Krishna Patel

University of Rochester, Simon Business School

“Dramatic in actions, simple in thoughts. Appreciates little things in life and big on smiling often and staying curious.”

Hometown: Mumbai, India

Fun Fact About Yourself: Cross-Dominant and obsessed with all kinds of cheese.

Undergraduate School and Major: N. M. College of Commerce and Economics

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: SBI Capital Markets – Associate, Investment Banking

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Leading a team to on-board one of the Indian Government’s biggest divestment projects worth $10 billion dollars. has been an important milestone in my career. The entire process was really challenging in terms of structuring the bids and communicating with cross-functional teams. Being the youngest and the only non-management graduate in the investment banking team, this transaction was instrumental in me being recognized on the floor and also securing a promotion within a year of joining the bank.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? Everyone is really receptive in terms of listening to and adapting each other’s ideas. Because of our small cohort, the atmosphere is really close-knit and everyone is very supportive of each other’s personal and professional growth.

Aside from your classmates, 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? The focus and the emphasis on learning through diversity was one of the biggest factors why I chose Simon. Prior to starting the MBA program, I was invited to visit the school for its Scholarship Weekend, where I got a chance to meet 50 students from 17 different countries. I experienced the impact of this diversity while working in multicultural teams, which lead to optimum and efficient results. Coming from a country like India, which is rich in its diverse culture, I was looking for a school that holds the same values and Simon made a perfect fit in that sense.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? I am looking forward to being part of the Meliora Fund, a school and alumni sponsored venture fund focusing on social impact investing. Given the beautiful terrain of up-state New York, I am also ecstatic about the Skiing and Rafting treks organized by our Outdoor and Adventure Club.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? One of the most important skills of a successful investment banker is being able to adapt to a diverse set of minds. An MBA opens doors and exposes me to wide spectrum of students from across the world which would not just teach me the nuances of working in a team but also frame my skillset to become a future leader.

How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? After Spending the past six years working in the financial services industry, this was a pretty easy cost-benefit analysis for me! I wanted to continue my career in investment banking in the US and the best path was pursuing an MBA to learn more about the organizations and corporate culture in this country. It was actually a pretty fruitful investment with the intangible benefits far exceeding the tangible ones!

What other MBA programs did you apply to? Cornell University, Georgetown University, Babson University

How did you determine your fit at various schools? Communication was the key driving factor during my research for the MBA schools. I prioritized in terms of how prompt the school was in its communication with me and also how interested it was in identifying the true potential of a potential student. The best approach in determining the cultural fit for a school was by interacting with the school’s current students. It gave me a perspective on how certain leadership focused modules play a vital role in personal development and also how the career management center contributes tirelessly to help achieve a student’s career goals.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? Attaining the Master’s Certificate in Bharat Natyam (Indian classical dance form) at the age of 14 has had a really positive impact on my life. 10 years of training in this art form at such a tender age has bought discipline in both my personal and professional life but most importantly it has given me a form of expression.

What do you plan to do after you graduate? Take a holiday to Iceland to see the Northern Lights! So that I can come back starry-eyed and enter the world of investment banking in NYC.

Where do you see yourself in five years? I see myself working on initiatives that focus on empowering women especially in the Banking industry and hopefully inspiring them to never give up on their dream!