Dipeeka Bastola

University of Miami Business School

“Ambitious and driven, I love to get things done and get them done well.”

Hometown: Kathmandu, Nepal

Fun fact about yourself: I can speak in four languages: Nepali, Hindi, Spanish and English.

Undergraduate School and Degree: Seton Hill University; Bachelor of Science in Accounting and International Organization

Where was the last place you worked before enrolling in business school? Ernst and Young; Assurance Staff

Where did you intern during the summer of 2018? Hertz Corporation in Estero, Florida

Where will you be working after graduation? Undecided

Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School:

Co-Chair and Founder – MBS Peer Advisors

Portfolio Manager – Student Managed Investment Fund

Second Place at Miami Leadership Institute

LMI Consulting Case Competition

Florida Collegiate Case Competition

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? I am proud of starting the MBS Peer Advisors, a student organization that matches second-year MBA mentors (“advisors”) with first-year MBAs. Having experienced the benefits of mentorship, my classmate, Jacqueline Holmes, and I started this organization to deepen connections between the two MBA years and to help incoming students feel welcome into the U family. Although still in its first year, I realize the program’s impact when I hear first-years say how great their mentors were or how their mentors helped them transition into the MBA program.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? As someone who enjoys working in an environment where hard work is valued and appreciated, I am proud of spearheading the design of an employee recognition program during my internship at Hertz. The challenge with this project was to create a program with standardized metrics that all yield analysts could be evaluated against and integrate data from various systems and reports. I applied the various skills that I have learned in the MBA program to develop key performance indicators (KPIs), extract data, create benchmarks, and perform variance analysis. The result of the project was a document that automatically synthesized data for over 100 markets to determine the top performing markets for recognition each month. Knowing that my efforts led to increased engagement and employee appreciation makes the work fulfilling.

Who was your favorite MBA professor? Hari Natarajan- He is not only a great professor who keeps the class interesting and relevant, but is also invested in our growth and development. He is willing to meet with students outside of class, talk about our goals, and help us in any way he can.

What was your favorite MBA Course? Managerial Decisions in Global Economics. Dr. Kelly has an amazing skill of making challenging theories and concepts accessible to all students. The class was very insightful in helping me understand concepts such as sunk costs, pricing techniques, and returns to scale. I particularly enjoyed learning applications of game theory in various business strategy decisions such as market entry, pricing, and negotiations.

Why did you choose this business school? I chose Miami Business School because of its diversity and focus on international experience. The class is almost 40% international, with students from different professional backgrounds and walks of life. I wanted this diversity of thinking in my MBA experience and to learn to lead such diverse teams. I also wanted to live in Miami and experience the business culture here as the city itself is an international city and a nexus of trade between the Americas.

What is your best advice to an applicant hoping to get into your school’s MBA program? I would advise them to evaluate their cultural fit with the school. The admissions committee looks for someone who resonates with the program’s vision and the school’s culture along with academic and professional achievements. Even in my experience, I have found that people who fit well with the school’s culture participate actively in campus events and class discussions and eventually get the most out of their MBA experience.

What is the biggest myth about your school? That is it the Sun Tan U. While Miami boasts great weather and is an amazing cultural hub of activities, the MBA program is as much hard work and learning as it is fun. The school has class offerings very relevant to business today taught by a truly international faculty.

Think back two years ago. What is the one thing you wish you’d known before starting your MBA program? That it is okay to not have everything figured out. The MBA is an experience, and you need to trust the process. The classes you take — and the people you meet during business school – will shape you in ways you didn’t expect before and this might change your career aspirations and your future path.

MBA Alumni often describe business school as transformative. Looking back over the past two years, how has business school been transformative for you? From forming life-long friendships with the smartest and most inspiring classmates to working up-all-night for a 24-hour case competition, the MBA program has transformed my understanding of the business world and my leadership abilities. By participating in case competitions and the Miami Leadership Institute, I have been able to hone my problem-solving, analytical and presentation skills in a safe environment.

Which MBA classmate do you most admire? Jacqueline Holmes – Jackie is confident, responsible, and thoughtful. I admire her passion and dedication to improving the graduate business experience for all our peers through her role as our Vice President of the Graduate Business Student Association. Despite being very involved in leadership and community events, she is always there to encourage people and support their endeavors.

Who most influenced your decision to pursue business in college? My mother. Despite growing up in a culture which does not always support women’s career ambitions, she has always motivated me and supported my passion for a business degree and career.

What is your favorite movie about business? The Intern. In a business world that increasingly values technical and analytical skills, the movie is a nice reminder that experience matters and so do soft skills like positive attitude, work ethic, and the ability to build relationships. It was also refreshing to see a passionate and ambitious woman CEO running a tech startup company.

What was the goofiest MBA term or acronym you encountered – and what did it mean? I had never heard of ‘bandwidth’ being used to mean physical or mental capacity before MBA.

“If I hadn’t gone to business school, I would be…expanding my financial literacy program in Nepal.”

What dollar value would you placed on your MBA education? Was it worth what you paid for it – worth more or worth less? It is hard to place a dollar value on an experience that has introduced me to some of the smartest and most amazing peers that I know and has consistently provided me with opportunities to learn and grow.

What are the top two items on your bucket list? Hiking the Grand Canyon and visiting Machu Pichu

In one sentence, how would you like your peers to remember you? As someone who has a positive attitude and who can be counted on.

Hobbies? Traveling, Hiking, Cooking

What made Dipeeka such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2019?

“Dipeeka Bastola is a gem. From the moment I met her, I knew that she was going to make positive waves at the Miami Business School. You meet Dipeeka, and you instantly connect with her – she is intelligent, witty, and has the spark we look for when we recruit students. During her first year of the program, she excelled academically, always being among the top of the class. She got to work quickly in making her legacy known by being one of the founders of the student organization “MBA Peer Advisors.” As the Assistant Director of Graduate Student Experience, I oversee the general administration of our various clubs and organization. Through this organization, Dipeeka has demonstrated her aptitude to be a champion for student success. She established this organization to help current and future Miami Business School students have a sense of belonging by facilitating strong peer relationships and mentorship. She truly cares about her classmates and it is her compassion and teamwork that truly makes Dipeeka an invaluable addition to her class.”

Alexander Mas

Assistant Director, Graduate Student Experience at Miami Business School

Are you a friend of Dipeeka? Leave a note to congratulate her.