Daniel Kalathoor
University of Houston, C.T. Bauer College of Business
“Tenacious and adaptable problem-solver, driven by real-world impact and steadfast optimism.”
Fun fact about yourself: I will be graduating at 20 years old, and a year early from university!
Hometown: Missouri City, TX (Houston)
High School: Lawrence E. Elkins High School
Major: Management Information Systems
Minor: Phronēsis (Politics & Ethics)
Favorite Business Course: MIS 4374 – IT Project Management
Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles During College:
- 2023-2024 Bauer Leadership Excellence Award
- Spring 2024 MISSO Professional Development Officer
- Fall 2024 MISSO Corporate Relations Officer
- Bauer Honors Student Advisory Board Member
- Ted Bauer Leadership Certification Program
- Marvy Finger Family Scholarship Recipient
- Robin French Family Scholarship Recipient
- Ross M. Lence Memorial Scholarship Recipient
- Great Conversation Scholarship Recipient
- UH Academic Excellence Scholarship Recipient
- 5x Dean’s List
- Volunteer Technology Consultant at Immanuel Mar Thoma Church
- Youth Fellowship Secretary at Immanuel Mar Thoma Church
Where have you interned during your college career?
- Apache Corporation – Houston, TX, IT Analyst Intern
- BMC Software – Houston, TX, IT Assurance Intern
Where will you be working after graduation? Apache Corporation – Houston, TX, IT Analyst I
What is the biggest lesson you gained from studying business? The biggest lesson I learned while studying business was the importance of stakeholder management. Not only is this invaluable in your professional career, but in everyday life as well. It allows you to build strong relationships, resolve conflicts, and even practice effective communication. Even in a non-business setting, your friends and family are stakeholders in your life. In many ways, you act as the project manager, handling all of their needs and expectations. Whether working in a professional environment or dealing with a friend, have the ability to understand the other’s perspective, fostering better communication and stronger connections.
What advice would you give to a student looking to major in a business-related field? Your network is truly your net worth. As a business major, relying solely on cold applications only gets you so far. In order to elevate yourself, use the vast and various resources both the college and the respective organizations provide. From the first day itself, put yourself out there – attend as many networking events as possible, proactively connecting with professionals on LinkedIn and build meaningful relationships. By doing so, you will find yourself in a prime position to land that internship or full-time offer.
Looking back over your experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently in business school and why? Looking back, I wish I had gotten involved in extracurricular activities such as student organizations much earlier. My first year at UH, I was a 4.0 student but did not do much outside of academics. As a result, my resume lacked the well-rounded experience recruiters often sought, and this became evident in interviews when they asked what else I brought to the table. My second year, I became an active member of MISSO, the MIS student organization. I went on to become a two-time officer and the skills I gained from that experience are immeasurable, becoming one of my main talking points in various interviews. The only thing I would do differently? Get involved sooner.
What is one way that your business school has integrated AI into your programming? What is one insight you gained from using AI? In our professional selling course, which is part of the core business curriculum at Bauer, we utilize AI to help us draft sales call emails and sales proposals. AI is a tool, not a goal, meaning that it can be a means to support our growth. I recommend AI utilization to students in drafting their resume bullet points, as its ability to add quantification into your descriptions is quite good. Of course, use this at your discretion and remember it is here to assist you, not be the sole means to an end.
Which academic, extracurricular or personal achievement are you most proud of? The achievement I am most proud of was receiving the 2023-2024 Bauer Leadership Excellence Award. Nominated for my role as MISSO Professional Development Officer, I was recognized for my contributions toward the organization, reviewing 160+ resumes, conducting 25+ mock interviews, and helping 10+ students obtain internship/full-time offers. As the PD officer, my sole goal was to give back to MISSO, as this organization had been instrumental to my own success in job hunting and providing me with numerous ways to build my resume (including case competitions and leadership experiences).
Which classmate do you most admire? Grant Moon. I first met Grant through MISSO, realizing right away I had met someone who shared my drive to keep working toward greater heights and to challenge one’s self. Serving as MISSO officers at the same time allowed us to continue our collaboration and joint efforts to make the most of our college career. In Spring 2025, Grant and I launched our own start-up, K.M. Professional Solutions, where we help college students build their resume along with providing various other professional development services. Despite his busy schedules, Grant persevered and always made time for his friends, whether it was grabbing a bite to eat or playing pickup at the neighborhood court.
Who would you most want to thank for your success? Throughout my life, there have been numerous friends and individuals along the way who have shaped the person I have become. However, there is one person I want to thank, my grandmother or as I say in my native tongue, “ammachi”. From my early childhood, ammachi has been my biggest supporter through all my major decisions and her steadfast faith in my ability as an individual is what kept me motivated to keep persevering. The values she has instilled in me remain with me to this day, as she continues to be an example of tenacious work ethic while maintaining a humble demeanor. As ammachi often says, “Never say you can’t do something. The only thing holding you back is yourself.”
What are the top two items on your professional bucket list?
* I want to continue broadening my horizons, obtaining professional certifications such as the AZ-900 and even eventually obtaining graduate degrees such as an MS or MBA, maybe even my PhD.
* Eventually returning to Bauer as an adjunct professor, teaching MIS courses.
What made Daniel such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2025?
“Daniel has a strong work ethic that has encouraged him to broaden his horizons and seek new opportunities. With his can-do attitude and commitment to being actively involved in his student organization, Daniel has won the Bauer Leadership Excellence Award for his continuous growth of the Bauer name by preparing students for professional opportunities. Within his student organization, he has assisted with the career development of other students, serving as the Professional Development Officer. Daniel also attended a week-long study abroad in Greece in 2024, where he fostered that sense of learning and critical thinking. He is highly regarded for his professionalism and poise by his peers, faculty, and staff. He is also a part of the Honors College and is actively involved in the Bauer Honors Student Advisory Board.”
Whitney Johnson
Director of Student Success
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