Soham Mukherjee

The University of Texas at Austin, McCombs School of Business

“Equal parts analytical thinker and dancer who believes data, storytelling and optimism can solve most challenges.”

Hometown: Kolkata, West Bengal

Fun fact about yourself: I really enjoy letting loose on the dance floor. I think it is one of the best ways of self-expression.

Undergraduate School and Degree: Drexel University; Bachelor of Science in Economics and Bachelor of Science in Business Administration

Where was the last place you worked before enrolling in business school? Senior Valuation Analyst at Citrin Cooperman

Where did you intern during the summer of 2025? PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) at Dallas, TX

Where will you be working after graduation?
PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC)
Senior Associate in the Financial Solutions Advisory Practice

Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School: As an Executive Board member of the Graduate Consulting Group (GCG), I focused on supporting international students navigating the highly competitive consulting recruitment process. Recognizing the unique challenges faced by international students, many of whom leave behind established careers and support systems behind, I provided mentorship, led preparation sessions, and helped foster a more inclusive environment where they could build confidence and succeed.

Beyond GCG, I served as a Board Fellow with the Hispanic Scholarship Consortium (HSC), where I was recognized for my impactful contributions in developing a financial model and redesigning the organization’s endowment investment portfolio to improve returns while reducing risk – work that directly supports scholarship funding for underserved students.

In addition to my leadership and community engagement, I was honoured to receive several highly selective and prestigious scholarships awarded to a limited number of students, including the Hicks, Muse, Tate & Furst (HMTF) Centre for Private Equity Scholarship and the Anna Hughes Cunningham Endowed Presidential Scholarship. These recognitions not only reflect academic excellence but also a commitment to leadership and impact within the McCombs community.

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? The achievement I am most proud of during business school has been supporting international students navigating consulting recruitment through my leadership in the Graduate Consulting Group (GCG). Consulting is one of the most competitive career paths at McCombs, and for international students, many of whom have left their homes, careers, and support systems behind, the process can feel especially intimidating.

Having experienced those uncertainties myself, I committed to ensuring that no international student had to navigate it alone. I organized workshops on networking and relationship-building, held one-on-one mentoring sessions, and hosted casing practices during Thanksgiving and winter breaks for students who stayed on campus to prepare for recruiting. These sessions became more than preparation; they created a supportive space where students could ask honest questions, build confidence, and encourage one another. By the end of the recruiting cycle, the percentage of international students securing consulting internships compared with the prior year increased by almost 10%. What makes this achievement most meaningful is knowing that I could play an active role in one of the most important career moments of their MBA journey by leveraging my skills in presentation, mentoring, and problem solving.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? At Citrin Cooperman, as a Senior Valuation Analyst, I was assigned to lead a team comprising of members from the India office in a complex valuation project for a leading client. The members of the Indian team were very knowledgeable and analytically sound; however, they lacked the knowledge of American Financial systems, software, and terminology that was very familiar with in the U.S. I decided to educate them about this by drawing parallels between the U.S and Indian financial systems, as I had knowledge about both and thus act as the bridge for their knowledge.

I am most proud of this experience because our team was able to successfully meet the client’s demands ahead of the promised deadline despite the initial knowledge gaps within the team. Many of the Indian analysts later shared that their work had been recognized and thanked me for taking the time to explain the fundamentals of the U.S. financial system, without which they would have struggled to perform even the basic tasks required for the project. Bridging the financial systems of India and the United States, drawing parallels between the two, and communicating those differences effectively across borders significantly strengthened my ability to lead and collaborate in a global team environment.

Why did you choose this business school? I chose Texas McCombs primarily because of its culture and the people who bring it to life. During the admissions process, every conversation with students and the admissions team felt deeply personal, far beyond what an application can capture through essays and test scores. They were genuinely curious about who I was as a person: what excited me, what motivated me outside of work, and what kind of impact I hoped to make during my MBA. One moment that stayed with me was when an admissions team member personally rescheduled a meeting after a logistical issue prevented our original conversation from happening. It was a small gesture, but it spoke volumes.

In that moment, I realized that McCombs was a place where people truly cared about building relationships, not just evaluating candidates. As someone stepping into a new chapter of life and moving to a new state, that sense of warmth and authenticity mattered immensely. I chose McCombs because I believed that in a community like this—one that values people as much as performance, I could thrive by contributing meaningfully to the community and getting close to becoming the best version of myself over these two transformative years.

What was your favorite course as an MBA? My favorite MBA course was the elective Time Series Forecasting, taught by Professor Tom Shively. Before taking the course, I often viewed forecasting models as opaque “black boxes” that produced predictions without much intuitive clarity. Professor Shively changed that perception entirely. Through clear explanations, detailed notes, practical examples, and the passion he brought to the classroom, he helped us understand the underlying logic of forecasting models in a way that was both rigorous and intuitive.

