Among Missouri State University’s exemplary cohort of graduating seniors this May is Deenal Patel.
With a major in finance (corporate and investments) and a minor in economics, Patel is set to embark on a promising career in the world of finance.
Patel’s inspiration to study finance was rooted in a blend of early exposure to business with her family-owned business and a natural inclination toward managerial roles.
“I always knew I wanted to do something in business. The business/entrepreneurship classes I took in high school really secured my decision. I was also the manager of my high school’s coffee shop and the amount of real-world experience I gained from that was valuable,” Patel said.
Making the most of her MSU experience
Hailing from Wichita, Kansas, Patel’s family moved to Conroe, Texas, when she started college.
“I chose MSU kind of on a limb. But once I got here and got involved, I loved it!” Patel said. “My final two years have been the most memorable as I immersed myself in the College of Business, from the classes I was taking to the organizations I’m involved with.”
Throughout her time at MSU, Patel has not only excelled academically, but she has also actively engaged in extracurricular activities and sought out opportunities for personal and professional growth.
As president of the Financial Management Association, she travelled to New York City for a Finance Leaders’ Conference this February.
“The experience has developed my skill set, helped pave the way into an early career in finance and provided great opportunities that have challenged me with continuous learning and growth,” Patel said.
In her senior year, some of her most memorable moments resulted from the lifelong friendships created in the finance, economics and risk management department as a graduate assistant.
Earlier this year, Patel was a member of MSU’s CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) Research Challenge Team that emerged triumphant at the Kansas City CFA Society Regional Competition.
“This is my most significant achievement so far,” Patel said.
She acknowledges the invaluable support and mentorship she received from several professors at MSU.
“I want to thank three people who are very important to me: Dr. Seth Hoelscher, Dr. Jeff Jones and Dr. Megan Ramsey,” Patel said.
Moving into the business world
She has secured an opportunity to kickstart her finance career as a financial analyst intern at Koch Industries, a multinational conglomerate company based in Wichita. In this role, she is expected to contribute to Koch’s Ag and Energy Solutions’ finance team.
“This summer, the team will produce forecasts for the next crop year, and improve rebate accrual and analysis processes,” Patel said.
Sharing some advice
Based on her personal experience, she encourages students to take advantage of all the resources MSU offers and talk to their professors.
She also advises, “Don’t get tangled in the little things because everything works out for the better in the end!”