Shantanu Marwaha       

University of North Carolina, Kenan-Flagler Business School

“Passionate about investing, movies and entrepreneurship. Sports help me reset and refocus.”

Hometown: New Delhi, India

Fun Fact About Yourself:  I’ve been an Airbnb host since 2019 and have hosted guests from the U.S., Canada, Australia, the Netherlands, Finland, the UAE, the U.K.. and across India.

Undergraduate School and Major: Delhi College of Arts and Commerce, University of Delhi, major in Economics and Marketing

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Grant Thornton, Consultant

Aside from your classmates, what was the key part of Kenan-Flagler’s MBA curriculum or programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you?
UNC Kenan-Flagler’s program stands out to me for its strong emphasis on experiential learning, which aligns perfectly with my hands-on learning style. I’ve always understood concepts better through application-based exercises, and the practical approach at UNC Kenan-Flagler excites me. For instance, a second-year MBA at UNC Kenan-Flagler shared how his team developed a revival strategy for a retail brand in the Consulting Skills & Frameworks class. For this, they visited multiple stores, identified key problems and crafted actionable solutions. This immersive learning experience is exactly what I was seeking.

What are some advantages you’ve seen in earning your MBA in Chapel Hill?
I was looking for a student-town experience—somewhere I could slow down a bit, focus on learning, and build deep relationships. Chapel Hill offers exactly that. It’s a tight-knit, supportive community where people genuinely care, and the pace gives you space to think, grow, and connect. Plus, being surrounded by a vibrant sports culture is a big bonus. I’m passionate about sports—they keep me grounded, help me manage stress and will keep my motivation high throughout the MBA journey.

What course, club or activity excites you the most at Kenan-Flagler?
I plan to pursue the Consulting Concentration and be actively involved with the Consulting Club. It offers a strong platform to sharpen my soft skills, prepare for consulting interviews and grow my network. I’m also looking forward to the Sports & Entertainment Club. As someone who’s always been passionate about sports, I’d love to explore potential career paths in that space. Additionally, I enjoy outdoor activities like hiking and trekking, and I hope to be an active member of the MBA Adventure Club to make the most of what North Carolina has to offer.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: In 2024, I led a high-stakes project for a leading private equity firm, evaluating a potential $80 million investment in a FinTech NBFC company specializing in affordable home loans in India. On paper, everything looked great, but something felt off. To address this, I proposed an unconventional approach: conduct on-ground diligence across four major cities where the NBFC had a significant presence.

We engaged with the target company’s current and former employees, customers, competitors, and industry experts to investigate key areas, including customer acquisition strategies, underwriting practices, employee turnover, regulatory compliance, and customer satisfaction. The findings revealed significant operational gaps. Our assessment indicated that the target company prioritized loan volume over loan quality. To attract customers, they offered quick turnaround times without conducting thorough background checks. While this approach successfully boosted customer acquisition, it also led to a significant increase in non-performing assets. We also uncovered issues related to employee retention, as the company lacked an inclusive work environment and faced persistent understaffing challenges. Additionally, we uncovered instances where some sales department employees were issuing fictitious loans to acquaintances to meet their targets. This practice significantly inflated the loan book, a situation that the NBFC’s senior management chose to overlook.

Our analysis uncovered critical risks that were not apparent in traditional financial statements or industry reports. The insights gave our PE client strong leverage to renegotiate, and they successfully secured the deal at a significantly lower valuation. The impact of this project extended beyond the immediate investment decision. The client appreciated my innovative approach and adopted it as a standard for future assessments, leading to a 20% increase in revenue from their projects.

Describe the best memory of your life so far? Why does that moment resonate with you?
In 2016, I went on my first Himalayan trek, reaching 5,000 feet, and it completely changed me. That experience sparked my love for trekking, leading to two more treks in 2017 and 2023 where I reached 5,500 feet and 9,000 feet.

In 2016, even though we had a trained instructor, I was chosen to lead the group—coordinating responsibilities like cooking, washing, collecting water and firewood. When we finally summited, pitched our tents and sat in silence surrounded by endless mountains, I felt a kind of peace and happiness I haven’t felt since. That moment still stands out as one of the purest and most fulfilling experiences of my life.

What do you hope to do after graduation (at this point)?
Post-MBA, I aspire to become a strategy consultant at a leading firm, such as McKinsey, Bain or BCG. Building on my current experience, I wish to develop comprehensive strategies for private equity and venture capital clients to help them identify high-potential investment opportunities and build robust, sustainable portfolios.

And, in the long run (5-10 years down the line), I’d like to expand to a broader role within such firms, and maybe head the private equity consulting practice for a specific region or industry.

DON’T MISS: MEET NORTH CAROLINA KENAN-FLAGLER’S MBA CLASS OF 2027

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