Tanvi Parmar

Carnegie Mellon University’s Tepper School of Business

“Passionate about life, people, and happiness.”

Hometown: South Brunswick, NJ

Fun Fact About Yourself: The number one thing on my bucket list is to see the Northern Lights.

Undergraduate School and Major: Case Western Reserve University (Finance Major)

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: PNC Bank, Relationship Manager

Aside from your classmates, what was the key part of Carnegie Mellon’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? Something I had always heard growing up is that people are either dominant in analytics and are “left brained” or are more emotional and “right brained”. I always felt like I had to pick a side, but I’ve since realized that it is essential to hone both sides of the brain. In banking, I have found that I need to balance the technical financial information with a more intuitive understanding of the clients I work with. For that reason, it was especially important to me to find a program like Carnegie Mellon that emphasized both the analytics and personal development and how to use them in conjunction to succeed in the business world.

What course, club or activity excites you the most at Carnegie Mellon? I am so excited to get involved in the Tepper Women in Business Club. As a woman interested in growing her career in the world of finance, I am hoping to learn how to be a more intentional leader and advocate for more representation in the business world. Additionally, I am looking forward to being part of a network of intelligent, confident and supportive women.

The Tepper MBA is known for intensive one-on-one coaching and personal development. What area do you hope to strengthen during your two years in business school and why? The area I am hoping to strengthen during my two years is my assertiveness. I hope to improve the confidence I have to speak up for myself and others in a way that is still respectful and kind. I have seen that the ability to express your thoughts and ideas is crucial to fostering client relationships as well as advancing in your career as a well-regarded professional.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: My biggest accomplishment in my career so far has been taking on my own portfolio of the bank’s corporate clients. I’ve always considered myself to be an introvert and I found the idea of customer relationship management incredibly daunting. However, I was able to push myself out of my comfort zone and I have found that I really enjoy being able to connect with and help my clients.

How did COVID-19 change your perspective on your career and your life in general? The pandemic has shown me how important it is to have a supportive community during the good and bad times. In your career and in life, everyone has their own obstacles they are battling, but having that human connection and mutual understanding lifts the overall spirit and hope of the whole community. Conversely, it is also imperative to have a good support system to celebrate your victories with.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point and what do you hope to do after graduation? During my time at PNC, I have developed the basics of financial analysis and client relationship building, which has allowed me to create a foundation as a credit lender. I am hoping to build upon this foundation and enhance my knowledge on skills that I have seen are pertinent to the work that I love. As a result, I hope to return back to corporate lending better equipped to serve clients and provide the best banking experience I can.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Georgetown University, University of Pittsburgh

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into Carnegie Mellon’s MBA program? The advice I would give would be to stay authentic to who you are in your application. I think every applicant has a unique and compelling story to tell about their life experiences and the admissions committee is genuinely interested in hearing about yours.

DON’T MISS: MEET CARNEGIE MELLON TEPPER’S MBA CLASS OF 2023