Anant Das

University of Virginia, McIntire School of Commerce

“Big hair (sometimes blonde), bigger smile, and the biggest UVA Basketball fan.”

Fun fact about yourself: I have had digital compositions of music I have created on environmental themes played in a concert in Alaska and showcased in a museum in Richmond.

Hometown: Centreville, VA

High School: Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Alexandria, VA

Major: Commerce (Concentrations in Finance & Management, Track in Real Estate)

Minor: Computer Science

Favorite Business Course: Comm 4330 – Negotiating for Value

Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles during College:

• President, McIntire School of Commerce Council (and proud Block 3 Representation my 3rdYear/Winner of the McIntire Cup)
• President, Athletes for Equality
• Program Director, Madison House, IRS VITA CASH Program
• Marketing Chair, 2019 Class Council (2015-2017)
• CIO-Consultant, Student Council (2016-2017)
• Consultant, Student Entrepreneurs for Economic Development (SEED) Consulting Club (2015-2016)
• Student Advisor for Engagements and Promotions, University of Virginia Bicentennial Commission
• Multicultural Organizations: Vietnamese Student Association, Indian Student Association,
• Organization of Young Filipino Americans, Chinese Student Association
• Beach Volleyball Club
• Phi Eta Sigma Honor Fraternity
• Co-organizer of 2019 season, Broadway Talks Back

Where have you interned during your college career?

• Financial Valuation Intern at PwC in McLean, VA
• Sales Operations Analyst at Apcela, a Hybrid IT/Telecommunications company in Herndon, VA in summer 2017
• Global Marketing Analyst and Product Management Intern at CFN Services, a Hybrid IT/Telecommunications start-up in Herndon, VA in summer 2016

Where will you be working after graduation? Financial Valuation Associate at PwC in NYC

What company do you admire most? One of the companies I admire is IKEA because they really set out lofty sustainability goals as a company and have successfully worked to achieve or exceed them, regardless of what their competitors are doing in terms of sustainable practices.

What did you enjoy most about McIntire? The people. The staff, faculty, and students that come together in Rouss-Robertson Hall are some of the kindest and smartest people I have ever met. I would have never thought that after two years of college I’d still be meeting some of the greatest people and making some of my best friends. There’s always someone you can count on here if you reach out and always a new friend to be made.

What is the biggest lesson you gained from studying business? Empathy. Business school really forces you to put yourself in the shoes of others. That may include an inclusion and diversity standpoint to really understand what students who are not like yourself or who are in the minority while studying business are going through. Or, it could be from an academic standpoint (i.e. really understanding how different jobs in society, from banking to consulting to marketing to running a start-up, play a role together or how to think about and support different stakeholders of an organization).

What advice would you give to a student looking to major in a business-related field? Always be looking for and appreciating connections, whether it is between your Marketing, IT and Communication classes or your Restructuring and Real Estate and Sustainability classes or relating all of them to your internships or extracurriculars. That’s how you’ll get the most out of studying something related to business.

What has surprised you most about majoring in business? What surprised me the most about majoring in business is how diverse the classes are – there are so many interesting electives and related classes outside the business school that I’d never have expected to find too many classes that I am interested in to take in my time here at UVA.

“If I didn’t major in business, I would be majoring in or studying…Chemical Engineering, because like with Business, I believe there are endless opportunities with ChemE (plus the math and science of it is just so cool).”

Who most influenced your decision to pursue business in college? I always knew, even when I was applying for college, that one of my majors would be business related. I felt like it was the perfect major to get exposure to a variety of things – a combination of the left and right side of the brain and of a variety of technical and social skills.

Which academic, extracurricular or personal achievement are you most proud of? I am definitely most proud of having been part of the Madison House CASH program the past four years. Filing taxes for free for low-income members of the Charlottesville community has been one of the most humbling and life-changing experiences and it means so much to me to be able to give back to my neighbors in a tangible way that really makes a difference in their lives. I feel like I’m really able to use what I’ve learned in the Comm school to positively impact others who may not have the same skills I do.

Which classmate do you most admire? I admire fourth-year Commerce student Lindsey Kirk – her positive attitude is contagious, she is great to collaborate with, she is always considering the needs of her friends, and she also is very smart, independent, and a great advocate for self-care.

Who would you most want to thank for your success? Definitely would thank my mom for my success – I learned my attention for detail, creativity, and positivity from her and she has always been my number one cheerleader and shoulder to lean on no matter what.

What are the top two items on your bucket list? I used to compete nationally giving orations in Latin so I would love to tour all over Greece and Italy.

I would also love to complete a Tough Mudder race.  

What are your hobbies? I enjoy writing for my food and theatre review blog, critiquing movies each Spring for a DC Film Festival I volunteer with, swimming, rowing, playing volleyball, singing (loudly) in the car, and you’ll often find me playing Pokemon Go if I have time to spare.

What made Anant such an invaluable member of the Class of 2019?

“What sets Anant apart is that he cares deeply about fellow students and also about our wider learning community. Charisma: Anant has it. His EQ is off the charts. Gifted with innate charisma and an authentic other-directedness, he approaches leadership with boundless, energy, a mature attention to detail, and a deeply ingrained, sophisticated vision for positive inclusiveness. The combination allowed him to cultivate, within mere weeks, one of the most organized, thoughtful, and strongest Integrated Core Experience Block identities we’ve seen a Student Block Representative create in a decade. It made complete sense that he went on to become our Comm Council President. Anant completely overhauled the nature of the Class Representative position to which he was elected by his peers. As a result, he doubled our Block’s participation with school and community events.

As a student, Anant was terrific in class—always eager to engage, and open to try out ideas even if he wasn’t entirely sure of them. Outside the classroom, Anant, simply put, gets things done. His willingness to take strategic risk, his ability to communicate well with all stakeholders, and the clarity of his vision—to include everyone equally in a constantly improving educational experience—have allowed him to build trust among multiple communities and thus help him to move the goals of each forward.”

Professor Marcia Pentz