Anantika Khindaria, Georgetown McDonough MBA Class of 2027
Age: 26
Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
Undergraduate Institution and Major: UNC-Chapel Hill, B.A. in Media & Journalism
Pre-MBA Work Experience: Three years as Director of Marketing at Carolina Waterfowl Rescue (CWR), a nonprofit wildlife rehabilitation center specializing in the care of federally protected migratory birds.
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
My decision to attend business school now was entirely informed by my localized experience in a small, dedicated nonprofit that relied heavily on unpaid marketing as a major source of annual funding. I saw firsthand how smaller nonprofits with meaningful missions struggle to scale because of financial barriers.
Despite strong community support, CWR’s limited access to sustainable funding often restricted its ability to expand programs, like educational outreach. I chose business school to deepen my understanding of finance and strategy, so I can design solutions that help growing nonprofits overcome these industry-wide obstacles and achieve greater impact.
Why did you choose Georgetown McDonough? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
With my learning goals in mind and my prior industry experience, I knew that Washington, D.C., the center for nonprofit enterprise in the country, was the place to be. Despite a year of administrative turmoil for public sector funding, I still believe the range of resources, expertise, and experiential learning opportunities in this city are the most applicable to my career aspirations.
Additionally, Georgetown’s commitment to ‘Cura personalis,’ care for the whole person, not only aligned with my personal values but were strongly showcased throughout my interactions with school representatives in the admissions process. Lastly, for anyone planning to attend business school, financing should always be a factor in consideration! Among the four schools I was truly grateful to be choosing from, the scholarship offer I received from McDonough helped to cement my decision.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2027?
I hope to contribute to my class with my non-traditional industry experience; I’ve learned to be equally comfortable in whatever environment I’m in, whether I’m talking to donors, volunteers, pet owners, veterinary professionals, or administrative colleagues. I have a uniquely regional insight into the rescue of wildlife, exotic pets, and farm animals in my home state, and I have already developed key marketing competencies during my time at CWR. I found a place where I had an impact, and it impacted me. I am excited for the opportunity to share this passion for impact with my classmates.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application:
Based on the sound of their quack alone, I can identify if a duck is biologically male or female – the perks of working at a noisy animal rescue!
Post-MBA career interests:
After business school, I aim to return to the nonprofit conservation space with the skills to address its financial and structural challenges. My long-term goal is to scale CWR into a multi-state network of reputable branches, building a sustainable financial model that ensures wildlife rehabilitators are compensated fairly for their expertise while improving the standard of wildlife care nationwide.
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
I applied to business school with a very clear vision of where I was coming from and where I was headed. I had reached a natural juncture in my career where “Why an MBA?” made timely sense for my professional goals, so affirming these goals within my application essays became easy. I didn’t feel like I was reaching for reasons in my essays, which was a genuine asset during the process.
–What is one thing you would change or do differently?
Given the chance to do things differently, I would study for and take the GRE much earlier. While other students had already applied Round 1, I was just beginning my GRE prep. Mentally, I was stuck in a place where I wanted to get my GRE score out of the way before starting on the other components of my application, so when it came time to write my essays, I had much less time than I had anticipated. I submitted all of my applications by their Round 2 deadlines, but had I started preparing earlier, I could have earned greater scholarship consideration for myself in Round 1.
–What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
I think it’s a given to say I would skip nights of GRE prep after coming home from work! Mentally, it felt like a challenge to finish each day’s work and then have to maintain a disciplined study schedule at night. Around the time I began studying seriously, I also adopted a pet parrot. Looking back on it now, I realize that she helped me get through all those hours of studying. Even though I would come home tired, I would be excited to spend time with her, and she would keep me quiet company as I studied.
What is your initial impression of the Georgetown McDonough students/culture/community?
The students make the community! Truly, all the classmates I have met within the program (and outside of the program) have been some of the nicest people. Contrary to the stereotype that business students are self-serving, the teamwork and community-building that has happened in just a few short weeks has been really encouraging.
What student organizations have you joined/are you hoping to join and why?
I’m a new member of Georgetown McDonough’s Net Impact Club, Graduate Women in Business, and the MSB Soccer Club. I joined Net Impact to boost my knowledge and practical skills in the field of impact investing and to meet mission-driven peers. With only 31% of the enrolling class being woman-identifying, I knew I wanted to join Women in Business to have access to women-centered spaces in a largely-male dominated field of study. And lastly, it’s been years since I’ve played soccer, but it was something I always enjoyed when I was younger, so I’m glad for the opportunity now!
What is one thing you have learned about Georgetown McDonough that has surprised you?
I was surprised by the spirit of entrepreneurship at Georgetown. Sweetgreen, Spindrift, and Bombas are all companies that got their start at Georgetown. The size of the student body here is much smaller and concentrated than my undergraduate institution, yet it feels like the campus buzzes with ideas, engagement, and action. I’m interested in learning more about entrepreneurship while I’m here, so it’s been a pleasant surprise to see how evident that changemaking drive is around here.
What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
The most rewarding aspect of my first year so far has been making new, international friends. Many of my classmates have traveled from other countries to join McDonough’s full-time program, despite facing external visa difficulties, and are leaving their homes behind to fully immerse themselves in a new culture and education system. I can’t imagine how challenging a jump like that must be, but I have already benefitted from the wonderful chance to be in classes with such a diverse array of people. I continue to be excited about learning about other parts of the world, business in those parts, and ways of life abroad.
