Jyotika Chandhoke
University of Virginia, McIntire School of Commerce
One quote that described me best: “I’d rather be extra than not be enough.”
Fun fact about yourself: I trekked 33 km across the Himalayas when I was 14!
Hometown: New Delhi, India
High School: Delhi Public School, R.K. Puram
Major: Finance, track in Global Commerce
Minor: n/a
Favorite Business Course: Global Finance
Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles during College:
Madison House BIG Event
- Head Program Director (April 2018- Present)
- Assistant Director (April 2017- April 2018)
- Development Chair (April 2016- April 2017)
Alpha Kappa Psi Professional Business Fraternity
- Vice President of Administration (November 2017- November 2018)
- Scholarship Chair (January 2017- November 2018)
Career Peer Educator (Business community), UVA Career Center (August 2018- Present)
Finance Chair, East Coast Showdown dance competition (April 2017 – February 2018)
Dancer, Sharaara dance team (August 2015- Spring 2017)
Other activities: Virginia Consulting Group (Member- Spring 2017), Asha for Education (Fundraising Chair- Fall 2016)
Honors: Dean’s List (Fall 2015- Spring 2017, Spring 2018), Intermediate Honors, Joseph Miniotas Communication Scholar, Raven Society
Where have you interned during your college career?
- P. Morgan Chase & Co., Investment Banking Summer Analyst (New York, NY)
- Reliance Capital, Wealth Management Intern (New Delhi, India)
- Ernst & Young, Marketing intern (New Delhi, India)
Where will you be working after graduation? Investment Banking Analyst (Energy coverage) at J.P. Morgan in New York.
What company do you admire most? One of my favorite companies is Glossier, a back-to-basics, digitally native beauty brand. In just a few short years since its launch in 2014, the brand has already established a cult following (myself included) due to its emphasis on intimate customer relationships, innovative social media content and brand identity.
Who is your favorite professor? My favorite professor so far has been Professor Peter Maillet, who taught me Global Finance in Fall 2018. Not only was he an engaging lecturer, but I also admired his ability to guide the discussion in class and listen to everyone’s opinions. At the same time, he really challenged me and pushed me out of my comfort zone, which made the class an extremely valuable learning experience.
What did you enjoy most about McIntire? The feeling of community! Not only do I love walking down the hallways and interacting with my classmates and professors on a daily basis, but I also appreciate being able to develop close relationships with them both inside and outside the classroom.
What is the biggest lesson you gained from studying business? The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that every business, no matter how big or small, can never be analyzed in isolation from the economic, social, technological and political factors shaping its external environment. This means one has to constantly keep up with the developments of the world- and that’s where the Morning Brew and theSkimm really come in clutch!
What advice would you give to a student looking to major in a business-related field? My advice would be to explore as many business-related fields as possible and keep your options wide open. One doesn’t need to conform to preconceived notions of what a “business student” is like to succeed in the field!
What has surprised you most about majoring in business? As a business student, I thought I would always just be crunching numbers and analyzing business strategies. In practice, being smart doesn’t beat having solid communication skills that allow you to relate to different perspectives and lay out your ideas clearly.
“If I didn’t major in business, I would be majoring in or studying…Economics with a minor in Anthropology or English. I love learning about different people across cultures and have always been an avid reader in general! Furthermore, my interest in following global macro-economic events lends pretty well to an Econ major.”
Who most influenced your decision to pursue business in college? I actually knew I wanted to pursue business before I even came to college! The high school system in India allows you to choose the “Commerce” stream in junior year, so it was only natural for me to follow the same path in college. I give credit to my father for encouraging me to pursue Commerce, since he had worked at my grandfather’s business in India before he went to Law school.
Which academic, extracurricular or personal achievement are you most proud of? Coming from a country where not many young adults my age are completely independent, I am proud of the fact that I have carved my own path at UVA and succeeded in finding a place for myself in an unknown country- something that felt extremely daunting to me initially.
Which classmate do you most admire? The peer I admire the most is Jeevan Karamsetty. Although it has only been a year since I have known Jeevan, he doesn’t fail to surprise me every day with his never-ending intellectual curiosity, perpetually positive attitude and astonishing humility (sometimes to a fault).
Who would you most want to thank for your success? I can’t bring myself to choose between my parents. Both my mother and father have given me the flexibility to carve my own path, never once questioning my decisions (even if it meant reluctantly sending me 7000 miles away to pursue the education I wanted). This freedom to make my own decisions has contributed immensely to my personal growth and has made me who I am today.
What are the top two items on your bucket list? Scuba diving in Spain and hiking Machu Picchu!
What are your hobbies? Although I stopped dancing competitively in my 2nd year, I still love learning new styles and having casual dance parties with my friends! Other than that, I love cooking/baking, reading fiction and visiting wineries.
What made Jyotika such an invaluable member of the Class of 2019?
“Jyotika’s presence in the classroom is a force. She evokes the impression of “speaking softly and carrying a big stick.” Because of this, her kindness could inadvertently lead unsuspecting audiences and peers to believe that she is easygoing with her contributions and accommodating to others in a competitive environment. Quite the contrary: Jyotika is fearless about speaking her mind to support her ideas, even if it is typically with compassion. Several of her professors noted how much they valued her risk-taking in classroom discussions to advocate for her positions. Considering this, it is perhaps less surprising that she has received honors such as the Miniotas Scholars award for demonstrating exceptional communication and contributing to others’ learning through outstanding citizenship—an award that honors someone who is both sympathetic and courageously outspoken.”
Professor Kieran O’Connor