Ashini Ganesalingam
Cornell University, Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management
Hometown: New York, NY
High School: Stuyvesant High School
Major: Applied Economics and Management
Favorite Business Courses: Business Statistics, Finance, Derivatives and Risk Management
Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles During College:
- Dean’s List (All semesters)
- Dyson Scholar (All semesters)
- Introductory Statistics (AEM 2100) – Teaching Assistant
- Business Statistics (AEM 3100) – Teaching Assistant
- Derivatives and Risk Management (AEM 4620) – Teaching Assistant
- Student Agencies, Inc – Former General Manager of Campus Promotions
- Ellevate (Women’s Business Society) – Former VP of External Affairs
- Cornell Business Review (Business Magazine) – Business Team Member
- Cornell Big Red Raas – Dancer
Where have you interned during your college career? (List Companies, Locations and Roles)
- J.P. Morgan – Investment Banking Analyst in Equity Capital Markets (New York)
- J.P. Morgan – Investment Banking Analyst in Investment Grade Finance (New York)
Describe your dream job: My dream job would be somewhere where I can work on different things every day, continuously learn something new, connect with people across the world, and contribute positively to society. It would be somewhere where I can attain not only professional growth, but also personal growth.
What did you enjoy most about majoring in a business-related field? The people I have met. Regardless of whether they are a professor, a peer, or a guest speaker, the people I have met are all doing something amazing and I enjoyed hearing about their experiences.
Where would you like to work after graduation? Aksia- Investment Research Analyst
What are your long-term professional goals? I would like to become an expert in the investment management space and over time grow to become a senior partner of the company I am a part of.
“I knew I wanted to major in business when…I took my first AP economics class in high school.”
“If I didn’t major in business, I would be…a mechanical engineer.”
What was the happiest moment of your life? The happiest moment of my life was when I got into Cornell.
Which academic or personal achievement are you most proud of? I am most proud of teaching my students statistics. Teaching is never an easy task. While I understand the material in a particular way, not everyone will understand it the same way I do. I have to invest time and be patient with my students until they get the concept. But when they do, it is one of the most rewarding feelings.
What animal would you choose to represent your professional brand? I would choose an elephant to represent my professional brand because they are intelligent and gentle creatures that spend their lives in tight-knit groups. However when confronted, they fight to protect each other.
Who would you most want to thank for your success? I would most want to thank my mom for my success. My mom is an immigrant from Sri Lanka. She does not have a college education nor can she speak English. Yet from a young age, she guided me to be the person I am today. She taught me that even when the odds are stacked against you, when you work hard and cleverly use the resources available to you, you will make it.
Fun fact about yourself: I completed the Spartan Race this year.
Favorite book: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Favorite movie: Mulan
Favorite musical performer: Maroon 5
Favorite vacation spot: Budapest
What are your hobbies? Dancing, singing Carnatic music, and playing the veena
What made Ashini such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2016?
“Ashini Ganesalingam, a senior in the Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management at Cornell University, was raised in Queens, NY. Her parents immigrated from Sri Lanka. She is an impressive young woman who has worked incredibly hard not only to get to Cornell, but to be successful here. Ashini, whose business concentration is finance, is a Dyson Scholar, signifying that her GPA is in the top 10 percent of her class year, and she was selected as a teaching assistant for the Dyson School’s introductory and advanced statistics courses. She serves as vice president of external affairs for Ellevate (a women’s business club), and she dances with the Cornell Big Red Raas, a competitive dance team featuring a traditional dance originating in Gujarat, India.”
Cindy van Es
Senior Lecturer of Statistics
Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management
Cornell University
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