Post author Devin Mehta is a junior at the Wisconsin School of Business. Here, he stands among some of the incredible alumni, students, mentors, and faculty he met and worked with on campus.
Best party school. Best college town. Best natural beauty on a campus. These “accolades” have dominated the dialogue surrounding the University of Wisconsin–Madison for decades.
A few top finishes on some “Best of” lists, that’s our identity? That’s how we’re recognized by the majority of the country?
As a junior studying finance and risk management insurance at the Wisconsin School of Business at UW–Madison, I want people to know the truth about Madison. That is, we are much more than an (admittedly gorgeous) college town. I believe one trait defines our institution, our identity, here at Wisconsin: relentless grit.
THE BUSINESS BADGER MINDSET
Business Badgers certainly have grit. It’s not uncommon for them to land competitive summer internships their freshman year.
Devin Mehta, BBA ’27
During my first semester, I met Jayden, a fellow Business Badger who just finished her freshman summer internship at Deloitte. Then I met Ayo, who spent the summer interning at a real estate private equity fund. Then Chris and Veeraj, who interned at a multinational law firm and a bank over the summer.
These students became my mentors and are prime examples of the growth mindset we have at Wisconsin.
UW–Madison students take nothing for granted. They believe the Wisconsin experience is unique. They hold deep respect for the university and the opportunities it affords them. More than anything, students feel a shared sense of responsibility to represent the Wisconsin brand at its absolute best – and to keep moving it forward. Students want to continue to improve our university’s standing among the top public schools in the country.
Students demonstrate this belief not only in mindset, but in their actions. Upperclassmen spend hours mentoring younger students to help them break into uber-competitive industries. Watching student mentors spend hours every night studying and working on projects pushed my boundaries and built a stronger work ethic within me. And their generosity with their time was instrumental in my development, especially when I was a freshman, but also during later recruiting cycles and challenging personal moments. Their example remains the one I seek to model.
BUSINESS BADGERS’ CAN-DO ATTITUDE
After meeting those four students as a freshman, and taking up way too much of their time, I went to WSB’s career services for advice on how to earn an early internship offer.
My career coach reiterated what my student mentors emphasized: Start working. I realized with the robust Business Badger network, enough persistence, and plenty of grit, that anything was possible. I set my sights on recruiting for early talent programs at large accounting and consulting firms, and leveraged WSB’s career services. In less than two months, by November 1, I received offers from EY and Deloitte.
I chose Deloitte, and I earned a return offer for the following summer. I wasn’t sure if I should accept. I had realized my passion was in investment banking. Everyone I spoke with at WSB encouraged me to decline the return offer. I often heard, “If you’re willing to push yourself, you will make this work.”
Badger undergrads get access to triple coaching which includes Success Coaches, Career Coaches, and Pathway Consultants. Photo by Paul L. Newby II / UW-Madison Wisconsin School of Business)
ALUMNI HAVE YOUR BACK
My WSB peers, faculty, and especially alumni made my leap to investment banking possible. Because finance alumni supported me by taking my calls and discussing my career aspirations, I earned interviews, and ultimately an offer in investment banking in New York.
The alumni impact didn’t stop there. With their continued leadership, guidance, reputation, and networks, Jaxon Zemachson and I were able to co-found and launch the Wisconsin Sports Business Conference, the first-ever annual sports business symposium in school history. The conference connects industry executives with hundreds of students to help them find the sports career of their dreams.
Many alumni have told me they felt underestimated entering their career with a Wisconsin degree, yet our alumni’s success across industries is remarkable. Their desire to outwork their peers, demonstrating immense resolve and grit, has helped build Wisconsin’s reputation and show a Wisconsin education is powerful and worth respecting. Their support of UW–Madison has allowed excellence to thrive on campus, and because of them industries are taking notice of what Badgers can do.
As I consider our collective future, I feel a sense of unbridled optimism. At UW–Madison, we believe our university can reach new heights with determination and persistence. Together, students, staff, faculty, and alumni have built an identity for UW–Madison rooted in resilience and a strong work ethic, defined simply as grit. That identity has defined Wisconsin as one of the premier schools in the nation, and it’s what makes me confident that even brighter days are ahead. Above all, I know that identity will empower us Badgers to continue creating a positive impact in all we do.
Devin Mehta (BBA ’27) is a junior at the Wisconsin School of Business at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. He is studying finance and risk management, and will join Intrepid Investment Bankers in New York as a summer analyst in 2026. He is co-president and co-founder of the Wisconsin Sports Business Conference and the head of external outreach for the Wisconsin Private Equity Club. He also serves as a student mentor in the Investment Banking Club and Risk Management Insurance Society. Devin enjoys supporting fellow Badgers in achieving their immediate career aspirations. He is also passionate about music, politics, and sports.
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