Karan Kishorepuria

Northeastern University, D’Amore-McKim School of Business

“A Motivated, entrepreneurial, and athletic leader who loves bananas and smoothies. Driven by Family, Friends, Fitness, and Impact.”

Fun fact about yourself: I was recruited to play Division 1 Squash at a couple of colleges in America before I chose to come to Northeastern University.

Hometown: Kolkata, India

High School: La Martiniere for Boys

Major: Finance

Minor: Nutrition

Favorite Business Course: Entrepreneurial Finance

Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles During College:

Awards:

1. BostonInno 25 Under 25
2. Huntington 100
3. 2019 Socially Responsible Investing Conference Scholar
4. Dean’s List
5. National Honors Society (Finance)

Extra-curricular:

1. Director of Fund Development (2021), President (2019-2020), Founding Analyst Team Member (2018-2019) at NUImpact: Northeastern’s Impact Investing Initiative
2. Venture Director (2021), Venture (2020) at IDEA: Northeastern University’s Venture Accelerator
3. Captain (2018-2021), Marketing Director (2017), #1 player on the team (2016-2017, 2018-2021) at NU Men’s Club Squash
4. Founder of Northeastern University Sustainable Investment Summit (2019)
5. Youngest Steering Committee Member at Intentional Endowments Network (2020-2021)
6. Finalist (2017), Director (2018), Mentor (2019-2020) at Husky Startup Challenge
7. Marketing Manager at NU Entrepreneurs Club (2018)
8. Mosaic Student Fellow (2019)
9. President of Family Business Club (2018)
10. Teach Assistant – Accounting (2017-2018)
11. Squash Instructor (2017)
12. Vice President – Hall Council (2016-2017)
13. Summer Study Abroad at London School of Economics (2017)

Where have you interned during your college career?

1. Goldman Sachs, New York City, Private Wealth Management Analyst Co-op
2. Ratnabali Capital, Kolkata, Equity Research Summer Analyst
3. Grantham Mayo Van Otterloo, Boston, Shareholder services and Risk Controls Co-op

Where will you be working after graduation? Undecided

What company do you admire most? I admire Patagonia for its ability to find a balance between profit and impact. The company doesn’t just do well financially but is also known for its great initiatives to support the environment and community as it donates 1% of total sales to environmental groups and is also a certified B-Corp.

I am also a big fan of nature and the outdoors and Patagonia is well known for producing great quality clothing/products for the same.

Who is your favorite professor? Mark Bernfeld. If I had to think of 1 person who has had the greatest influence on my 5 years at Northeastern it has to be Mark Bernfeld. I had the chance to work closely under Mark during my time as President of NUImpact, in a Fintech class I took with and now in an Independent Study I am doing with him.

Mark is one of the most accomplished and sought after people I know but he always has time for his students. At NUImpact, Mark not only empowered me to be a better leader, but was always available to give advice whenever needed. He was instrumental in the success of the Northeastern University Sustainable Investment Summit in 2019 and helping establish the NUImpact Fund thereby making our 1st investment worth $25,000.

He has supported me in all my endeavors in college and beyond. And through his own example, I have improved my time management, people, and project management skills.

He has been a huge mentor of mine, not just in college and extracurriculars but also professionally and in life. He has inspired me to push beyond my potential and not to take no for an answer if I truly believe otherwise.

What is the biggest lesson you gained from studying business? If you think you can, you can. If you think you cannot, you cannot. Dream big, believe in yourself and work hard – everything is possible. Only those who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.

What advice would you give to a student looking to major in a business-related field?

1. Put yourself in uncomfortable situations – Real growth often happens when you challenge yourself to do things you are not used to doing. Go speak in public, ask that question in class, go on that solo trip, start a business, lead an organization, spend your weekends learning a new skill. Push yourself, don’t settle.

2. Surround yourself with people who motivate and inspire you – You are an average of the 5-10 people you spend the most time with. Find people who energize you and push you to be a better version of yourself every day.

3. Make use of every opportunity – You are not one data point, but you are an average of many data points. Show up consistently and make use of every opportunity and every second.

