Alumni Profile: Meet the Class of 2016

May 23, 2016

On May 18, we welcomed the newest members of the NYU Alumni Association. Though they are no longer students, they will remain forever Violet as lifelong members of the global NYU community—nearly half-a million strong. As they celebrate this achievement and move forward to the next exciting chapter of their lives, we asked two members of the NYU Class of 2016 to tell us what they’ll miss and what’s in store:

Shahryar Bachani (STERN ’16)

What is your school and major?

I studied finance and management at the Stern School of Business.

Do you plan to work in the same field as your major?

Yes I do! I will be combining both my concentrations by joining Deloitte as an advisory consultant in the Financial Transactions Advisory department.

What did you find most valuable during your time at NYU?

My entire NYU experience! As a student, you are in and of the city—the city is your playground. Being a proponent of the global network university, all my study away experiences have been incredibly valuable both personally and professionally.

Additionally, pursuing an undergraduate business education is probably one of the best decisions I’ve ever made—you are conditioned beyond measure and build the necessary technical and soft skill-set to succeed in any way of life.

What was your favorite moment at NYU?

This is extremely tough! My favorite moment is actually tied between two memories. The first is from this past month coincidently. One of my biggest passion projects at NYU has been to create a culture of giving at Stern and in the larger NYU community. Since my sophomore year, I have been a part of the Stern Legacy Fund, Stern’s undergraduate gift campaign where students fundraise to create a pool of scholarships for the incoming freshman class. As of this past week, the Stern Class of 2016 made history by achieving a 50 percent participation rate—this will always one of my most rewarding memories at NYU.

The second moment that's another favorite was at the end of my junior year when I was elected to be the Student Body President of the Stern School of Business. For someone who has been involved since Day 1 and has been committed to enhancing the Stern and NYU student experience, this was nothing short of a dream come true and my tenure has been by far one of the most rewarding and impactful experiences of my life.

What will you miss most about being an NYU undergrad?

To be very honest, the simplicity and readily accessible resources that we have as NYU undergraduate students. Whether it’s ResLife, the dining halls, Bobst, or the plethora of student programming that is prevalent on campus, your undergraduate career at NYU is nothing short of an adventure!

How are you celebrating the accomplishment of graduating and receiving your degree?

I plan on celebrating with my parents and my aunt who are flying all the way from Pakistan. I owe my family a lot for believing in me and in my potential to invest my education to such a grand extent—this degree is to celebrate them and my achievements are my way of saying thank you to the best of my abilities. Additionally, I plan to celebrate with all my friends who are graduating, several of them are throwing lavish graduation parties I’m looking forward to attending!

Do you plan to stay in the NYC area?

Yes I do, at least for the near future. I plan on working abroad at some point in my career but also may look into living on the West Coast for some period of time. Ultimately, I plan on giving back to my home country, Pakistan, so I foresee me moving back in the longer term.

What are your plans for the summer?

Before I enter the corporate world, I plan on spending some time with my parents both here in the US as well as back home in Pakistan. I have a younger brother who is heading off to college in the fall so I’ll try and spend some time with him too. Additionally, I will be going on a road trip across the country with a number of my high school friends as a tribute to where all of us have reached in our lives and to be thankful for our humble beginnings.

What do you hope to be doing at this time next year?

Hopefully, moving up in the world at Deloitte and having an active presence within the firm both from a professional standpoint but also from a cultural perspective. I also hope to pursue some of my side passion projects and see some progress on their road to fruition. Most of all, I plan to stay active as an NYU alumnus and stay involved through the Alumni Association, the Haskins Giving Society, and the Young Alumni Leadership Circle, and any other opportunities that may be presented to me!

Pretend it's your 10 year reunion, what would you like to say when classmates ask what you've been up to?

Hopefully changing the world! I’ve always been someone who’s been larger than life setting no boundaries to my ambition. Ten years down the line, I’d love to have my own entrepreneurial venture that is working towards a better and more progressive Pakistan—one that is universally applauded. I wish for people to say that they are proud to be a Pakistani citizen, whether I achieve this through my professional endeavors or through any social initiatives, let’s wait and watch!