Shaivya Hem Thakore

University of Texas at Dallas, Naveen Jindal School of Management

“A lifelong learner, an adventurous explorer, and a person of integrity – always aiming at excellence.”

Hometown: This question is always an interesting one for me to answer! I was born in Ahmedabad, but I lived and grew up in Mumbai, India until I was 17 years old. Then, I moved to Toronto, Canada at the age of 17 and called it my home for more than a decade. One city represents my formative years and the other represents my adulthood. I can’t pick – so I’ll include both!

Fun fact about yourself: A fun fact about me is that I’m an adventure travel junkie! I have visited over 12 countries, 30+ cities on 4 continents, and I’ve got a list five times as long as my checked off travel bucket list! I’ve had the privilege of engaging in adventure sports like skydiving, scuba diving, bungee jumping, shark cage diving, and more, and I look forward to the exhilaration of exploring new places and testing my physical limits.

Undergraduate School and Degree:
The University of Toronto – June 2017
Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.), Economics Specialist – Graduated with Distinction

Where was the last place you worked before enrolling in business school?
Business Systems Engineer at GroupQuest Benefit Resources Inc., People Corporation in Canada

Where will you intern during the summer of 2024? I am excited to begin my Summer 2024 as a Graduate Intern with Edward Jones at their St. Louis Missouri Corporate offices.

Where will you be working after graduation? I will be graduating in May 2025, and I am open to full-time opportunities!

Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School: While I am still in the early stages of my MBA program, I’ve had the honor of representing UT Dallas at the 2024 Global Case Competition (GCC), hosted by USC Marshall and UBS. Our team is one of the few teams that has advanced to the final round, scheduled for March 8, 2024. Additionally, in recognition of my academic achievements and dedication to student leadership, I was nominated by the Assistant Dean to a select group of contenders on track to completing the preliminary requirements for the prestigious NASH Leadership Award in Spring 2024.

In a student leadership capacity, I am one of three senior leaders in the Dean’s Council representing the Alumni Relations department. My time with the Dean’s Council has been fulfilling, offering me opportunities to collaborate with peers and faculty members, and to contribute to the strategic direction and decision-making processes within our academic community.

Furthermore, my dedication to advancing education, particularly among underserved groups, is evident through my involvement with the S.R. Thakore (SRT) Learning Centre, a non-profit set up by my family in memory of my grandfather. It functions as a center under the Institute of Social Action and Research (ISAR) and is focused on empowering and educating marginalized and underserved women alongside providing holistic support to kids aged 12 and above who are not or have never been enrolled in school. I take great pride in the SRT Learning Center and look to build on my family’s efforts in this initiative.

In summary, these experiences have not only fostered my personal and professional growth but also enabled me to make meaningful contributions to the welfare of the Dallas and international community.

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? I am more inspired and humbled than proud, but I would like to acknowledge the impact that volunteering with the North Texas Food Bank (NTFB) has had on me. My commitment to addressing food insecurity led me to volunteer at the NTFB where I worked as a rover volunteer in different roles on the assembly line. The magnitude of the operations at NTFB was staggering; during a typical three-hour shift, our team of 15 processed a whopping 24,000 pounds of food, equivalent to 20,000 meals. This hands-on involvement allowed me to witness firsthand the significant impact targeted programs had in supporting vulnerable groups such as seniors, children, and college students. Moreover, I gained insights into how the provision of healthy food options in the hampers positively affects the health baseline of the local community. Through this experience, I developed a profound appreciation for the extensive scale of operations undertaken by organizations like NTFB to address this critical issue. My next academic achievement that I am also proud of is maintaining a Perfect 4.0 GPA thus far, reaffirming my confidence and trust in my capabilities.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? My growth trajectory during my time as a Business Systems Engineer at People Corporation has been one of the most significant milestones in my professional journey so far. Even though I came from a non-technical background, I was able to serve as the liaison between the technical and non-technical stakeholders by learning how to “translate” the business’ needs. My role involved half a year of working as a senior account executive to fully understand the business model, and then translating those learnings to the design and implementation of a robotic process automatic (RPA) solution. The RPA solution aimed at alleviating the burden of repetitive data entry tasks of our sales executives allowing them more time to focus on negotiation and relationship-building.

