Rangarajan Sundaram is the dean of NYU Stern School of Business. He’s looking to cutting-edge technology to take the finance-focused business school forward
Speaking to Rangarajan Sundaram, the dean of NYU Stern School of Business, you don’t get any sense of the weight that sits on his shoulders.And why would you? After all, “it’s a wonderful time to be leading the most exciting business school in the world,” he says.
Leading a school like NYU Stern requires constant innovation, as the world around us is challenged to adapt to the rapid way machine learning, big data, and the future of tech are changing the way we learn. And now, with the COVID-19 pandemic, schools have been pushed rapidly innovate to ensure continued education for their students amid the crisis.
Transforming the NYU Stern MBA
For Rangarajan, his school, and business schools like it, have a responsibility to ensure the next generation of business leaders aren’t just part of the change, but lead it.
NYU Stern is well placed to lead innovation in new technologies. It has introduced a Fintech specialization into its MBA program. It offers electives on FinTech Analytics, Digital Currencies, Blockchains and the Financial Services Industry, and Risk Management for FinTech.
New York’s startup community is also flourishing. Endless Frontier Labs (EFL), a program for early-stage science- and technology-based startups, launched at NYU Stern in 2019. The nine-month program sees entrepreneurs work with mentors to hone and scale their startups.
Mentors include experienced entrepreneurs who have built and exited successful companies, world-renowned scientists and technical experts, and well-known venture capital and angel investors. Startups making progress are able to attract financing from investors in the program. The first cohort graduated in May 2020.
"We are creating the premier ecosystem of entrepreneurship education and programs here on the east coast, in the heart of New York City, that fuels the demand for highly inspired ideas with equally high potential for impact,” says Rangarajan. “I am excited by the strides Endless Frontier Labs is making in taking us closer to this vision.
“We are in one of the world’s greatest technology and entrepreneurship hubs, and we want to bring that to the school. It’s a work in progress, but because of our location we can dive deeply into businesses on many levels, allowing students to engage with them as part of their MBA."
The next step, Rangarajan adds, is to focus on the school’s new one-year Tech MBA, which launched its inaugural class in May 2018. It was created for candidates with a strong tech background who want to augment their skills to accelerate their career in tech.
The course was refined by NYU Stern with the school's Tech MBA Advisory Board. It draws on the expertise of industry experts in and around New York, to ensure content is kept relevant and fresh. Executive in residence at Lerer Hippeau, Greg Coleman, executive chair of the board at Deloitte, Janet Foutty, and CTO of Citadel, Umesh Subramanian, are just three of the sitting members.
Learning from industry experts to build a career in tech
Rangarajan walked into the dean position at NYU Stern at a time where the school isn’t just jumping on the tech bandwagon; it’s holding the reins.
Sat in the front carriage are a group of students who will be guided through the world of business by industry experts—Greg Coleman, Rangarajan informs, has been teaching media and technology at the school for eight years.
Students also have the chance to immerse themselves in one of the largest venture capital firms in the New York Area, Union Square Ventures. The MBA’s Tech and the City elective is led by one of the firm’s managing partners, Albert Wenger. He leads candidates through the startup journey, from idea inception to growth.
“There will also be a bunch of courses introduced around machine learning and big data,” adds Rangarajan. “Over the last several years our curriculum has been driven by the needs of industry.”
Rangarajan will also be keeping one eye on the business school rankings. Currently, NYU Stern is ranked among the top-25 MBA programs in the world by the Financial Times.
“[The rankings] are hugely important because they are a one-point summary to the world of how Stern is viewed,” he explains. “We are trying to make our education more relevant, more current for students and employers, and that strategy will naturally result in a move [up] the rankings.”
NYU Stern is seen as a “finance powerhouse”. But, the latest developments in tech and entrepreneurship at the school are an attempt to position NYU Stern as an all-rounder—according to Rangarajan, NYU Stern boasts one of the largest collections of data scientists out of any business school in the world.
Opportunities at the school are ripe for the picking then. You get the sense, from Rangarajan, that this is the natural result of forming close bonds with the corporate community in New York and harnessing lasting relationships with alumni.
