Lisa Sanganeria, NYU Stern MBA Class of 2027
Age: 25
Hometown: Kolkata, India
Undergraduate Institution and Major: St. Xavier’s College, Kolkata- Bachelors in Commerce (Accounting & Finance)
Pre-MBA Work Experience: ESG Risk Analyst, Risk Management, Nomura, 1.5 years; Credit Risk Analyst for large corporates and FIG, Risk Management, HSBC, 2.5 years
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
While I enjoyed my work in risk management at investment banks, I realized I wanted to contribute more to the investment decision making and capital allocation process for businesses and industries I am passionate about. Business school will help me develop leadership as well as technical skills, and equally important, the connections in the space that will help me pivot into my desired career. These connections, resources and lessons will also help me in the long run to achieve my goals.
Why did you choose NYU Stern? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
There were a few factors that made me choose NYU Stern. First, its presence in the heart of NYC, which helps with direct access to one of the biggest financial centers of the world. Also the strong, helpful alumni network ⸺ every single Sternie I have spoken to has been warm, and further influenced my decision on wanting to be a part of this community. And lastly, the industry expert professors and the real-world experiences that Stern offers in various ways including Stern Solutions experiential learning courses and projects and “Doing Business In…” global courses.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2027?
I believe my capability of bringing together financial understanding and skills, given my strong theoretical as well as practical finance background, along with the understanding of sustainability and impact investing, helps me bring strong sustainable finance skills to the table. This will help me contribute in helping my classmates deal with the complexities of understanding finance and accounting, and also bring that together with real-world impact and how to make a difference with the resources we have.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application:
I have never lived in a city where temperatures go below ~17°C. It’s not even fall and I am scared about surviving NY winters.
Post-MBA career interests
Investment Banking- I want to work in investment banking to participate in capital allocation decisions and help close deals, with an interest in the sustainable finance space.
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
Network and talk to current students and recent graduates. As a part of my application process I tried connecting with many Sternies from different backgrounds to know about the factors that impacted their decisions, their experiences (both positive and negative), how they are traversing the volatilities of the current job market, etc. This really helped broaden my understanding of the program and increase my confidence about choosing Stern.
–What is one thing you would change or do differently?
I think I was very happy with my application and am not sure if I would want to change anything.
–What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
The GMAT test. While my GMAT score definitely helped me strengthen my application, the test was something that really tested my skills and patience. Juggling test prep with a full-time job was really hard and I was close to giving up several times. However, when I look back, I realize this just helped me further prepare for the hectic life at business school and taught me how to juggle various tasks.
What is your initial impression of the NYU Stern students/culture/community?
When Stern talks about the importance of EQ (emotional intelligence), they truly mean it. While every student here is a high-achiever, they are all empathetic, high EQ individuals. The culture is very inviting and inclusive and a very good balance of “work hard, play hard” mentality that helps everyone excel and build stronger bonds.
What student organizations have you joined/are you hoping to join and why?
There are so many interesting clubs at Stern, that you are spoiled by choice. I have joined the Graduate Finance Association as I will be recruiting for investment banking this fall. Other professional clubs I have joined are the Social Impact and Sustainability Association (for my interest in sustainability) and the Stern Management & Strategy Club (to learn more about corporate finance and internal strategy). The non-professional clubs also offer so much at Stern and I have joined the South Asian Business Association (SABAS), Stern Women in Business, Stern Adventures and Cellar (The Wine Club).
What is one thing you have learned about NYU Stern that has surprised you?
One thing that has surprised me is that while we already have so many professional and non-professional clubs, you can start a new one if you are passionate about something in particular. There are always like-minded people willing to come together to help you out, bring your ideas to life and grow. My batch has informal groups for every single sport I can think of, and the community aspect is really impressive.
What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
I am very excited about experiencing New York City as a student, especially with my classmates, some of whom are locals while the others have just moved here as well. This city has so much to offer and having the privilege of experiencing it with so many similar yet different people makes it even more exciting.
