Nickhil Anantha, a Senior in the Canfield Business Honors Program at UT Austin, has crafted a unique college experience that blends his interest in business, sustainability, and personal growth. As a Canfield BHP + Finance major with a minor in Global Sustainability Leadership, he has sought diverse opportunities that have shaped his academic and professional journey.
A lifelong UT fan since growing up in Austin, the university was a natural fit for further education. With an initial interest in a pre-med path, he eventually found his passion for business, which took him to Canfield BHP. The program’s small class sizes, close-knit community, and excellent reputation made it the quality education for a good price. Meeting with existing students further supported his choice. Canfield BHP provided the perfect blend of mental challenge and community that reaffirmed his choice to go to UT Austin for a business education.
With minimal knowledge of business before entering Canfield BHP, Nickhil found some courses to be exceptionally helpful. MIS 301 introduced him to case studies and how companies operate, setting the foundation strongly. One course that he remembers was Business Law and Ethics with Professor Meakin. His stories made the class interesting. Nickhil and his friends even went trick or treating at his house! However, it was the Valuation course with Professor Sury that played the biggest career impact. Hands-on Excel lab work and a close study of financial modeling struck a strong synergy with his work at the internship.
Nickhil’s involvement with student organizations has enriched his UT Austin experience. As a peer mentor in Canfield BHP, he enjoys paying it forward to the program that provided him support. Nickhil enjoyed teaching MAN 101 and getting the opportunity to mentor underclassmen. His passion for sustainability led him to join the Sustainability Investment Group (SIG). Nickhil has been interested in sustainability ever since he was a kid and bought a small solar car. He previously served as the Sustainability Director where he developed a sustainability-focused curriculum and educated freshmen about the convergence of business and environmental care. In his free time, Nickhil plays Spikeball. He has competed in tournaments across the U.S. and Europe, placing third and second at College Nationals for the sport. He says this has been a great place to connect with students outside of his classes and Mccombs.
Despite his busy life, Nickhil believes in balance. He aims to sleep at least 8 hours a day. He also values the importance of saying no whenever necessary. Walking, journaling, and yoga are a few of the exercises that help him stay focused. College has taught him the importance of time management and knowing how to prioritize what is important.
Nickhil’s career trajectory has been guided by impactful internships. During his sophomore summer, he worked from home for Amira Learning, a social enterprise startup with a CFO who was a Canfield BHP alumni. He found that working at a startup gave him a great deal of responsibility and allowed him to work directly with leadership within the company. During his junior summer, he worked at First Citizens Bank in Los Angeles for their Renewable Energy Project Finance group. This experience also ignited his passion for the convergence of business and sustainability.
Being in a new city was a valuable learning experience, preparing him for life after graduation. He will be returning to First Citizens Bank in LA after graduation!
Nickhil’s best advice to new Canfield BHP students is to worry less about how they compare to someone else and more about their own journey. Everyone is on their own path and it is important not to get caught in the race.
One of Nickhil’s best UT memories was attending the home playoff game against Clemson over winter break with friends. They managed to grab front-row seats, right next to the sideline. He says that the UT experience is not just about academics but all of the resources including sports and student organizations.
Nickhil Anantha’s time at Canfield BHP has been shaped by strong connections, impactful coursework, and a commitment to sustainability. From mentoring students, competing in sports, or his Canfield BHP classes, he has seized every opportunity to learn and grow. His experience is representative of the many paths that Canfield BHP students can take and the lasting impact of the program on their professional lives and careers.