Tanmay Chhaparia

New York University, Stern School of Business

“A lifelong learner on a journey of self-discovery and growth.”

Hometown: Kolkata, India

Fun Fact About Yourself: My life’s most stressful moment was when a snake coiled around my neck in a forest. The guide asked me to stay still and the snake eventually moved away. Even as I type this recollection, my fingers still tremble from the experience!

Undergraduate School and Major: St. Xavier’s College, Kolkata, India. Bachelor of Commerce (Honors) with specialization in Accounting & Finance

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Chhaparia & Associates, Director

What excites you the most about living in New York City and how do you see it enhancing your learning experience? New York City is a land of opportunities, offering something for everyone to advance their career. I am particularly excited about the networking opportunities in NYC and I am sure the city’s diverse population will broaden my horizons.

Aside from your classmates, what was the key part of NYU Stern’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? Stern places a strong emphasis on emotional intelligence (EQ), which I believe is crucial for success in today’s evolving business landscape. Additionally, the flexibility to design my own path and choose specializations truly stood out to me, as this will allow me to strengthen different skill sets specific to my particular needs.

What course, club or activity excites you the most at NYU Stern? That’s a tough question. However, if I had to choose, I would say I am particularly excited about taking classes with Professor Aswath Damodaran — who needs no introduction — and learning from him.

What does EQ (Emotional Intelligence) mean to you and when have you seen its value in your career? To me, EQ means empathizing and collaborating with others. Over the years, I have come to understand that no work can be truly done independently; every task involves interacting with people. In my career, I have noticed that EQ has a powerful positive ‘multiplier’ effect on outcomes.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Being accepted into Stern and featured in Poets&Quants is certainly a noteworthy achievement! Besides my professional successes, my most significant accomplishments have been those where I have positively impacted my community and the lives of others. Leveraging my professional experiences and technical background, I have successfully mentored numerous individuals and positively impacted their careers.

What is your unique quality that will enable you to make a big contribution to the Class of 2026? I am deeply committed to a pay-it-forward culture and consistently strive to help and support others. Moreover, I hope my interpersonal qualities such as inclusiveness and empathy will help foster a positive and collaborative environment in my class.

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into NYU Stern’s MBA program? While the best advice would be tailored to the unique circumstances of the potential applicant, a general recommendation is to be yourself. Additionally, I suggest connecting with current students and alumni to gain a thorough understanding of Stern’s culture. Lastly, I recommend enjoying the process!

DON’T MISS: MEET NYU STERN’S MBA CLASS OF 2026