BIO
Personal Profile
To get some more context about some of the work that I have been involved in recently, take a look at my resume! I have some blog posts below as well to further elaborate on some of my achievements, current projects, and just thoughts about activities that I have been engaged in throughout my time in university.
If you would like to contact me regarding any of these experiences, please reach out at anuragraychowdhury@gmail.com!
Blog Posts
8-20-2022
UIUC
12-9-2022
UIUC
As I work on creating some of the finishing touches on this portfolio (thus far), I can comfortably say that this has been a very rewarding experience. I was able to look back at my work from previous years and see how those once stray experiences have connected dots with other experiences to make me who I am today. Hindsight is always 20/20 as they say but this has enabled me to reflect on my work rather well. I also know that I want to now invest work in some of my more recent projects, such as my web application, my blockchain work and potentially dive into some research as well. I am looking forward to see how this portfolio evolves over time!
3D-Printing Homes. I feel like this is a concept that one would pull from a daydream, but I was blessed with an opportunity to turn this daydream into a reality over the last couple summers. I worked on the research and development team for a social entrepreneurship startup named “New Story.” In short, they focus on building quick and affordable homes for underprivileged communities; I specifically focused on communities in New Mexico and Haiti. I think what drove me to enjoy this project and organization was the innovative nature of their problem solving. 3D printing is a process of making three-dimensional solid objects from a digital file. The creation of a 3D printed object is achieved using additive processes, where successive layers of material are laid down in different shapes. This technology has the potential to revolutionize the way we manufacture products, allowing for the creation of complex shapes and designs that would be difficult or impossible to produce using traditional manufacturing methods. It has applications in a wide range of industries, including engineering, architecture, and medicine. Some of the advantages of 3D printing include reduced production time and cost, increased customization and design freedom, and the ability to create one-of-a-kind objects. They created a 3D-Printer that would print homes with a customized chemical paste compound and managed to develop an affordable solution that can be processed in bulk. Witnessing how the target audience reacted towards plans of rehabilitation and first glimpses at their new home gave me a sense of importance for the work I was doing and this purpose soon turned into obsession as I worked more in depth with the team. The culture of the organization is one centered around relentlessness coupled with empathy, something I have tried to embody myself through my time there. The mix of sci-fi-esque engineering with real world impact is something that truly excites me and I can only imagine the doors that have yet to be opened with this in mind. At the end of the day, it is a form of social entrepreneurship that I want to delve further into. Social entrepreneurship refers to the practice of using entrepreneurial principles and business strategies to tackle social and environmental issues. These entrepreneurs are driven by a desire to improve the world and create positive change, rather than simply making a profit. They often work in underprivileged or marginalized communities, and use innovative and sustainable solutions to address pressing issues such as poverty, inequality, and climate change. Social entrepreneurs often operate in the form of nonprofit organizations, but they may also use for-profit business models to achieve their social or environmental goals. This approach to business allows them to have a greater impact and create lasting change in their communities. This seems more purpose driven and in an attempt to leave a positive mark on the world instead of one that is in self-interest for fame, money or something else. I want to work for a purpose bigger than myself; not one that will disappear with my own existence. Building something that lasts is worth more to me than anything else and this was my first attempt at exploring the world of ever-lasting impact. I hope my career will show me similar forms of work and I can only wait to see what doors will be open
8-18-2022
UIUC
I have recently started creating this professional portfolio as a part of my technology and management class at the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign. As I begin the process of creating this document, I have been viewing this more as a form of creative expression rather than just any other assignment I have to submit. At the end of the day, although this is work related, this is merely an expression of self and I think that it could be an interesting reflecting process. Perhaps through this assignment I’ll have a more holistic view of what I have accomplished and yet to accomplish. I look forward to starting!
11-17-2022
UIUC
Through the Technology and Management Seminar, I have gained a significantly improved understanding of Corporate America and feel like I have gained a rejuvenated sense of direction with my own career path through some of the conversations I have had with fellow students and guests. I want to take a moment to discuss one of my favorite moments that I have had this year in this class. The networking dinner that I attended with the "Product Development Pros" was one of the most engaging and fulfilling experiences I have had at this school thus far. Jared Abert, the Vice President of RIA Custody Sales at Goldman Sachs, lead a fantastic discussion with my peers and myself regarding his history in trading, investment management, past experiences at BP during the oil spill and current involvements at Goldman Sachs. Financial technology is a field I am already interested in so asking Jared questions about what kinds of products he works with specifically and what their practical purposes are was informational in its own right. Understanding how Jared's experience with private placements and hedge fund management intertwined with his work in private equity & debt management was eyeopening because Jared explained how although each respective field is not related to the other, information from both has helped him build his career and advance forward. Aside from his actual work in product development, Jared was kind enough to walk us through the trajectory of his career as a whole. His experiences at BP were incredibly interesting as well because his time there as a trading analyst was during 2010-2013; the same time as the BP oil spill. He described his experiences as an employee at a company that was in code red as "some of the most valuable experiences I have gained to date." The adversity he faced on a day to day basis on the financial emergency response team increased his stress breaking point significantly and he describes traditionally stressful work in his current life as much less intimidating given this experience. Perhaps I may not face an oil spill specifically in my corporate career, but I am sure I will face some form of adversity out of my control; hearing from a professional like Jared and better understanding how to approach such an event, especially when he was at the heart of it all, was priceless information. We even had a chance to talk about his time in Monaco on a work sponsored trip and how the cultural influence coupled with his work life broadened his global perspective as a whole. At the end of the day, your work that you do will take a significant amount of time in your life, so being able to put yourself in positions where you can attain such experiences is important for your own development as a human being, not just as an employee. Hearing about what true corporate work is like from the people that live it is by far my favorite part of this course. As someone who actively looks to put himself in positions where he is able to try as many new experiences as possible, I feel like this seminar course has enabled me to better understand my own ambitions by living through other people's experiences. In a seminar setting especially, I feel like I am not limited to understanding my own questions, but other people's questions as well. As they bring up valid points that I may have not thought of to begin with, I can expand my own perspective on the topic at hand and become more informed for future conversations that may take place. All in all, this was a fulfilling conversation that encouraged me to explore more opportunities in my own future that I haven't considered before. Perhaps there will be doors regarding fintech that I will be more willing to explore now due to this conversation, and in like manner, this class as a whole has done a great job of exposing me to what life is truly like after you graduate. I am excited for what is to come!