4. Don’t let anyone tell you it can’t be done – If you believe in something, work hard and go after it.

What has surprised you most about majoring in business? It was the importance of having an entrepreneurial mindset. I have learned that the statement when one door closes, another opens is false. When one door closes, multiple doors are open – one just has to look, treating failure as the chapter before success. Opportunities exist everywhere, one just has to have the presence of mind to spot it, the clarity of mind to go after it, and the work ethic to convert the opportunity into a success. If there is a problem, there is a solution – majoring in business taught me that.

Looking back over your experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently in business school and why? I would have started being hyper-involved on campus even before coming to school. I would do this by connecting with peer and professors on LinkedIn, attending club and extracurricular events before the semester started, getting involved on campus by following newsletters and social media handles of Northeastern and Boston-affiliated accounts. So much of my learning at Business school has come outside the classroom and not waiting until my 1st semester to get involved on campus is probably something I would do.

However, I am also a firm believer that the journey is as important as the destination and as Steve Jobs said: ‘You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards.’

Which academic, extracurricular or personal achievement are you most proud of? I am most proud of my time leading NUImpact: Northeastern’s Impact Investing Initiative as President in 2019-2020. During that time, we grew our management team from 15 to 50+ people over 1 summer, founded the 1st Northeastern University Sustainable Investment Summit with 26 speakers, 130 guests, and 12 universities, and got approval to establish our student-led impact investing fund.

Getting approval to establish our student-led impact investing fund and making our 1st investment worth $25,000 in a Boston based social enterprise – Eatwell – was a very special achievement. Being one of the 1st undergraduates led impact driven funds in America, we had heard countless times that it was very difficult to establish our fund but that did not stop us. Having been a part of the 1st analyst team with 5-6 team members, brainstorming what our fund would look like, and coming so far was truly something special.

Seeing NUImpact grow the way it has, has really been breathtaking. It wouldn’t have been possible without the phenomenal team, advisory group, and support we have at DMSB and Northeastern University.

The organization has now grown to over 60 team members, made 2 investments, and is all set to host the 2nd edition of our annual conference.

Which classmate do you most admire? I admire Reshma Rapeta greatly. Reshma was the Director of the Conference during my time as President at NUImpact. She was new to the impact investing space and the NUImpact team but that did not stop her from pulling off an incredible feat: brainstorming and executing the 1st sustainable investment summit at Northeastern University, that too in less than 3 months.

Reshma was remarkable to work with. She is a dependable, fiercely-driven woman with an inspiring work ethic and a knack for getting things done. Always energetic, organized, and leading by example, I do not think we would be able to pull off the conference without her.

When she did pull off the conference successfully, her humility knew no bounds as she gave most of the credit to the team. A leader who put the team before herself and who made people around her better – I am grateful to call her a friend and someone I had the honor of working with.

Who would you most want to thank for your success? I owe a lot of people a thank you for my success from my family members, friends, coaches, professors, and mentors.

But I think my parents: Anil Kishorepuria and Shruti Kishorepuria have played the most pivotal role. They have made countless sacrifices to give my brother Krishnav and me every opportunity to be successful, they have always been there to give me advice on matters both professional and personal, but above all, they have always encouraged me to do what makes me happy and live a life where I have no regrets. They are my biggest supporters and critics. They have helped me become a better person and whatever I am today and will be in the near future, I owe it all to them.

What are the top two items on your professional bucket list? Complete my 200 hours Yoga Teacher Training and Nutrition Certification. Give my 1st Ted Talk. Write my 1st book. Start my own company in India which will impact millions of people for the better.

I know I mentioned more than 2 things, but life is too short to limit the bucket list to just 2.

What are your hobbies? I have a lot of hobbies and I like to tell people that I am always doing something. I love playing all sports (in particular squash), yoga, meditating, reading, spending time in nature, traveling and playing board games with family and friends, lifting weights, calisthenics, meeting new people, and talking about all things personal development and startups.

What made Karan such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2021?

“Karan is an outstanding student in every sense of the word. He has excelled academically, experientially, and has been as active on campus as any student I’ve ever counseled. Karan’s accomplishments are extraordinary. His entrepreneurial mindset and his ability to successfully balance so many activities and excel at all of them are remarkable. What’s also impressive and heartwarming about Karan is his deferential personality. He will always give credit to those around him and make sure his colleagues stand out and shine.”

Charles Bognanni
Senior Co-op Coordinator