Meet Washington Foster’s MBA Class of 2019

Nimit Pathak

University of Washington, Foster School of Business

Describe yourself in 15 words or less: A patient pragmatist and optimistic adventure who’s always been more interested in questions than answers.

Hometown: Chicago, IL

Fun Fact About Yourself: Backpacked and traveled through 33 countries on 6 continents.

Undergraduate School and Major: Iowa State University, Philosophy

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation: Senior Derivatives Trader, Toro Capital Management

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far:  My biggest accomplishment in my career is probably, ironically enough, my career itself. The journey from a degree in philosophy and graduating without a job to transforming my skillset and climbing the invariably steep learning curve of derivatives to finally gaining the trading clerkship that ultimately started my career has defined my perspective on what I am capable of and what is possible.

Looking back on your experience, what one piece of advice would you give to future business school applicants? Be honest with yourself and really sit down and decide what you want out of the experience. Applying to school is a grind from day one of GMAT prep all the way thru navigating the seemingly endless parade of essays and deadlines. Throw in a few MBA fairs and flights across the country for interviews – all while working full-time – and you’ll quickly learn the process is as daunting as it is rewarding. But whatever your ultimate goals are, define them and start fighting to make them a reality. It’s critical to appreciate and enjoy the process, reflect, embrace uncertainty, and stay focused. Never become complacent, don’t settle, take risks, and always trust your gut.

What was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you? From the second I first set foot on campus in Seattle, I knew there was a distinct energy about UW and Foster. The feeling was palpable and new and impossible to ignore. Once I weeded through the droves of rankings and subtext – the buzzwords and marketed platitudes of culture and compensation statistics at each school – I found that in the end if you’re choosing a school simply because it’s slotted here or there on somebody else’s list of what’s best for them, then you’re probably doing it wrong. I knew I wanted to spend the next two years of my life in a unique, challenging, and supportive environment that felt more like I was gaining a second family rather than just going back to get my MBA. Foster’s distinctly smaller class size and second-to-none job placement along with its amazing location nestled in the mountains of the beautiful Pacific Northwest made it an easy, albeit distant, leap from the quiet comfort of Chicago.

What would success look like to you after your first year of business school? Finding balance, feeling at home, and staying healthy. Progressing in my desire to become more comfortable being uncomfortable, not getting lost in the noise, and having the wherewithal to consistently balance expectations versus reality. I believe this whole experience is about learning to be true and authentic and accountable to yourself…and pushing myself to embody and live that mantra while being constantly pulled in a dozen different directions would certainly define success after year one.