Bishal Dasgupta

University of Pittsburgh, Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business

“A hardworking person who is optimistic of every opportunity & appreciative of people in my life.”

Hometown: Kolkata, India

Fun fact about yourself: Adventurous about exploring various cultures. I have a tattoo as souvenir from every country I have visited.

Undergraduate School and Degree: Symbiosis International University, BTech in Computer Science and Engineering

Where was the last place you worked before enrolling in business school? WPP, Program Manager

Where did you intern during the summer of 2023? McKinsey & Company, NYC

Where will you be working after graduation? McKinsey & Company, Product Manager

Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School:  

Volunteer, Southwestern Veterans Center, PA
Chair, Generative AI Conference
Fellow, Centre for Sustainable Busines and Centre for Ethics & Leadership
Prafulla Mukerji Foundation Business Leader Awardee

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school?
Fellow, Centre for Sustainable Business- I became credentialed on IFRS FSAI and consulted for a global simulation firm on peer benchmarking, sustainable business practices and solar project finance across 4 semesters. It was an enriching experience.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? It was fulfilling being a turnaround agent and having the fortune to cultivate a network of mentors, sponsors and friends across borders.

Why did you choose this business school? I had access to thought leading faculties and opportunity to collaborate closely with them while ensuring value for investment.

What was your favorite course as an MBA? Financial Modeling (& Statistics)- I was able to model a business and project free cashflows and encouraged detailed exploration of value creation levers for a business.

Who was your favorite MBA professor? Chair Professor John C. Camillus. His humility, encouragement, and investment into a student’s aspirations motivates me to emulate his values.

What was your favorite MBA event or tradition at your business school? On the first day of each semester, the staff welcomes every student with cheers & claps, a tradition reflective of the cordial relationships we share in the school.

Looking back over your MBA experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently and why? I would be better  informed and reassured of my skills. It would have facilitated better management of nerves.

What is the biggest myth about your school? I thought at Pitt, being a major research university, the focus would be more academic. I was pleasantly surprised with the plethora of experiential learning opportunities available. In my time, I consulted Africa’s largest healthcare provider, a natural gas utilities provider, a manufacturing SME, a multi holdings bank, and more.

What did you love most about your business school’s town? Every Yinzer smiles at you, greets you, holds the door for you, and makes you feel welcomed!

What surprised you the most about business school? It was how a cohort of extremely talented individuals co-exist in mutual harmony and contribute to each other’s growth and look out for one another.

Which MBA classmate do you most admire? Priyanka Purushothaman. Her dedication and work ethic makes her an inspiring colleague and her ability to provide honest feedback with good intentions makes her a great friend.

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

Use AI to solve for complications from climate change.

Create access to opportunities for graduating students with diverse backgrounds.

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

“Throughout his time in the Katz Graduate School of Business MBA and MS MIS program, Bishal has been an incredible ambassador for the Katz community driven by his insatiable curiosity to learn and ability to develop impactful relationships with fellow students, faculty, alumni, and professionals. He has taken advantage of every opportunity and been an invaluable member of this cohort both inside and outside the classroom.

It wasn’t difficult to immediately recognize that Bishal was going to have a positive impact on our school. He is a brilliant networker and it felt like everyone knew who he was within his first few days on campus. Fast forward a year-and-a-half, it is commonplace for members of our alumni and Pittsburgh communities to mention having had a conversation with Bishal, often followed by a comment about how they may have learned more from their chat than he did. He has built strong relationships with his fellow classmates, constantly learning from his peers, and always being open to offering coaching and mentoring support those who seek it. There are numerous examples of when Bishal went out of his way to make a professional introduction for one of his peers, including multiple times when he introduced our Career Management Team to alumni or professionals whom he believed other students (or our staff) would benefit from meeting. These actions tell a lot about a person’s character, and can be invaluable to have someone like this in each class.

Even more impressive is the way that Bishal’s curiosity pushes him to pursue every available opportunity to learn more. He has attended a number of professional conferences during his MBA such as ClimateCap, Pittsburgh Technology Council’s Beyond Big Data AI/ML Summit, and Wharton’s Restructuring and Distressed Finance Conference – all to further dive into the topics that interest him most and share back learnings to others in his network. This semester, he also chaired a conference here at the University focused on Generative AI and the Future of Business which highlighted many thought leaders and innovators in the industry. His leadership was crucial to the success of this conference that provided many students and professionals in the region an opportunity to delve into the transformative world of Generative AI and its profound implications for business innovation. Beyond this, Bishal has taken on numerous fellowships focused on a wide range of topics from sustainability to robotics and technology, and continually impresses our corporate partners with the work that he and his teammates put forth.

It’s incredible that with all of these extracurricular activities mentioned above (and others I did not even get to), he is still able to maintain a near 3.8 GPA and excel in the classroom. While I do not often directly see the classroom experience, faculty and fellow students have referenced his ability to ask insightful questions, take the lead on projects, and contribute to deep conversations as three ways he has enhanced the curricular experience.

The above is only a brief snapshot as to why Bishal is an invaluable member of this class and one of the MBAs To Watch of 2024. It was no surprise when he informed me that he would be joining McKinsey & Company upon graduation, and I cannot wait to see all that he will accomplish throughout his career.”

Sam Musselman
Associate Director for Corporate Engagement

DON’T MISS: MBAS TO WATCH: CLASS OF 2024