2025 Best & Brightest Business Major: Agha Haider
“Says, ‘Let’s run it,’ way too often, regardless of context.”
Fun fact: I have a personal policy of never checking the weather before an adventure, which is how I ended up hiking a Virginia mountain in a full-blown storm (zero visibility, just vibes) and later nearly fainting on a North Carolina mountain trail while backpacking during an extreme heat advisory in July. Nature keeps sending warnings. I keep ignoring them.
Hometown: St. Louis, Missouri
Major: BBA in Finance and Organization & Management
Minor: Neuroethics
Favorite Business Course: Philanthropy Lab
Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles During College:
- Founder & Executive Director, ACTING OUT (2021-)
- Board Member, Riley’s Way Foundation (2021-)
- President, BBA Council (2024-2025)
- Moderator, Wonderful Wednesday (2024-2025)
- College Council Representative, BBA Council (2023-2024)
- 2nd Year Legislator, College Council (2022-2023)
- Sophomore Advisor, Residence Hall Association (2022-2023)
- Founding Vice President of Recruitment, Phi Alpha Delta (now Kappa Alpha Pi) (2021-2022)
- Member, Emory Impact Investing Group (2021-2022)
- 1st Year Legislator, College Council (2021-2022)
Where have you interned during your college career?
- Public Finance Investment Banking Summer Analyst at Truist Securities (Charlotte, Summer 2024)
- Transfer Pricing Intern at FORVIS (Atlanta, Spring 2024)
- Strategic Consulting & Program Execution Intern at Kaiser Permanente (Atlanta, Summer 2023)
Where will you be working after graduation?
I will be joining Raymond James as a Public Finance Investment Banking Analyst beginning in June.
What is the biggest lesson you gained from studying business?
Impact matters just as much as profit. Early on, business school teaches you concepts like optimizing for efficiency, maximizing revenue, and measuring success in numbers. However, the most meaningful lessons have come from courses, internships, and conversations that showed me the real power of business—creating change. The companies that last aren’t just the ones that turn the highest profits, but rather they’re the ones that lead ethically, uplift communities, and think beyond the bottom line.
What advice would you give to a student looking to major in a business-related field?
You don’t need to follow the crowd.
Business school can sometimes feel like a high-speed conveyor belt where everyone is rushing toward the same handful of industries, but rather the best thing you can do is carve out your own lane and figure out what actually excites you.
For me, that meant blending finance, storytelling, and social impact in ways weren’t exactly “by the book.” Whether it was directing a film about mental health, working in public finance to help cities fund critical infrastructure, or leading student government initiatives, my most fulfilling experiences were the ones that didn’t fit the traditional business school mold.
So, my advice? Take risks. Explore industries outside of the usual consulting and banking pipelines. Talk to people who have unconventional career paths. And most importantly, don’t be afraid to build something yourself whether it’s a startup, a nonprofit, or just a unique approach to your career. Business isn’t just about making money, but rather it’s about creating impact. Find a way to do both, and you’ll never feel like you’re just following the crowd.
Looking back over your experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently in business school and why?
If I could do one thing differently in business school, I’d take more Organization & Management classes. The OAM department has some incredible professors I haven’t had the opportunity to take, like Prof. Emily Bianchi and Prof. Wes Longhofer. They bring a unique approach to the field, blending management theory with real-world issues like personal fulfillment and the societal impact of business. Their work challenges students to think critically about how business decisions affect both individuals and society at large, which is a perspective that goes beyond the typical business curriculum, shaping your view of the world.
That said, I wouldn’t change much else. I jumped at nearly every opportunity I could (sometimes at the cost of sleep), and I wouldn’t trade those experiences for anything.
What is one way that your business school has integrated AI into your programming? What is one insight you gained from using AI?
Goizueta rolled out a Tech Toolbox asynchronous course on AI and tools like ChatGPT straight from the start. Further, some professors leveraged AI in classes to create study tools for students to use prior to quizzes and exams. One key insight I gained from using AI is how powerful it can be for improving efficiency and encourages a more interactive approach to studying, allowing students to tailor resources to their needs in real-time.
Which academic, extracurricular or personal achievement are you most proud of?
Building one of the most incredible communities through BBA Council.
There’s something special about surrounding yourself with people who genuinely want to make things better, and working alongside them has been one of the most rewarding parts of my time at Goizueta.
Which classmate do you most admire?
Blake Dinçman. Blake is one of the most well-rounded people I know. A student-athlete on Emory’s baseball team, he somehow balances practice and games, a full course load, and a perfect GPA, all while showing up first and leaving last at BBA Council meetings and events.
Beyond his achievements, Blake is one of the most dependable people I know. He’s the guy who will talk to anyone, help with anything, and make even the most chaotic events run smoothly, usually with some well-timed sarcasm thrown in.
He’s the man and I can’t wait to see what’s to come.
Who would you most want to thank for your success?
Definitely my family, especially my mom, who has heard me say “It’ll all work out in the end” far too many times. (Spoiler: It always did. Mostly.)
What are the top two items on your professional bucket list?
Explore infrastructure banking in another country while spending my weekends climbing the highest peaks (literally) and build a successful startup – hopefully one that makes a difference.
First published in Poets&Quants.
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