ALUM SPOTLIGHTS
SHAIBYAA RAJBHANDARI
Business Analyst at McKinsey & Co.
“It is rare to find a community as tight as CUABS is in the business circle at Cornell. People are there for you, whether you need to randomly borrow a belt midday, prepare for an interview at midnight, or want to see a familiar face across the world during breaks. The term CUABS has become a synonym for home at Cornell. Seeing how much CUABS members enjoyed being around each other, my friends outside of the group used the phrase "What's your CUABS?" to refer to organizations that felt like home to people. Because no matter what my other involvements were on campus, it always came back to CUABS.”
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Like many freshmen, Shaibyaa first heard about CUABS through Club Fest. She was struck by the way members interacted and genuinely enjoyed each other’s company. During her time in CUABS, she met friends and mentors who helped her grow at Cornell and beyond. The many upperclassmen actively involved in various groups and leadership roles on campus helped her to find her place and passion at Cornell. Whether it was encouraging her to apply for opportunities they were aware of, hosting wine nights filled with fun and laughter, or helping her lift her luggage at five in the morning so that she wouldn't miss her bus, CUABS members were there for everything. Shaibyaa later served as VP of Development in her junior year.
Her favorite memory of CUABS was heading to California over spring break with other members to visit the hometown of Austin, a fellow CUABS member. There, she got to know his family and was treated as if she was a member of the family. She still has fond memories of pool parties and bonding over making s’mores there. When she attended Austin’s graduation party in their senior year, it felt like she had known his family for years.
During her time at Cornell, Shaibyaa served as the President of Forte Cornell, the President of Cornell for Nepal, a Project Manager for Social Business Consulting. She was also a member of Mortar Board Der Hexenkreis Senior Honor Society and the Class of 2018 Convocation Committee.
"WHAT’S YOUR CUABS?"
MICHAEL LEE
Analyst at The Blackstone Group
“Throughout my years at college, CUABS has been my home away from home. I was surrounded by people who inspire me to improve myself and who genuinely care about me."
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Michael first heard of CUABS through upperclassmen from his hometown of Singapore. In CUABS, he quickly found a personal and professional family – many members have become some of his closest friends even beyond Cornell. Quoting Alex Lin, a fellow CUABS alumnus, he quips that CUABS is a place where you can go for everything – ranging from resume to TV show advice. Michael went on to serve as the Vice President of Professional Affairs during his sophomore year, and eventually as the President of CUABS during his junior year.
His favorite memory of CUABS was when he hosted his Restaurant Management night at the Establishment at Statler. He was moved by the turnout of the CUABS family to support him and his team that night, and it was an immense privilege for him to serve many of his closest friends at college. (As far as he knows, none of them encountered food poisoning that night.)
During his time at Cornell, Michael also served as the Vice President of Finance for the Cornell Real Estate Club, the Leadership Chair for Mortar Board Der Hexenkreis Senior Honor Society, and a Teaching Assistant for multiple classes in the School of Hotel Administration.
"MY HOME AWAY FROM HOME"