In the Heart of the Financial District

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Ayush Bharat Dhanuka

Senior - Transaction Diligence, EY

Class of 2021
MS in Financial Risk Management

Member Of: Pace Indian Student Association, Graduate Finance Club

Ayush came to Lubin ready to take the Wall Street bull by its horns. That is why he found that Pace University was the perfect place for him. He is an international student from Mumbai, India, who has taken advantage of every opportunity available, on-and off-campus. Ayush is a recipient of the Global Association of Risk Professionals Financial Risk Management Certificate Scholarship, a student leader, and a lot more.

Why did you choose Pace University and the Lubin School of Business to advance your business education?

The Lubin School of Business offers a plethora of opportunities for personal and career growth. Additionally, the location and proximity to the top financial firms made Pace University my top choice to pursue a graduate finance degree.

Your passion for finance is reflected in your presence on campus. What has it been like to be part of the Graduate Finance Club?

I headed the Finance Newsletter Team as part of the Graduate Finance Club. This experience helped me stay up-to-date with happenings within the finance world (a necessity in this field). Secondly, being associated with the Graduate Finance Club opens the door to multiple networking opportunities and allows me to interact with peers with similar interests and career goals.

My graduate assistantship with professor Picheng Lee was by far one of my most enriching experiences at Lubin. Working directly with a professor and contributing to research helped me develop essential skills for the corporate world.

Talk about what it is like to be a graduate assistant.

My graduate assistantship with Professor Picheng Lee was by far one of my most enriching experiences at Lubin. Working directly with a professor and contributing to research helped me develop essential skills for the corporate world. I got to work on exciting topics such as CEO compensation studies and the new credit risk allowances that banks are implementing. I think this assistantship catapulted my career trajectory.

You have a go-getter attitude and get involved in many projects and extracurricular activities. What advice do you have for other students?

First and foremost, Pace offers numerous opportunities to its students. My initial advice would be to not get overwhelmed by them. You can start by picking two or three interests that match your career goals. For instance, I relied on graduate organizations for networking; I relied on case competitions for learning and communicating with professors directly for advice. Lubin also offers the Analytics Bootcamp, which I wasn't able to attend, but it was highly recommended by my peers.

What are your future goals for your career?

My initial goal is to delve into the Wall Street finance culture. A Wall Street job would be a stepping stone toward my long-term career goal of becoming an independent finance professional practicing in financial disciplines such as investment banking or portfolio management.

What does #LubinLife mean to you?

#LubinLife is the embodiment of everything that is Pace. It means taking advantage of everything this institution offers you - the motivated students, the melting pot of cultures, the professors, the extracurricular activities, the infrastructure - everything. Lubin becomes part of your life.