Rushikesh Jere

Vanderbilt University, Owen Graduate School of Management

“Easy-going teammate and inquisitive leader.”

Hometown: Pune, India

Fun fact about yourself: I have an identical twin brother but growing up, we never played pranks on anyone (at least intentionally)!

Undergraduate School and Degree: Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, Chartered Accountant

Where was the last place you worked before enrolling in business school? Associate, Credit Risk at JPMorgan Chase

Where did you intern during the summer of 2023? Leveraged Finance, Bank of America, Charlotte, NC

Where will you be working after graduation? Leveraged Finance, Bank of America, Charlotte, NC

Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School: Finance VP for the Owen Student Government Association, overseeing its budget and other money matters; Co-President of Men as Allies, a social club supporting women and LGBTQIA+ community at Owen; VP of content and learning for Owen Finance Club; Admissions and Recruiting Fellow for Owen, conducting admission interviews and informational coffee chats; Peer Coach for Investment Banking supporting first-year MBAs in recruitment.

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? It would be my contribution as a peer coach with the Career Management Center and as a fellow with the Admissions team stands out to me. As a peer coach, I had the opportunity to directly support current students by sharing my insights. Similarly, as an Admissions fellow, engaging with prospective students and conducting interviews allowed me to contribute to Owen’s selection process while learning immensely. These roles enabled me to be a small part of others’ success stories, echoing a sense of community that Vanderbilt provided me with.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? At JPMorgan, before my MBA, my superiors allowed me to lead a stress-testing project alongside my usual underwriting tasks. This was a significant challenge, given I was learning the ropes as a second-year analyst. I’m grateful for the support from my colleagues and seniors that allowed me to streamline our processes and interact with top executives. This experience, my first in leadership, greatly enhanced my confidence and provided insights that I directly applied during my time at Owen.

Why did you choose this business school? Choosing Owen was one of my best decisions. During my pre-MBA networking, I learned about the small class sizes and the collaborative DNA of the school, which made me believe that getting to know everyone and making real friends wasn’t just possible; it was almost certain. The students and alumni I met were incredibly welcoming and always willing to offer support or advice, making me feel at home and encouragingly answering all my (probably stupid) questions. The atmosphere? It’s competitive, sure, but in a constructive way that encourages growth without feeling overly cutthroat. Reflecting on my experience, I’d choose Owen again in a heartbeat for its unmatched blend of challenge and supportive community.

What was your favorite course as an MBA? My favorite course during my MBA had to be Corporate Financial Policy, led by Owen’s all-star, Professor Josh White. The class takes a deep dive into concepts of corporate finance, enriched with engaging case studies and questions that really pushed me to think critically. Professor White inspiringly navigated through the well-structured class and weaved magic into seemingly easy topics such as executive compensation. Equally impactful was the mandatory Ethics course taught by another one of Owen’s all-stars, Professor Bruce Barry. The discussions in this class were a different ball game altogether. We delved into complex and sometimes controversial ethical dilemmas. Exchanging arguments with classmates and arriving at a theoretical understanding gave me so many key takeaways – not only in ethics but in business decision-making in general.

Looking back over your MBA experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently and why? I regret missing my chances to go on global immersion trips. Such experiences, ranging from study abroad programs to international consulting projects, offer invaluable insights into global business landscapes. They also provide a unique environment to connect with classmates beyond the classroom. I feel like traveling and exposing yourself to diverse cultures significantly enhances personal and professional growth, and it’s also just fun.

What is the biggest myth about your school? One of the biggest myths about Owen is that the small class size might lead to a lack of diversity. Initially, I fell into the trap of thinking it was predominantly a consulting feeder school, given the high number of classmates aiming for consulting careers. It’s true that consulting is a strong path here but there’s incredible diversity in both the pre-MBA backgrounds of my peers and the careers they pursued. There’s incredible support and resources for students interested in other fields such as HOP, finance, operations, and, notably, healthcare. Engaging with classmates from various walks of life, each bringing their unique perspectives and experiences to the table, made my experience more valuable.

What did you love most about your business school’s town?  Nashville has this super chill vibe that makes you feel welcome right off the bat. It’s like, no matter where you’re from, you fit in here. And if you’re into the outdoors, you’re going to love it. There are tons of parks where you can hang out, go for a run, or even have a picnic with friends. And let’s not forget the music – it’s everywhere. Whether you’re into country, rock, indie, or anything else, there’s always some live music happening around the corner. Also, being in the healthcare capital of the country with buzzing real estate markets helps a lot with networking and learning new things. It’s this cool mix of friendly people, awesome outdoor spaces, and non-stop music that makes Nashville a great spot.

What surprised you the most about business school? What totally took me by surprise in business school was just how fast everything zooms past. It feels like I blinked and went from Owen’s orientation and making my first friends to ticking off a whole list of firsts – my first snow hike, shooting at a range, getting into the grind of internship recruiting, and then actually doing the internship. On top of that, I’ve been trying to give back to the school in different ways. There’s always something major happening each week here, keeping you constantly on your feet. For anyone thinking about heading into business school, my biggest piece of advice would be to get super sharp with planning your time. The experience is amazing, but man, does it fly by fast, so managing your time well is crucial.

Which MBA classmate do you most admire? Andrew Boisselle. Andrew and I first worked together for the Owen Investment Banking Case Competition and collaborated on many teams ever since. Andrew is a thorough professional. He is diligent, driven, empathetic, and, most importantly, witty. He is active on the campus through clubs such as the Finance Club and Out & Allied. Many of our classmates, including me, have benefited tremendously from his encouraging presence and smart ideas. Andrew fits perfectly within the collaborative DNA of Owen and it would be tough to imagine my MBA without him.

What are the top two items on your professional bucket list? I aim to work across different credit markets and products in evolving capacities throughout my career. Possibly in the long term, playing some part in addressing large credit gaps in developing countries like India excites me because of the potential to make an impact. Additionally, I’m keen on exploring the role of AI in financial services and its integration. For now, my focus is to fully devote myself to learning the ropes, staying open to opportunities, and learning as much as possible. Going with the flow, I’m ready to see where this journey leads.

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

“Rushi Jere is one of the most active and engaged students in the Class of 2024. During his first year in the program, Rushi was very diligent in his career exploration and recruiting activities. Even during the most stressful times of investment banking recruiting, he was always helpful with his classmates, providing coaching, advice, and guidance to other students who did not have his pre-MBA experience in financial services. During his second year at Owen, he was a true mentor to the incoming first-year class, serving as an officer in the Owen Finance Club and as a 2nd year Career Peer Coach to students interested in careers in financial services.  Where Rushi stood out among his peers was the hours he spent with other international students, helping them navigate cultural differences in recruiting in US-based firms and providing insight into companies and alumni.  He compiled comprehensive notes and insight on the recruiting processes and shared them with the first-year class, which no doubt had a tremendous impact on their success. Even though the recruitment process can be competitive, Rushi went out of his way to engage and help his fellow classmates.  I know he will take the same attitude as an alumnus of the program, staying engaged with Owen and future students to help them achieve their career goals.”

Emily Anderson
Executive Director, Career Management Center

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