Dimitri Pun
New York University, Stern School of Business
“A professional foodie and aspiring polyglot who aims to connect with the world.”
Fun fact about yourself: I used to nationally compete in tap dancing competitions my entire childhood (although I have since sadly lost that rhythm).
Hometown: Port-au-Prince, Haiti
High School: Sickles High School
Major: Business, Concentrations in Finance; Computing and Data Science
Minor: N/A
Favorite Business Course: Strategic Analysis with Professor Sonia Marciano
Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles During College:
- HEC Paris Start-Up Launchpad + Station F Incubator Participant – Cagni Scholar
- NYU Design Thinking Competition – 1st Place
- Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholar
- Stern Student Council – President of the Class of 2021 (2017-2018)
- Stern Student Council – Treasurer of the Class of 2021 (2019-2020)
- Tech Product Management Peer Mentor
- NYU Stern Orientation Leader
- NYU Stern Street Team – Undergraduate Ambassador
- NYU Global Equity Fellow
- Stern Global Voice Abroad
- America Reads*America Counts Elementary School Mathematics Tutor
Where have you interned during your college career?
- Tarmac Technologies – Product Management Intern (Paris, France)
- Ernst & Young – Financial Services Advisory Intern, 2018 – 2019 (New York, NY)
Where will you be working after graduation? Twitter – Associate Product Manager
What company do you admire most? Duolingo. I believe language allows us to connect across cultures and diverse groups of people and I admire how Duolingo makes learning a language fun and accessible to facilitate this connection!
Who is your favorite professor? Professor Brian Hanssen has been one of my favorite professors I have taken throughout my time at Stern because of the care he has for his students and all of the energy he puts into making sure we are ready for our future professional careers. One of my favorite experiences in school was when Professor Hanssen took the class to the Shengsi Islands near Shanghai, China (pre-COVID) to speak with actual entrepreneurs on how they have achieved success and are leading development within their own community.
What has surprised you most about majoring in business? Through Stern’s Social Impact Core, a required set of classes that helps students learn ways business can help solve some fundamental issues facing society, I have come to learn that profit generation and creating value for society at large need not be mutually exclusive or a zero-sum game. In fact, my education has taught me that positively affecting communities can also bring real financial gains and there are many examples of successful organizations doing just that.
Which academic, extracurricular or personal achievement are you most proud of? I am most proud of participating in the Stern International Business Exchange Program at HEC Paris and launching my first startup it the HEC Paris Startup Launchpad + Incubator. The program was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that allowed me to get out of my comfort zone and discover my passion for developing, launching, and leading products that help change people’s lives and solve complex problems. Additionally, I learned how to come up with and execute solutions that are specifically tailored towards social impact, which is one of my passions and what I hope to do in the future.
Which classmate do you most admire? Samhita Krishnan is one of the most inspiring and intelligent people I have met through my college career. I aspire to embody her unending optimism, down-to-earth personality, go-getter attitude, and love for people (whether it be for her peers or any of the random eclectic souls one comes across due to going to school in the epicenter of the world). She is someone who never lets fear stop her from exploring any opportunity no matter how challenging, whether that is moving to Paris to start her own company (with limited French knowledge I might add), to getting a dual degree in computer science and still studying abroad for three semesters (something that many would deem impossible). I can’t wait to see the impressive business leader she will become.
Who would you most want to thank for your success? I would thank my Aunt Nancy who, ever since I left my home in Haiti at 16 years old to complete four years of high school in two and chase my own American dream, told me that “The sky isn’t the limit for you, it’s the view.” Over the years, she has supported me, encouraged me to shoot for anything I want to accomplish, and taught me the vital lesson that I am the only one who knows what I can and cannot achieve. Graduating from my dream school has meant as much to her – and the village of people that have supported me along the way – as it has to me, and I can’t wait to pay it forward.
What are the top two items on your professional bucket list?
- Launching a company that aims to empower entrepreneurs in diverse communities worldwide.
- Mentoring the next batch of professional leaders to chase their dreams and advance positive social change.
What are your hobbies? I love cooking new dishes I learn about from my travels around the world, learning choreography from international dancers online, and exercising.
What made Dimitri such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2021?
“If I had to describe Dimitri in one word, it would be ‘open’ – open to new experiences, open to diverse thought, and open to sharing for the benefit of others. In his time at Stern, Dimitri has participated in a range of activities serving as an Orientation Leader, Peer Mentor, and Global Equity Fellow, among many others. That said, he is not the type of person to take on activities simply to pad his resume. The unifying factor in all of these roles has been his simple desire to pay it forward. He is someone who is truly able to see the value in everyone and in doing so, builds up those around him. He is deeply reflective and strives to fill his life with purpose. In the four years I have known him, he has channeled his earnest zest for life into becoming someone filled with generosity and grace.”
Mandy Lancour
Associate Director, Professional Development & Career Education, NYU Stern
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