Aashka Shah

Boston College, Carroll School of Management

“An easy-going, avid traveler that strives to give back and constantly better herself.”

Hometown: Green Brook, New Jersey

Fun fact about yourself: I have a black belt in Taekwondo!

Undergraduate School and Degree: Boston University Questrom School of Business: BSBA, Finance & Management Information Systems

Where was the last place you worked before enrolling in business school? NBCUniversal: Finance Manager, Operations & Technology

Where did you intern during the summer of 2022? PwC, Boston, MA

Where will you be working after graduation? PwC, M&A Senior Associate, Deals Transformation 

Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School:

• Co-President, Graduate Women in Business
• Graduate Assistant, The Academic Technology Advisory Board at BC
• Teaching/Grading Assistant, Operations Management Undergraduate Course
• Tutor, Student Athlete Academic Services at BC
• Volunteer, INK (Invest in Kids)
• BC Dean’s Scholarship Recipient

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? Currently, in my second year at BC, I have had the opportunity to be the co-president of the Graduate Women in Business Club. Navigating the workforce as a woman in business can be an adjustment. Our club hosts skill-building workshops, panel discussions, and networking events to fulfill our mission of advancing the education and promotion of women in business. Being at the forefront of the club has been meaningful as I have been able to see firsthand how much of an impact having a support system of women can be both on a professional and personal level.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? In my professional career, I have been most proud of being able to serve as the lead in transforming division finances from a location-based cost management structure to a service-based P&L via the creation of a detailed Digital P&L operating model for each line of business. I worked with various stakeholders of the business to determine how best we could streamline this. This transformation enabled the business to analyze, for the first time, the true cost per service for each of its divisions and highlight areas for improvement. Over the course of three years, this analysis shifted the operations teams’ focus on driving reductions on a cost per service basis and thereby delivered $20M of savings through rationalizations in the company’s digital software portfolio.

Why did you choose this business school? During my search, I was looking for a school in which I would be able to meet a diverse group of individuals, in a small classroom setting, but also be able to network with current students and alumni to further build my network. Ultimately, this strong network is what stood out to me the most. After speaking to current and prior students, it became evident that this powerful network does not disappear after graduation. In fact, it continues to get stronger as alumni are always willing to help out whether it be for career advice, job assistance, or just navigating life. During my summer internship, I had reached out to a few members of senior management at my company who attended BC many years ago and they were so excited to speak to me about their time at BC and their career journey.

What was your favorite MBA event or tradition at your business school? My favorite BC tradition has to be the BC tailgates. As someone who didn’t have a football team at my undergrad school, I had always been excited at the thought of going to college football games. Being able to witness the energy and the camaraderie of students and alumni was incredible. The best part would be when the entire stadium would light up when the BC football team ran on the field. The tailgates were also a great spot to catch up with classmates outside of the classroom.

Looking back over your MBA experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently and why? Looking back, I don’t think I would change anything about my time here at the Carroll School. All of my experiences and challenges that I have faced have been so rewarding as they have shaped me into who I am as an individual today.

What is the biggest myth about your school? The biggest myth about the Carroll School is that it is a small business school. Though our class size may be smaller than some other Boston schools, our alumni network is expansive and we have vast resources that not only span the city of Boston, but across the globe.

What is one thing you did during the application process that gave you an edge at the school you chose? One specific thing that gave me an edge during the application process was reaching out to alumni to hear about their experiences throughout not only their time at school but also their experiences after graduating from the program. Reaching out to these students helped me shape my application and made me further understand what type of student would succeed at the Carroll School. During the application process, it was evident that BC students are compassionate, motivated, and goal-oriented which is the type of cohort I wanted to be a part of.

Which MBA classmate do you most admire? I have been so lucky to have a cohort that is supportive, collaborative, and helpful which makes it difficult to name just one classmate. Throughout my time here – whether it be late night cramming for exams, prepping for interviews (especially case prepping), or just needing someone to vent to – it has been evident that my classmates prioritize building strong relationships over competition. Though we may be competing for the same internships or similar jobs, each one of my classmates has always been willing to assist which shows that BC students truly care for one another.

What are the top two items on your professional bucket list? Become a mentor for students, specifically young women looking to enter the finance field. I have always had a true passion for giving back so I would love to return to academia as a professor, part-time, to mentor and educate students who are currently in my shoes.

What made Aashka such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2023?

“Aashka came to Boston College with strong business experience under her belt. A 2016 graduate of BU’s Questrom School of Business, she was hired by Ralph Lauren as a planning and distribution analyst after a successful internship in the company as an undergrad. She then moved to NBCUniversal as she saw the opportunity to work in finance across the entire business, before beginning her MBA at Boston College.

At BC, Aashka has been a team player through and through. She has been consistently generous with her time, whether it’s been helping her classmates through the program, attending recruiting events with the admissions team, leading the Carroll School’s Graduate Women in Business, or volunteering in Invest in Kids.

Aashka is a model example of how a graduate management degree at Boston College is an enriching experience. It is clear that she will be leaving BC with a polished sense of professionalism, a clear conviction to help others, and a strong ability to foster genuine relationships with her colleagues. I’m sure these qualities will aid in her success as the starts at PwC’s Deals Division after graduation this May.”

Marilyn Eckelman
Associate Dean, Graduate Programs
Carroll School of Management

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