After that weekend, I left Simon with a conviction that the school nurtures genuine care and collaboration and strives to be the best.

What would success look like to you after your first year of business school?

1. Preparing myself to be a well-rounded leader, able to think strategically, be reliable for my surroundings, and work with empathy in every situation.
2. Securing an internship in one of my target companies.
3. Creating a strong lifelong network.