Ryan Rengasawmy

University of Notre Dame, Mendoza School of Business

“I am a curious person, always seeking to learn from and understand the world.”

Hometown: Palm Beach Gardens, FL

Fun fact about yourself: Avid home-cook, I love to learn new recipes and challenge myself.

Undergraduate School and Degree: Manhattan College, class of 2017 – Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, majoring in Finance & Global Business, with a minor in Management

Where was the last place you worked before enrolling in business school?  Barclays – Operations Analyst

Where did you intern during the summer of 2022? Wells Fargo Investment Banking in Charlotte, NC

Where will you be working after graduation? Wells Fargo – Investment Banking Associate, Financial Institutions Group

Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School: Last semester, I had the chance to travel with Notre Dame to Hermosa Beach in California to consult with a leadership development company. This semester, I will be traveling to NYC with Notre Dame to consult with Goodwill. At school, I serve as the President of the MBA Finance & Investments Club.

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? Within the Finance & Investments Club, we have the first-year mentorship program where myself and other second year students would formally mentor a few first-years pursuing investment banking. We also informally mentor more students, making for an engaging experience. I really enjoyed being a mentor and helping students with their recruiting journey.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? My first job out of undergrad in 2017 was a 3-month contract at Barclays just a few weeks after my college’s graduation. This contract was extended from 3 months to a year, month-over-month. I essentially never had job security. After the year, I was offered a full-time position and I was so relieved. To date, I am most proud of carving my way into a job that ultimately led me to business school to pursue investment banking.

Why did you choose this business school? I chose Notre Dame because of its rich community that traces back generations. As a first generation American and the first college graduate in my family, it was incredibly important for me to attach my family to a university rich in both legacy and history. The Notre Dame community was the perfect place for me to join.

Who was your favorite MBA professor? Professor Michael O’Malley. Professor O’Malley goes out of his way to not only teach you the course, but also to guide his students as future business leaders. The intangible value is what Professor O’Malley brings with his real-world leadership and professional experience.

What was your favorite course as an MBA? Real Estate Private Equity. The course taught by Professor O’Malley. The class is a challenging, engaging, and rigorous eight weeks of running a simulated private equity real estate acquisition. It was the most engaging and one of the most challenging courses I took at Business School.

What was your favorite MBA event or tradition at your business school? Notre Dame home sporting events. The first ND Football Game I went to was magical. I had never experienced anything like it, and it was some of the most fun I have ever had. A sea of green inside and outside the stadium is what I remember most. I also really enjoyed going to home Lacrosse games. As a former college lacrosse player in my undergrad days, I loved watching how talented the Men’s and Women’s ND Lacrosse teams are. I think these sporting events reflect the powerful culture and spirit of Notre Dame and the Mendoza College of Business.

Looking back over your MBA experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently and why? I wish I could have connected on a more personal level with more of my classmates. Business School goes by in two short years, but the relationships you forge last a lifetime.

What is the biggest myth about your school? The importance of Notre Dame football. This was something I heard about my whole life: glad to say it is definitely true. It’s hard to explain just how important Notre Dame culture appreciates football, but experiencing it is absolutely captivating and contagious.

What did you love most about your business school’s town? The food. South Bend is a small town, but the food surpasses all expectations. There are a number of tasty restaurants around that I love going to and that I will miss!

What surprised you the most about business school? The diversity of people. My class is filled with people from all over the world. The experiences other students bring has been eye-opening. Both the international students and domestic students each have unique experiences that I had the privilege to learn from.

What is one thing you did during the application process that gave you an edge at the school you chose? I had conversations with current students at Notre Dame. I wanted to understand what Notre Dame looks in an applicant. I think taking the time to learn from those in the position I wanted to be in gave me an edge during the application process.

Which MBA classmate do you most admire? I most admire my fellow classmate, Avantika Shashank Priya. She is and has been an inspirational person who encourages those around her to be better. I hold Avantika responsible for the recruiting success I had in 2021, as her support gave me an abundance of confidence and determination.

What are the top two items on your professional bucket list?

1. Lead an international joint venture
2. Open my own Private Equity firm

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

“As Director of Career Development, I have had the pleasure of working with Ryan and seeing his impact on our MBA program. Ryan is optimistic, kind, and accountable.  He serves as President of the Finance and Investment Club and through his leadership the club has achieved great results.

Ryan has worked closely with first-year students on their career development, providing mentorship and conducting countless mock interviews. In addition, he has cultivated a strong culture of service for the club which has resulted in more members stepping up to help their classmates. Ryan has also worked with our Employer Relations team to bring more companies to Notre Dame to recruit students.  He showed great initiative in identifying companies and building relationships with them.

His impact on mentorship, career development, and employer relations will outlast his own time at Notre Dame and will help future students. I strongly recommend Ryan for his leadership skills, strong character, and passion for improving the experience of his classmates and furthering the mission of Notre Dame to grow the good in business.”

John Rooney
Director Graduate Business Career Development
Mendoza College of Business
University of Notre Dame

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