The most rewarding part of the course was applying these techniques to real-world economic data. We built models to analyze historical time series for very important economic indicators, generated predictions for periods where actual data already existed, and compared the results to understand the strengths and limitations of different forecasting approaches. This process revealed the subtle nuances and assumptions embedded in each model and showed how statistical tools can meaningfully inform real-world decision-making. Going forward in my professional career, having this understanding of using data to make predictions is an invaluable skill in my opinion.

What was your favorite MBA event or tradition at your business school? My favorite MBA tradition at McCombs School of Business is the football tailgates hosted in the pavilion right outside the business school building before home games. Football is another religion in Texas, and these tailgates become a great unifier for the entire MBA community. Students from the full-time, part-time, and executive programs all come together to build excitement for the upcoming game and support the Longhorns.

What makes the event even more special is that faculty members often attend with their families, which creates a very welcoming and close-knit atmosphere beyond the classroom. With great music, delicious tacos, and plenty of school spirit, the tailgates reflect the strong sense of community and pride that defines the McCombs experience.

Looking back over your MBA experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently and why?
Looking back on my MBA experience, the one thing I would do differently is address the feeling of “Fear of Missing Out” (FOMO) much earlier and help others do the same. At the start of the program, the constant stream of social events, club activities, and social media updates made it easy to feel like I was not doing enough or missing out on key experiences. I briefly felt this during orientation when I saw friends attending different events and questioned whether I was making the most of my MBA.

What helped me find my footing was realizing that an MBA is not about doing everything but rather doing the right things for you. Once I shifted my focus away from comparison and toward intentional choices, I was able to build deeper relationships and pursue experiences that were genuinely meaningful. That mindset not only improved my own experience, but also shaped how I supported others, particularly international students who often face similar pressures.

If I could give advice to an incoming student on day one, it would be this: don’t measure your MBA by how full your calendar is but rather measure it by how aligned your experiences are with who you want to become. Embracing that perspective earlier would have allowed me to be more present, more focused, and ultimately get even more out of the experience.

What was the most impactful case study you had in business school and what was the biggest lesson you learned from it? The most impactful case study I experienced at McCombs was the capstone case on Nintendo in my Microeconomics core course. The case effectively brought together many of the concepts we had studied throughout the semester—from game theory and competitive strategy to pricing and profit maximization. Analyzing Nintendo’s strategic decisions in the highly competitive gaming industry highlighted how companies must carefully balance innovation, pricing, and ecosystem strategy to sustain long-term competitive advantage. What made the case particularly powerful was seeing how theoretical economic models could explain real-world business outcomes and strategic choices. The biggest lesson I took away was that strong strategies often emerge from understanding incentives and anticipating competitors’ moves, not simply reacting to market trends.

What did you love most about your business school’s town? What I loved most about Austin was its vibrant energy and the feeling that there is always something happening. The city perfectly blends the charm of a small town with the dynamism of a large city, creating a welcoming and exciting environment for students. From iconic events like South by Southwest and Formula 1 to the countless live music shows, food festivals, and outdoor activities, Austin constantly offers opportunities to explore and connect with others. At the same time, it is a wonderful place to decompress during the more stressful moments of the MBA, especially during recruiting, whether that means spending time outdoors, enjoying great food, or simply taking in the city’s lively atmosphere. That balance between energy and relaxation made Austin an incredibly special place to spend my MBA years.

What is one way that your business school has integrated AI into your programming? What insights did you gain from using AI? I believe that McCombs has done an excellent job of integrating AI meaningfully into the MBA program. One way the school has done this is by incorporating AI into coursework that encourages students to actively collaborate with AI tools to solve business problems. In my SQL for Business and Marketing course, AI tools were frequently used alongside traditional programming techniques to help structure queries, debug code, and explore different analytical approaches. Rather than replacing technical understanding, AI served as a collaborative partner that accelerated learning and allowed us to focus more on interpreting results and deriving business insights.

Across the broader curriculum, McCombs has also been highly proactive by offering new courses such as AI for Competitive Advantage and Human-AI Collaboration, which address the management and leadership aspects of working alongside AI in the future workforce. Even in more traditional finance classes, professors consistently encouraged experimentation with AI in assignments and problem sets. That mindset helped me see AI not as a shortcut, but as a tool that can be effectively leveraged to significantly enhance how professionals analyze problems and make decisions.

Which MBA classmate do you most admire? The MBA classmate I admire most is Anshula Garg. Anshula came to McCombs from India with the ambitious goal of breaking into investment banking in New York. This has traditionally been one of the most competitive career paths in business school and specially at McCombs primarily due to its location in Texas. As an international student pursuing a traditionally demanding and male-dominated industry, she faced significant uncertainty, especially since there had been no recent precedent of an international female student from McCombs successfully securing a New York investment banking role. Without relevant mentorship to follow, Anshula had to chart her own path. What stood out most was her unwavering determination. She prepared relentlessly for interviews, spent countless hours refining her technical knowledge, and consistently reached out to professionals to build relationships and learn from their experiences – while always maintaining a positive atmosphere. She had some setbacks but did not let them deter her in any manner. Instead, she used them as an excellent opportunity to improve.