“We learn from our alumni, and that engagement continues to be incredibly important to us,” Rangarajan concludes. “Students are the focus of what we do. They don’t stop being out students after that graduate, they are our students for life.”
Student Reviews
New York University - Leonard N. Stern School of Business
What built my love for NYU
My involvement with NYU has been astonishing thanks to individuals there, yet I truly do figure they could improve in the area of offering understudies sage monetary guidance. I only have more inquiries in regards to my school consistently. I truly like how different and comprehensive my school is generally speaking. By and large, individuals are thoughtful, well disposed, and exceptionally splendid. I'm propelled to work harder by my incredible speakers and companions. Assets and encounters are unparalleled. In spite of the fact that it isn't a great fit for everybody, I love going to a major metropolitan school. The main things I need were that it was more affordable and farther away from my folks.
Experienced educators
NYU is known for its focus on providing students with hands-on experiences. They offer numerous opportunities for exploration. The classes are enjoyable, and the professors display genuine passion for both their subjects and their students. The professors at NYU are highly knowledgeable in their fields and are always available to lend a helping hand as long as you make the effort to approach them. Joining a research laboratory is highly encouraged and can provide you with priceless experience. The professors not only care for students but are also highly intelligent. They prioritize the success of their students in their future careers.
Graduate Acting in a Nutshell
NYU's Graduate Acting program has consistently been recognized in the world's top 5 acting graduate programs for years. With an unprecedented pandemic commencing in my first year in the program, I experienced the type of innovation worthy of that world recognition. The ability to pivot entirely, yet maintain an extremely high level of education was truly profound. I consistently found myself being pushed in ways I wasn't aware I needed to be. The access to industry professionals for advice, guidance, and leadership means the transition after graduation is much less daunting than going it alone.
Simply the best school
This school is truly outstanding. In essence, there is no other educational institution that can surpass its exceptional performance and unparalleled attention to detail. It not only boasts state-of-the-art equipment, but also houses exceptional professors who are available to guide and instruct students on their usage.
Quality curriculum
NYU is a wonderful school where you can really learn anything you want to know. New York College gives probably the best training inside a city climate. I can see NYU becoming a leader in the technology and infrastructure industries thanks to its rapidly expanding engineering school. I love the delightful way proficient the teachers are and how the educational plan is set up.
Amazing school environment
The campus of New York University is very diverse, has excellent programs, and the professors are nice. NYU's location is fantastic because it is close to Manhattan. There is so much to learn about and such a lively environment created by the city. Additionally, I believe that the urban location of the campus aids students in developing important life skills.
Transformative experience
The experience of going to New York University (NYU) has been transformational. An environment that is conducive to study is created by the lively campus and multicultural community. NYU provides a comprehensive education that goes beyond the classroom thanks to the access to limitless opportunities in the center of New York City. The student experience is further improved by the support services and extracurricular activities. I wholeheartedly endorse NYU as a fantastic university.
This programe was strong!
The studies we're great, I learned the ins & outs of modern history. The subjects taught were on point (biology, art, etc.)
The staff was well trained and were very helpful and kind. Facilities were also on point.
The pricing can be a bit expensive though, but it is worse in Massachusetts.
NYU's Undergrad Accounting
The Stern School of Business provides the undergraduate accounting program at New York University. Students are prepared for careers in accounting, finance, and related fields through this highly regarded program. In addition to a comprehensive business education, the program provides students with a solid foundation in accounting principles.
The educational program remembers courses for monetary bookkeeping, administrative bookkeeping, tax collection, evaluating, and data frameworks. Economics, statistics, finance, and management are also required courses for students.
Through internships and other experiential learning opportunities, students have the opportunity to gain practical experience in addition to the coursework. Additionally, the program has strong connections to leading accounting firms, which may offer students a route to employment opportunities after graduation.
By and large, the undergrad bookkeeping program at New York College is a thorough and extensive program that can give understudies the abilities and information they need to prevail in the field of bookkeeping.
Journalism program
The best professors!!!! Really talented and experienced, full of knowledge and gave really a hands on education. We worked like a real newsroom, got assigned stories and were given the tools to go after them.
