Shanika Paul

Emory University, Goizueta Business School

“I believe working hard does not come at the expense of having fun!”

Hometown: Baltimore, MD

Fun Fact About Yourself: During the pandemic, I started an investment basics class called “Investing with Shanika,” in order to make investing more inclusive and digestible for people who do not work in the financial services industry.

Undergraduate School and Major: Smith College, Economics

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Brown Advisory, Portfolio Analyst

What makes Atlanta such a great place to earn an MBA? Atlanta is such a big city! Coming from Baltimore, Atlanta provides me the opportunity to meet and learn from even more people from all over the world that have different experiences than my own. Atlanta is also a great place to earn an MBA because you can get the city feel, while also being surrounded by beautiful green spaces.

Aside from your classmates and location, what was the key part of Emory Goizueta’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? A key reason I was drawn to Goizueta was the Goizueta IMPACT course. Goizueta IMPACT allows students to put theory to practice and help an organization solve an issue of strategic importance. I work best by doing and knew this course would help me enhance my problem solving, analytical, and critical thinking skills.

What course, club or activity excites you the most at Emory Goizueta? I’m excited to get involved with The Roberto C. Goizueta Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation and, specifically, the Peachtree Minority Venture Fund. In 2022, U.S. Black founders were only able to raise 1% of all venture capital funds. Working with the Peachtree Minority Venture Fund would give me the opportunity to change that and get more capital in the hands of underrepresented minority founders who are trying to grow and impact the world.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: My biggest accomplishment has been pitching a private investment to a high-net worth foundation client that resulted in the client committing more than $500,000 to the vehicle.

Looking ahead two years, what would make your MBA experience successful? I would consider my MBA experience successful when I graduate with lasting friendships, and I can use the skills I’ve gained to have a successful career in the investment management industry.

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into Emory Goizueta’s MBA program? I would advise applicants to be their true selves! Don’t shy away from who you are, what you like, and the identities you have. When speaking with admissions officers, current students, and alumni make sure they get a good sense of who you are and how you fit into Goizueta’s culture.