Through persistence and discipline, she ultimately secured an internship with a very prestigious New York boutique investment banking firm (and converted it to a full-time offer).
Seeing Anshula pursue such a challenging goal with courage and perseverance was deeply inspiring and reinforced my belief in the power of grit and self-belief.

What are the top two items on your professional bucket list? My first goal in my professional bucket list is to build a global consulting career focused on helping organizations navigate complex financial and operational transformations, particularly in emerging markets. Over time, I aspire to take on senior leadership roles at PwC, leading large-scale financial transformation initiatives and contributing to the firm’s growth in high-potential markets such as India. I aim to achieve this by leveraging my leadership experience gained at McCombs and my skills in financial analysis gained from my professional experience.

My second goal is to play a leading role in building more inclusive global talent pathways by actively mentoring and supporting international professionals, particularly those navigating complex career transitions. I hope to stay closely connected to McCombs and contribute to building a strong talent pipeline by creating pathways for students to access global careers in consulting. I aim to achieve this by leveraging the network and relationships I developed during my MBA to connect students with opportunities, mentorship, and guidance as they navigate the recruiting process.

What made Soham such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2026?

“Soham is a force for connection and positivity who meaningfully shapes the culture of our program. His enthusiasm for McCombs is unmistakable. Whether he is mentoring classmates, welcoming prospective students, performing at cultural events, or supporting peers academically, Soham shows up with the same energy, warmth, and commitment to helping others succeed. His classmates put it simply: “Soham always brings energy to the McCombs building through his positivity and constant smile,” and he is always willing to step in with thoughtful advice, resources, or encouragement when someone needs it most.

That mindset shows up in both big and small ways. Ashley Jones, director of student experience reflected about meeting Soham for the first time on a pre-orientation backpacking trip in Alaska: “One of the first questions you ask yourself when you meet Soham is, ‘Is he really this positive and kind all the time?’” – a question quickly answered by countless moments where he lifts others up with humor, humility, and an unwaveringly optimistic outlook. Despite having never hiked before, within the first hour—cold, wet, and sliding down an embankment into water—Soham simply laughed, asked for help from new friends, learned how to double-knot his boots, and kept going. Where others might have been frustrated, Soham chose resilience and connection. That same instinct defines how he shows up every day at McCombs: stay positive, bring people together, and keep moving forward.

Soham’s leadership spans nearly every corner of the McCombs experience. As an Executive Board Member of the Graduate Consulting Group, he focused on supporting international students navigating the complex consulting recruiting process—hosting additional case sessions over Thanksgiving and winter break when many international classmates could not travel home. As a McCombs Ambassador Committee member, he conducted the most optional MBA interviews for two consecutive semesters while also representing the program during Discover McCombs and Preview Weekend events. He also served as a Board Fellow, where his work building a financial model and redesigning the endowment investment portfolio for the Hispanic Scholarship Consortium earned high commendation for delivering stronger returns with lower risk. In addition, Soham has been a Peer Leadership Coach, Teaching Assistant for both core Statistics course and Executive MBA finance course, and an active member of the South Asian Business Society and International MBA Student Association, where he helped bring the community together through events like Holi, Diwali, and International Night—often as both choreographer and master of ceremonies.

His impact extends beyond campus. Soham represented McCombs nationally by winning first place at the Financial Times “BizQuiz 2024” competition, outperforming teams from more than ten business schools. He also helped organize the inaugural UT India Conference, coordinating logistics for an event that brought together over twenty prominent speakers to discuss economic growth, technology, and the role of AI in the world’s largest democracy.

Alongside this deep engagement, Soham has also been recognized for academic excellence in the classroom. Professor Tom Shively summarizes Soham’s character and contributions best: “Soham is an outstanding student and contributor to the McCombs MBA Program. He has been the TA for two of my classes this year – the MBA core course in statistics and an elective in time series forecasting. Soham has been one of the best TAs I have had at McCombs. He knows and understands the material well and is able to explain it to others clearly and concisely. Soham is very approachable and students enjoy working with him. He holds weekly office hours and is even willing to meet with students individually outside of his regularly scheduled hours. He clearly cares about the students and contributes significantly to the class. I couldn’t ask for a better TA.”

What distinguishes Soham isn’t beyond the number of roles he’s taken on in our community, it is more so the contagious spirit and dedication he brings to each one. He believes that business school should be a place where every student feels welcomed, empowered, and connected. Through mentorship, cultural leadership, academic support, and boundless positivity, Soham has helped make McCombs a stronger and more connected community. He embodies the very spirit of the Best & Brightest MBAs, a leader who lifts others, builds bridges across cultures, and expands the pursuit of knowledge and growth well beyond the classroom.”

Tina Mabley
Senior Assistant Dean, Full-Time MBA
The University of Texas at Austin, McCombs School of Business, Hildebrand MBA

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