The RPA design and implementation life cycle was complex and required ongoing communication with all departments, coordination with all levels of leadership to ensure stakeholder buy-ins, and ongoing project management. The most substantial impact it had on the bottom line of the organization was through expanding the capacity of every resource within the organization allowing the business to concentrate on growth and expansion.

Reflecting on the past three years, I characterize them as a period of rapid expansion and development. During this time, I was able to not only acquire new technical skills on the job, but also enhance my strategic leadership style. I am proud to have concluded this chapter by knowing that I have directly contributed towards enhancing the overall productivity and profitability of my organization.

Why did you choose this business school? I chose the University of Texas at Dallas’ Jindal School of Management primarily because of its intimate class size of 50 students or less. This smaller cohort allows for a more personalized and immersive learning experience, where I can actively engage with my peers and professors on a deeper level. Additionally, the school’s innovative two-mentor approach provides invaluable academic support and career resources through the MBA office, ensuring that each student receives tailored guidance and mentorship to thrive academically and professionally. This focus on individualized attention and mentorship was crucial for me as it aligns perfectly with my learning style and career aspirations, ultimately making this business school the ideal choice for my MBA journey.

Who was your favorite MBA professor? Choosing a favorite MBA professor is a difficult task given the caliber of educators at the UT Dallas MBA program, but if I had to pick one, it would be Dr. Suresh Radhakrishnan. Beyond his exceptional teaching abilities, Dr. Radhakrishnan is special because he invests in his students, challenges us with new perspectives, and goes the extra mile to ensure our success in and out of the classroom. His encouragement has even led me to consider pursuing a Doctorate in Accounting, a path I had not previously contemplated. Dr. Radhakrishnan’s dedication to his students and his value-added approach to education truly distinguishes him as an outstanding educator.

What was your favorite course as an MBA? My favorite course so far has been FIN-6301, Financial Management, which focused on advanced analysis of topics in financial management including capital structure, dividend policy, incentives, and risk management. In addition to enhancing the professional skills required in the domain, the course also provided transferable skills for personal financial literacy. As part of the course, I created a financial model and successfully applied it to an in-depth analysis of a Fortune 500 company as a case study. The case study was an interesting and informative exercise, but my biggest takeaway from the course is the foundational knowledge and skillset to now build various financial models with increasing levels of complexity. The model I created in class has now become the foundation for analysis of the companies in my personal stock portfolio. For me, such courses that provide knowledge for real-world application beyond the scope of the degree or a job are an indisputable value-add!

What was your favorite MBA event or tradition at your business school? One of my favorite MBA traditions at our business school is the organic way in which the class comes together to celebrate holidays. Whether it was Christmas, Diwali, Hanukkah, or Thanksgiving, everyone was encouraged to share their traditions and customs. It was heartwarming to see classmates from different backgrounds come together to learn about and celebrate each other’s cultures. From decorating Christmas trees to lighting Diya’s, from exchanging gifts to sharing traditional dishes, these celebrations added a layer of fun and camaraderie to my MBA experience. Moreover, these inclusive holiday celebrations reflected the ethos of our business school, where the emphasis is on inclusion. It demonstrated that our school values the richness that comes from different perspectives and backgrounds and emphasizes investing in people and relationships. This inclusive approach not only enhances the MBA experience but also prepares us to thrive in diverse and global business environments.

