Shobhit Jain
New York University (Stern)
“Showbiz with a “T” – I’m small in size, but my dreams are larger than life.”
Fun fact about yourself: I can be spotted in the background of two major Bollywood films (credited on IMDB) and have appeared on national television dancing next Justin Timberlake, riding a suitcase, drinking smoothies, relaxing in a shark sleeping bag, and dressing up as a chocolate chip cookie and an Olympic rower. Additionally, I have met (and many times, worked with) over 250+ celebrities during my college career!
Hometown: Branchburg, NJ
High School: Somerville High School
Major: BS/BFA Dual-Degree in Finance (Stern School of Business) and Film & TV Production (Tisch School of the Arts)
Favorite Business Course: Organizational Communication and its Social Context
Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles During College:
Extracurricular Activities / Community Work / Leadership Roles
NYU RESIDENTIAL LIFE AND HOUSING SERVICES
Resident Assistant
NYU OFFICE OF UNDERGRADUATE ADMISSIONS
Admissions Ambassador
NYU STUDENT RESOURCE CENTER
Welcome Week Leader
SOUTH ASIAN STUDENTS ASSOCIATION (SHRUTI)
Vice-President (2016 – 2018); Treasurer (2013 – 2016); Master of Ceremonies (2013 – 2018)
NYU STUDENT GOVERNMENT
All Square Student Budget Allocation Committee Voting Member
NYU NATIONAL RESIDENCE HALL HONORARY
General Assembly Member
NYU OFFICE OF RESIDENTIAL LIFE AND HOUSING SERVICES
Hall Council General Assembly Member
NEW JERSEY ASSOCIATION OF STUDENT COUNCILS – LEADERSHIP TRAINING CONFERENCE
Senior Counselor (2017); Junior Counselor (2014 – 2016)
Awards & Honors
NYU SIGMA PHI EPSILON
Balanced Man Scholarship Recipient (2013, 2016)
NYU TISCH SCHOOL OF THE ARTS
Dean’s List
NATIONAL RESIDENCE HALL HONORARY
Awarded during position as Resident Assistant for a first-year residential community:
- Winner – First-Year Floor Community of the Year (May 2016)
- Winner – RA of the Month (December 2016)
- Winner – First-Year Floor Community of the Month (December 2016)
- Winner – Social Program of the Month (April 2016)
- Winner – Social Program of the Month (September 2017)
- Winner – Social Program of the Month (December 2017)
- Nominee – RA of the Year (May 2016)
2013 INTERNATIONAL STUDENT FILM FESTIVAL HOLLYWOOD
Best Dark Comedy Winner for Me, Myself, and I (Director)
2014 WASHINGTON D.C. SOUTH ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL
Official Selection for Me, Myself, and I (Director)
Where have you interned during your college career?
ACADEMY OF MOTION PICTURE ARTS AND SCIENCES • Beverly Hills, CA
The Oscars Red Carpet 2018 / 90th Academy Awards Production Assistant
NBCUNIVERSAL • New York, NY
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon Production & Wardrobe Intern
DISNEY-ABC TV • New York, NY
Good Morning America Production Intern
DISNEY-ABC TV • New York, NY
Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve Production Assistant, Talent Wrangler, Stand-In
DISNEY-ABC TV • New York, NY
2016 ABC Primetime Upfront Script Coordinator
ALLIED INTEGRATED MARKETING • New York, NY
Walt Disney Studios Publicity and Promotions Intern
VIACOM • New York, NY
VH1 On-Air Promos Production Intern
OATH • New York, NY
BUILD Series Production Intern
BRITISH ACADEMY OF FILM AND TELEVISION ARTS (BAFTA) • New York, NY
Screenings Volunteer
TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL • New York, NY
Special Events and Screenings Crew Member
AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY • New York, NY
Margaret Mead Film Festival and Public Programs Intern
THE NEW 42ND STREET • New York, NY
Studio Operations Intern
Where will you be working after graduation? I aim to pursue a career in the entertainment industry and produce for live television. In the long term, I hope to direct films and spearhead my own production company.
What did you enjoy most about your business school? My favorite aspect of the business program is that Stern places a strong focus on integrating students as part of an international community. Because of the school’s commitment in providing individuals with a global education, I had the privilege of travelling to Santiago, Chile during my junior year via Stern’s one-of-a-kind International Studies Program (ISP). This trip not only immersed me in another country’s culture, history, and business world; but also allowed me to establish new friendships and create memories that I will cherish forever.
“If I didn’t major in business, I would be majoring in or studying…Education because I value the opportunity to shape young minds and serve as a role model for them. It is said that the best gift one can receive is the gift of education, and I would feel privileged to be the spark behind this and put those words into action.”
