Aayush Agam Shrivastava

University of Rochester, Simon Business School

“Doctor by training, entrepreneur by spirit, baker and golfer by passion—future healthcare innovator.”

Hometown: Vadodara, Gujarat, India

Fun Fact About Yourself: A self-taught YouTube chef, I find joy in creating delicacies like baked New York style cheesecake and exploring Indian sweets.

Undergraduate School and Major: Narendra Modi Medical College, Ahmedabad

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Product Lead & Co-Founder, The Passion Project

Aside from your classmates, what was the key part of Rochester Simon’s MBA curriculum or programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? The Simon MBA focuses on all-round development—both personally and technically, aligning perfectly with my needs. It tends to go slightly beyond the traditional academic curriculum, as it actually focuses on developing key skills like communication, teamwork, leadership, and problem-solving, which are highly integral for you to really excel in your professional life and are also highly valued by employers around the globe.

Rochester Simon is known for being “unabashedly analytical.” Why does the program’s focus on quantitative analysis and decision-making appeal to you? How do you intend to leverage this approach as a student and professional? I feel being “unabashedly analytical” is what sets Simon apart. Arriving at Simon and getting into the nitty gritty of being an MBA student is when I understood how important it is to have that analytical skill. To lead in today’s markets, being equipped with analytical skill is extremely crucial. It allows you to work well with your peers, understand data, and use data in a unique way. I believe people are drawn to the program’s focus on quantitative analysis and decision-making because these skills are an absolute necessity today. Day-in-and-day-out, you hear about the market being volatile—these skills not only make you valuable to the company, they also add to your life skills and to your overall personality. We had structured problem solving in our pre-fall semester, and I am not only using the knowledge I earned there in my life as a student, but I am already using it avidly in case studies, business models, and in the approach to solve any professional problem. It has taught me what to do with the data that I have been given.

What are some advantages you’ve seen in earning your MBA in Rochester? I would say being a part of the Simon community speaks for itself—it allows you to be a part of an amazing group of individuals who are reaching heights in their careers and are making an impact in the world. Within just two weeks of being at Simon, I understood how close and helpful the community is and the reason why the community is called #SimonStrong!

Having a small-class size allows me to be close to all my peers and build stronger connections. It gives us equal opportunities to lead and represent the community, which I believe helps to build character.
Simon is one of the most diverse programs in the US, this outright makes us leaders when it comes to having global perspective. For instance, going through a case study, I get to hear such diverse ideologies that are rooted around the world and allows me to create the best solutions. I believe having a global perspective in the business world allows you to create solutions through a different lens.

What course, club or activity excites you the most at Simon? Simon Vision Consulting—what better way to learn and contribute to society? For candidates like me who strive to gain experience in real world consulting, SVC provides the perfect opportunity to do so, and doing it pro bono builds a sense of purpose and vision in us to solve problems.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Apart from the quantifiable achievements in my career, my biggest accomplishment comes from aiding a cause. Serving 300 soldiers who were grounded from duty because of COVID-19 infection and helping them through my antigen testing team felt like the biggest achievement. Remembering those 300 soldiers performing a drill salute for us still gives me chills and drives my purpose.

What do you hope to do after graduation (at this point)? I wish to be a part of the strategy team in a bio-pharma company.

DON’T MISS: MEET ROCHESTER SIMON’S MBA CLASS OF 2026