Ishan Taneja

New York University (Stern)

“Extremely intellectually curious and love everything; finance, movies, food, cars, music you name it.”

Hometown: Gurgaon, Haryana, India

Fun Fact About Yourself: I learned the Punjabi language just because I liked the music so much

Undergraduate School and Major: (Include Graduate School if Relevant) – Undergrad – BSc Computer Science, St. Stephen’s College, Delhi University | Graduate – MSc Finance and Economics, London School of Economics, London

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Senior Consultant, PwC

Aside from your classmates, what was the key part of the school’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? I want to pivot from consulting to finance, and Stern’s NYC location and strong finance curriculum were an obvious draw. I am quite excited to read Valuations under Professor Aswath Damodaran, whom I have been following since my time at LSE.

What makes you most excited about getting your MBA at NYU Stern? What makes you most nervous? The prospect of learning and working with bright and exuberant minds from across the globe excites me the most. On the other hand, that also makes me slightly nervous as I hope I am able to effectively contribute to the discourse.

What club or activity excites you most at this school? Sharing home-cooked food with my classmates has helped me overcome cultural barriers and build strong friendships during my time at LSE and PwC. Joining the Arts Culture & Cuisine Club will create similar opportunities to connect with Stern peers and the city on a deeper level, helping me build a lifelong network that will support me throughout my career.

What word best describes the NYU Stern classmates you’ve met so far? Why? ‘IQ + EQ’. They are not only some of the sharpest and brightest young minds, but also extremely empathetic and helpful. I can’t wait to know each one of them more intimately

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Accelerated development of India’s first semiconductor unit worth $350M by recommending a transaction structure with a specialized $40M government incentive package and suggested a path to market; received in principle approval from the ‘Empowered Committee’, including officials from five government ministries.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? I want a transition in my career from consulting to finance, and I feel Stern’s innovative and flexible curriculum, focus on ‘IQ + EQ’, deep industry relationships and unique access to NYC’s financial center will help me tailor my MBA to achieve my goals.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? I applied to LBS, CBS, Kellogg, Booth and Wharton.

What was the most challenging question you were asked during the admissions process? Communicating my story through just six images for Stern’s “Pick Six” visual admissions essay was an intriguing experience as it forced me to closely examine myself and focus on what was important. I realized that, at my core, it was not my professional achievements but my spirituality and community work that defined me. Collating the photographs was also a good excuse to revisit old memories, leaving behind a soft smile and damp eyes.

How did you determine your fit at various schools? Talking to current students and alumni was my go-to resource for this. Their unfiltered candor gave me great insights into what they love and what bothers them most about their schools. I was able to much better appreciate the on the ground reality particularly with regards to navigating my career.

What have you been doing to prepare yourself for business school? Reading The Intelligent Investor!

What was your defining moment and how did it prepare you for business school? Traveling to London for my Master’s prepared me well by teaching me how to gel well in a multicultural environment and thrive.

What is your favorite company and what could business students learn from them? HDFC Bank, an Indian Bank, is a true beacon of transparent corporate governance and honest leadership that has transformed the once small player into the largest private bank in India, creating massive shareholder wealth along the way.

DON’T MISS: Meet The MBA Class Of 2022: The COVID Cohorts