Meet freshman Diya Rao, a Finance major with a double minor in Accounting and Real Estate. She is originally from Schaumburg, Illinois. Diya chose DePaul not only because she wanted to attend a well-respected and renowned university but also because she wanted to experience city life. DePaul’s access to the financial district and its boundless internship opportunities were also contributing factors in Diya’s decision to attend. In high school Diya knew she wanted to pursue a business degree, so she took an investing class her senior year. It was in this class that she was exposed to the risk-taking elements of finance and realized all the paths in finance she could take. A lover of math and unafraid of a challenge, Diya decided to jump right into DePaul’s finance program.
Only a freshman, Diya has yet to decide which path is best for her, however, she is enjoying every moment of the exploration process. She knows that freshman year is a crucial time to explore every opportunity and is looking to explore investment banking. She is looking forward to taking more banking classes next year. This summer she will be interning at Project Destined as a Commercial Real Estate intern. In ten years, Diya says she can picture herself working at a firm full time and flipping houses on the side. She dreams of one day investing in real estate and obtaining her real estate license.
Her favorite class so far has been Intro to Finance with instructor Spero Droulias, a DePaul alum and CFO of McDonald’s. Although the class is merely introductory, Diya says she is impressed that it is being taught by such a high-ranking industry professional. She is so grateful for the experience and opportunity to learn under him because of his knowledge and real-world examples. The class, she says, has been influential in her understanding of the balance between theory and practice. She recommends it to anyone who is interested in learning more about finance.
Outside of school, Diya is an active member of DePaul’s Females in Finance (DeFIF). This past Winter Quarter, she was a part of DeFIF’s Leadership Prep Program where she was trained to take over a graduating e-Board member’s leadership role. She is now both DeFIF’s Secretary and Diversity and Inclusion Officer. Diya is dedicated to POC and disability inclusion in the fiancé world and will continue to do the work from DeFIF long after she graduates. She hopes to create an environment where everyone—minorities, women, and people with disabilities—feel safe, equal, and welcome.
We wish you the best of luck, Diya!