Looking back over your MBA experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently and why?
Looking back on my MBA experience, if there’s one thing I’d do differently, it would be to approach the transition with more excitement and less trepidation. When I embarked on my MBA journey, I was filled with apprehension about starting a new program, moving countries again, and transitioning from a bustling metropolis to a smaller city. As I contemplated starting afresh in a new environment, I grappled with the anxiety that comes with milestone life events. The thought of uprooting my career and my life from the Toronto community made me apprehensive about the unknowns that lay ahead. In hindsight, I realized that my anxiety was unwarranted. I should have embraced this new chapter with much more excitement and optimism because my MBA journey so far, has exceeded my expectations in every way possible. I found myself immersed in a vibrant academic community at UT Dallas, surrounded by like-minded individuals in my MBA cohort who share my passion for learning and growth. I was welcomed in a city that offered a more intimate and supportive environment, where I could truly thrive both academically and personally.

What did you love most about your business school’s town?  As a Canadian, I must admit that one of my favorite aspects of Dallas is undoubtedly its warm weather!  Initially, I had some reservations about transitioning from a city like Toronto to a smaller-sized town. Everyone here is incredibly friendly, and I’ve grown to appreciate the calmer lifestyle and the cleaner suburban atmosphere. Dallas has a unique charm that sets it apart from larger cities; it feels more open and inviting. Contrary to common perceptions about smaller cities, I’ve found Dallas to be remarkably welcoming to international students like myself. Overall, my experience has been shaped by both the warm climate and the warm-hearted people of Dallas, making it an incredibly enjoyable place to call home while pursuing my MBA and beyond.

What surprised you the most about business school? What surprised me the most about business school was the strong emphasis on real-world application and holistic development. Unlike my undergraduate experience, where the focus was primarily on understanding concepts, the MBA program encourages us to leverage our knowledge base and apply it to real-world scenarios. Business school has provided a platform for practical learning and skill development. I was amazed by how seamlessly we were able to manage our studies while actively participating in various extracurricular activities, lead student organizations all while striving for academic excellence.

Which MBA classmate do you most admire? Among my exceptional MBA classmates, the individual I most admire is Jared Brooks. Currently serving as the First Sergeant in the Texas Army National Guard with nearly 20 years of service, Jared exhibits extraordinary leadership and people management skills that are clearly reflected within our MBA cohort. What truly inspires me about Jared is his ability to expertly balance his commitments to his military career and family life as a devoted husband, all while excelling in his MBA studies. Observing his dedication and proficiency in navigating both his professional and academic responsibilities is truly remarkable and serves as a powerful example of his resilience, patriotism, and organizational prowess. Despite the multitude of responsibilities on his plate, Jared consistently goes above and beyond to help others, embodying the essence of great leadership. This selflessness, coupled with his remarkable ability to manage a wide array of duties, makes him a profound source of inspiration for me.

What are the top two items on your professional bucket list? The top item on my bucket list is to establish a foundation dedicated to the advancement of women and children, an initiative deeply rooted in a legacy of philanthropy and empowerment that spans generations in my family. My grandfather pioneered the introduction of computers to India in the 1960s and was one of the founding members of the Institute for Social Action and Research (ISAR) in 1991. This instilled in us a profound commitment to education and women’s empowerment. In his honor, our family set up the S.R. Thakore Learning Center under ISAR, and my goal is to expand on his legacy across the globe.

Another item on my bucket list is to become the CFO of a Fortune 500 company. When envisioning myself as a CFO, I aspire to embody the credibility, expertise, and respect that Warren Buffet commands. Buffet’s disciplined investment approach and unwavering integrity have been a constant source of inspiration for me. His ability to stay true to his principles while achieving remarkable success in the world of finance motivates me to strive for excellence in all my endeavors. My goal is not only to attain the position of CFO but also to serve as an inspiration to the next generation to come.

What made Shaivya such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2024?

“Shaivya’s exceptional academic performance, leadership and empathy have made him a great addition to our MBA Program. He consistently engages in discussions, leads initiatives promoting diversity and inclusion and participates in social impact projects.

Shaivya demonstrates the qualities of an exceptional MBA student – academic excellence, leadership, and a commitment to making a positive impact. I have no doubt that he will continue to inspire and lead in whatever path he chooses to pursue.”

Andrea Burdman
Program Manager, MBA Programs
University of Texas at Dallas

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