Samir Goel
New York University, Leonard N. Stern School of Business
Hometown: Schenectady, New York
High School: Niskayuna High School
Major: Finance, Global Business
Minor: Political Science
Favorite Business Courses: Two of my favorites are a part of Stern’s Social Impact Core: Organizational Communication and Its Social Context and Professional Responsibility & Leadership
Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles During College:
- Deans List (2013-2014)
- Resolution Fellow (2014 – present)
- Kairos Global Fellow (2014 – present)
- Jefferson Awards Foundation GlobeChanger (2015-present)
- Dalai Lama Fellow (15-16)
- Washington Square News, “NYU Up-and-Comers”
- Co-Founder, Net Impact Collaborative Experience
- Founding Member, Stern Social Impact Council, Senior Consultant
- Founding E-Board + Sponsorship Director, 180 Degrees Consulting
- Marketing Director, Senior Consultant The Gould Standard
- E-Board, Net Impact
- Residence Assistant, Third North Dormitory (14-15, 15-16)
- Mentor, Stern Social Impact Business Challenge
- Vice President, Kairos Society, Tri-State Area
Where have you interned during your college career?
- Transfernation – New York, New York, Co-Founder
- Mogul – New York, New York – Contributing writer
- LinkedIn, Global Sales Organization + LinkedIn for Good – New York, New York, Intern (currently Business Leadership Program Associate)
- Venture for America, New York, New York – Community Growth Intern, Strategy Intern
- United Nations, New York, New York – United Nations University Intern
- Trip of a Lifetime, New York, New York – Intern, currently on Strategy Board
- NYU College of Nursing, New York, New York, Social Media and Website Intern
- SUNY Albany, Office of International Education – Albany, New York – Summer Associate
- Darrison Barrett & Associates, New York, New York – Political Campaigns Intern
Describe your dream job: My dream job isn’t at a specific company or a certain position. Rather, it’s about being able to make a positive difference in the world on a global and individual level, and helping to shift the paradigm of business towards social impact rather than pure profits.
What did you enjoy most about majoring in a business-related field? A business degree is incredibly adaptable. It has helped me grow personally and intellectually as much as it prepared me for a career. The skills I learned – such as team management and professional presentation — are transferable to all aspects of my life as well as to any role I take on.
Where would you like to work after graduation?
LinkedIn – LinkedIn for Good or Economic Graph Team
Transfernation – as co-founder I hope to create a cultural revolution that changes the way people view their extra food and results in a more conscious society.
What are your long-term professional goals? I aspire to bring together the public and private sectors around global social change by shifting the mindset of business to social impact rather than profit and finding innovative solutions to societal problems.
“I knew I wanted to major in business when…I realized it was the reason most non-profits and start-ups failed.”
“If I didn’t major in business, I would be…a chef with a specialty in desserts or an international relations major.”
What was the happiest moment of your life? The happiest moment of my life is every time I come back to New York and realize how grateful I am to be surrounded by people I love and do work that truly makes a difference.
Which academic or personal achievement are you most proud of?
Professional: Co-founding Transfernation, a non-profit which uses technology to ensure extra food from events goes to supporting communities in need. Having the opportunity to take an issue I felt passionately about and do something to fix it against all odds is something truly empowering. There is no other accomplishment I feel as proud of.
Personal: Reaching my fitness goals of losing 45 pounds freshmen year. This was the hardest thing I’ve ever done and it took nothing but hard work and discipline and will always be something I take great pride in.
What animal would you choose to represent your professional brand? It’s tough for me to categorize this in terms of animals. I relate so much to the social aspect of food, so if I had to choose something to represent my professional brand, it would be a home-made platter of chocolate chip peanut butter cookies because nothing brings people together like comfort food. As a professional, I strive to build meaningful relationships and find ways to bring people together around shared passions (like food). When I meet someone I frequently think: Who I can I connect you with to help you accomplish your dream. By bringing people together you are able to amplify the happiness or success they could have attained on their own, much like chocolate and peanut butter do as a combination.
Who would you most want to thank for your success? My friends and family for being my rock. At the end of the day, the people in my life are what matters, and they give me the strength and ability to push my boundaries every single day. Going on four hours or less sleep for weeks when you’re launching a company or working three jobs isn’t possible without the best support system in the world, and I cannot thank the people in my life enough for that.
Fun fact about yourself: I love to bake especially healthy desserts.
Favorite book: Harry Potter
Favorite movie: I have too many favorite movies to narrow it down, but my favorite TV shows are Friends and Psych.
Favorite musical performer: Taylor Swift, Wu Tang Clan, Kendrick Lamar
Favorite vacation spot: Domestic – San Diego / International – Spain
What are your hobbies? Health and Fitness (running, hiking, and ultimate Frisbee), Cooking, Coffee, Boxing, Hip-Hop and Country Music, Editorial Writing, Landscaping
What made Samir such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2016?
“Throughout his time at NYU Stern, Samir has proven himself to be gracious and kind even under pressure; he has high EQ as well as high IQ. He can work as an entrepreneur as well as within large organizations and has great potential in the future to lead both by his words and by his actions. Samir is one of the top 10 students I’ve had the pleasure of teaching in my career and I look forward to seeing what his future holds.”
Matt Statler
Richman Family Director of Business Ethics and Social Impact Programming and Clinical Assistant Professor of Management and Organizations
New York University, Leonard N. Stern School of Business
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