Pravalika Manchi
Texas A&M University, Mays Business School
“I am an aspiring banker and professor by day and a dance choreographer by night.”
Fun fact about yourself: I started a dance company called ManchiMoves where I teach Bollywood fusion dance!
Hometown: College Station, TX
High School: A&M Consolidated High School
Major: Business Honors and Accounting
Minor: N/A
Favorite Business Course: ACCT 689: CFOs and Financial Leadership
Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles During College:
Activities/Leadership:
Maroon Coats – Ambassador
Business Student Council – Career Fair Committee Member
Hindu Students Association – Vice-President, Treasurer, Committee Chair
Mays Business Fellows Program – Fellow
SUMMIT Leadership Conference Mays Business School – Logistics Coordinator
Mays Transformational Leadership Academy – Small Group Leader
Mays Business Honors BUSN 125 – Peer Leader
Horizons Finance Guild – Member
Aggies on Wall Street – Student
Professional Program in Accounting – Student
Scholarships/Honors:
Dean’s Excellence Award
Southerland Aggie Leader Scholarship
James Benjamin Department of Accounting Scholarship
Texas A&M Operational Units Dependent Children Scholarship
Where have you interned during your college career?
Bank of America, Houston – Investment Banking Summer Analyst
RNWBL, Houston – Accounting Analyst Intern
Professional MBA Mays Business School, College Station – Student Worker
Where will you be working after graduation? Bank of America – Houston; Investment Banking Analyst
Who is your favorite business professor? My favorite business professor is Dr. Emily Shafron who teaches ACCT 328: Financial Reporting II. Dr. Shafron’s lively personality, combined with her passion for helping students enjoy accounting, make her such a gem at our business school. Despite her class being required for some majors, she makes it a point to relate her class to recent financial events so that we can understand real-life applications in the business world, making it enjoyable for all. One of the biggest lessons I have learned from her is that everyone is on their own journey and that you have to follow the path that is meant for you. Dr. Shafron is also one of the reasons why I would like to pursue my love for teaching in the future. I am grateful to have had the chance to know Dr. Shafron inside and outside the classroom, where she is an incredible mom, scholar, professor, and mentor.
What is the biggest lesson you gained from studying business? The biggest lesson I have learned from studying business is that culture is key and that it can determine the way you achieve goals. Throughout my leadership positions and time working on group projects, I have learned the importance of motivating the people around me to achieve a common goal. Often times in business, you are working with those who have unique perspectives and come from varying backgrounds, so it is important to foster an environment that is inviting and productive. Coming into college, I always thought the technical skills were what you would want to master first. However, after the past four years, I have found that it is by far more important to hone in on your ability to be a dynamic team player in order to be successful.
Looking back over your experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently in business school and why? I would have loved to participate in more opportunities at the business school that might not have directly related to accounting and finance such as case competitions, unique electives, and company events. While I have thoroughly enjoyed my experiences within accounting and finance, there are an abundance of opportunities at Mays Business School that could have helped me take a more multidisciplinary approach. If I could, I would love to stay in college forever to take advantage of all of these opportunities.
What is one way that your business school has integrated AI into your programming? What is one insight you gained from using AI? In the accounting communication course (ACCT 421), we used AI to help us understand how to communicate effectively. From learning how to best present your resume to learning how to send powerful emails, we used AI as a tool to help us get messages across in a clear way. In my current financial statement analysis class (ACCT 647), we are encouraged to use AI during the learning process to help us understand code and the various ways it can make manual processes more efficient. One insight that I have learned from AI is that it gives you the ability to create more meaningful work. By having AI lay the foundation as a template or base for certain projects, it allows you to think more creatively and produce high-quality deliverables.
Which academic, extracurricular or personal achievement are you most proud of? My involvement in the Business Student Council’s Career Fair Committee is an achievement that I am most proud of doing. Over the past 4 years, I have had the opportunity to be a part of eight various fairs throughout the fall and spring semesters. Our career fair is the second largest student-run career fair in the nation bringing over a thousand students each fair. My favorite aspect of the career fair is the relationships that are built. This fair bridges the gap between current and former students and allows students to seek opportunities from a variety of industries. It constantly brings me immense joy to see Texas A&M students receiving wonderful career opportunities due to the exceptional relationships our business school have built over the years because of our career fair. From answering recruiter emails to helping host resume reviews for students, I have had the privilege of learning the importance of professionalism in the business world.
Which classmate do you most admire? I most admire my classmate Sydney Horak, who is a Business Honors and Professional Program in Accounting student. She is the definition of someone who is resilient, graceful, and encouraging. Sydney serves as an ambassador for the Muscular Dystrophy Association, and I have had the pleasure of having classes with her over the years. She even created her own saying – “Never let your limitations be your limit” – which is something I think about quite often. She will always be the first one to ask everyone how their day was but also the first one to wish everyone good luck on their exams. She is constantly checking in on our peers and enjoys learning about what their passions are. Everyone who knows Sydney knows how much of an inspiration she is and also how she is incredibly wise beyond her age. She is one of the most inspiring people I have ever met at Mays.
Who would you most want to thank for your success? I would like to thank my sister Mona Manchi for my success. She is a reflection of my parents and embodies the characteristics of being authentic, gracious, and resilient. Despite our varying career paths and 10-year age gap, she has taught me the importance of empathy in everyday interactions with people. As a physician, she has constantly shown me what it means to follow your passion and serve others. She is a constant reminder of someone who values humility in everything they do. My sister is the one who always encourages me to seek out new opportunities and create a unique path for myself, and I look up to her immensely. Thank you for always being my #1 supporter yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
What are the top two items on your professional bucket list? I would love to return to Mays Business School to serve as a professor in the future and launch a side business related to one of my hobbies! Growing up in a college town and constantly being surrounded by professors, I have developed a love for the academic field over the years. I have learned so much about life and the business world through college, and it would be a privilege to come back to Mays Business School and serve the school that has provided me with so much. Secondly, I would love to take on an entrepreneurial endeavor related to one of my passions. Throughout college, I had the opportunity to create a dance company as a part of my Capstone project for Business Honors. I would love to expand and launch that business in the future!
What made Pravalika such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2025?
“Pravalika embodies the essence of a competitive student, excelling in academics, leadership, service, and personal excellence, while embracing the core values of Texas A&M University. She is truly an invaluable addition to the Class of 2025. She always has a smile on her face and is constantly thinking about others over herself. She wants to give back and surrounds herself with others that want to do the same. With her academic knowledge, strong personal skills, and incredibly humble spirit, she has been one of the best students to come through our program.
Pravalika’s academic achievements are matched only by her commitment to extracurricular involvement. Through her participation in programs such as Aggies on Wall Street and the Professional Program in Accounting, she has demonstrated an exceptional ability to apply classroom knowledge to real-world scenarios. Pravalika has also taken on diverse leadership responsibilities. She serves as a Representative of the Maroon Coats, engaging with donors and prospective students to foster meaningful connections. Moreover, she actively contributes as a member of the Business Student Council’s Career Fair and Corporate Relations Committee, prioritizing exceptional customer service in her interactions with multiple companies. Pravalika is an incredible leader who cares about others and is constantly giving back
I cannot think of anyone better to honor in the Class of 2025 other than Pravalika Manchi.”
Casey Kyllonen, ’07, C.P.A.
Director of Professional Program in Accounting (PPA) and MS Accounting Program
Senior Lecturer
Texas A&M University
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