What has surprised you most about majoring in business? Never did I expect that I would take classes focused on being a good person and balancing one’s ethics and personal values. I always believed business school was about crunching numbers and producing valuations, but the courses in Stern’s Social Impact Core—namely, Business and Its Publics and Professional Responsibility and Leadership—broadened this mindset and forced me to reflect on why I was embarking on a career in business and the moral principles behind this decision.
Who most influenced your decision to pursue business in college? As an emerging filmmaker, I have always known that I am venturing into the entertainment industry during a revolutionary period – one in which the demand for skillfully blending business with creativity is becoming increasingly vital. When applying to NYU, I knew I possessed an innate entrepreneurial spirit; however, I opted to side with my creative abilities and pursue my dream to become a filmmaker, hoping to eventually double major in Economics to complement my arts education. Professor Gay Abel-Bey, my mentor in Tisch, recognized this hidden potential and encouraged me to apply into the newly developed Stern-Tisch Dual-Degree program—which allows students to pursue both business and film degrees in NYU’s two leading schools. She was an influential figure in pushing me to apply to Stern and the dual program’s inaugural class so that I could equip myself with the key artistic and business skills needed to succeed in the evolving entertainment world.
Which academic, extracurricular or personal achievement are you most proud of? When I was in middle school, I made two promises to myself: (1) I would attend NYU so that I could intern for my role model—Jimmy Fallon—at The Tonight Show, and (2) I would attend the The Oscars in some way, shape, or form before graduating. Throughout the first three years of my academic career, the drive to accomplish the first of these two goals pushed me to take on any and all jobs so that I could gain experience and present myself as the most viable candidate for my dream internship. It was during my senior year when I was finally offered the position to intern for Fallon. This special moment will always serve as a testament to the fact that with perseverance, dedication, and hard work – no dream is impossible. Keeping this same spirit and determination alive into my final year, I recently landed an opportunity to serve as a Production Assistant for the 90th Academy Awards—just months before I complete college. The idea that I was able to set two major goals as a young child, work towards them without ever losing sight of them, and accomplish my goals before graduating will always be an achievement of which I am most proud.
If you were a dean for a day, what one thing would you change about the business school? I would eliminate the Stern Grading Guidelines (in which the top 35% of students receive an A or A- in class) so that true collaboration among students would not be hindered by a sense of competition.
Which classmate do you most admire? The most admirable classmates are the ones who are willing to go out of their way to help their peers. They are the selfless individuals always willing to help others understand problem sets and concepts covered in class without expecting anything in return. In business school, competition can always get the best of students, and the classmates who are able to look beyond this and always put their best foot forward when providing support are the ones that stand out from the crowd.
Who would you most want to thank for your success? My parents have always been my backbone and stood by me during my hardships and triumphs. Their selfless affection, support, and unconditional love have been the driving force in my growth and success as an individual. I would not be where I am today without them, but more importantly, I would never have been able to believe in myself if my parents had not believed in me first.
What would your theme song be? “Empire State of Mind” by Jay-Z and Alicia Keys
What are the top two items on your bucket list? Win an Oscar and appear as a guest on The Tonight Show, Skydive
Favorite book: Harry Potter Series, 1984
Favorite movie: Slumdog Millionaire, Titanic
Favorite vacation spot: International – India, a tropical getaway / Domestic: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, DisneyWorld
What are your hobbies? Bollywood Fusion Dance (performed for President Barack Obama in 2009), Taekwondo (First Degree Black Belt), Biking, Travel, iPhone Photography.
What made Shobhit such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2018?
“As part of the inaugural class of students in our dual degree in BS in Business from NYU’s Stern School of Business and a BFA in Film and Television from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, Shobhit has brought tremendous energy, enthusiasm and intellect to all he has done. He held an impressive 10+ internships ranging from Walt Disney Studios, The Tonight Show, Good Morning America, AOL, and VH1 at Viacom all while managing to excel academically. Not only was he engaged in and out of the classroom, he also gave back substantially to the NYU community through his work as a resident assistant and an admissions ambassador, just to name two. Having channeled his intellectual abilities to the highly quantitative Stern curriculum while mastering the intricacies of creating captivating content, he has become well-equipped to both create compelling content and manage the business, and we look forward to seeing what he does next.”
C. Samuel Craig
Catherine and Peter Kellner Professor of Entrepreneurship and Arts and Media Management
Director of Entertainment, Media and Technology Initiative
Director of Stern-Tisch BS/BFA Program
DON’T MISS: THE BEST & BRIGHTEST BUSINESS MAJORS OF 2018 — THE COMPLETE LIST
Questions about this article? Email us or leave a comment below.