Over the course of his life, Pranav Jain has lived in three countries — India, Singapore and the United States — and has explored varied cultures and perspectives. His experiences, and the opportunities he gained as a Belk Scholar and Business Honors student at UNC Charlotte, have given Jain a global view and prepared him for the world of finance after graduation.
"Being able to live in a number of countries has helped me develop an international perspective where I can think about issues not from just one side, but also think about things more holistically," Jain said. "As a Business Honors student, we take a lot of small classes, with between 15 and 25 people in the class. A lot of those courses are discussion-heavy, and I hope my global perspective has contributed to those class discussions."
Charlotte’s diversity and grand scale have also benefited him. "I’ve been able to interact with a very diverse group of individuals pretty much every single day," he said. "It has been really interesting to talk about different topics, from sports to politics, with people from around the world."
A finance major with a minor in math who also is an early entry student in the Master of Science in Mathematical Finance program, Jain will join Barclays as an investment banking analyst after graduation, returning to a group where he previously had an internship. His focus will be on advising pharmaceutical and biotechnology clients on capital raises and mergers and acquisition activity. Capital raises are processes of raising funds for companies to achieve their strategic goals.
Jain enjoys finance, helping others
Jain realized early on that he enjoyed finance and the numbers aspects of investment banking, while also drawing inspiration from his parents, who are pharmacists and work in the clinical research industry, most recently in the Raleigh, N.C. area. They have long addressed societal issues, particularly in developing new therapies to improve the state of healthcare.
"I really like the idea of using capital to benefit companies’ financial performance while also ultimately helping people," he said. "In my previous healthcare private equity and investment banking experiences, I realized that investing in healthcare fuels better patient outcomes through cutting-edge treatments and medications. It is fulfilling that I will in some ways be able to benefit society. It’s a blend of two perfect worlds for me."
Becoming part of the Business Honors Program as a Belk Scholar helped Jain find his place at Charlotte. The Belk Scholars program allows high-achieving students to earn a bachelor’s degree in business and pursue a master’s degree in specific areas. Support from Belk, Inc. covers in-state tuition. Students accepted into the Belk Scholars Program are required to be part of the Business Honors Program.
"You stay with your Business Honors cohort from the day you start college to the day you graduate," Jain said. "You take a lot of classes with your cohort, and you have different activities scheduled with your cohort. You find some of your closest friends in the program. Business Honors created a small school feeling within a big school with all the resources that Charlotte offers."
Jain took on leadership roles within Business Honors, including serving in a vice president role, which involved organizing a mock interviews event. He learned to balance his desire to give back with a focus on academics and engaged learning experiences. He completed summer experiences, starting his sophomore year with an internship with a private equity firm.
faculty, staff provide guidance
Jain can name many professors and advisors who have helped shape his academic journey. In particular, Belk College’s former Assistant Director of Professional Development and Honors Programs Zack Lord stands out, as do professors who have challenged him, including Belk College faculty members Karen Ford-Eickhoff, Scott Tonidandel and Moutaz Khouja.
"They have been instrumental in shaping my academic and professional journey, where they have really encouraged not only learning the concepts in the textbook or the concepts that they're covering but also helping people think at a higher level," he said.
One recent impactful class is a course guided by Finance professor Yufeng Han, through which class members manage a University-endowed investment fund. "It helps you practically apply what you've been learning all of these years, and is much like employers will hold you accountable for the decisions that you're going to make," Jain said. "It's one of those courses where the students in the class decide the direction of the course, and you decide what you're going to do, when you're going to do it, how you're going to do it. That degree of autonomy has been really empowering."
Last year, Jain served as president of Enactus, an organization that uses entrepreneurial action to improve lives. He and other club leaders worked to rebuild club attendance and engagement following the pandemic. He also has volunteered in service activities through Business Honors with food banks and Classroom Central, which provides classrooms supplies to teachers.
Jain expressed gratitude for his Belk Scholars’ selection, which has given him a sense of independence and responsibility.
"I feel a sense of pride that I've worked very hard through high school and in college," he said. "That's reflected in my earning this scholarship. There's also a significant psychological aspect, where it's almost like someone is reassuring you that you are good enough and that you can do well." No doubt, Jain is fulfilling that promise.