CUNY Honors Business Hub

To be considered for the CUNY Honors Business Hub, candidates must meet the following requirements:

1. Be a CUNY Honors student (all Honors Programs are welcomed) or have a 3.3 GPA
2. Complete the interest form
3. Sign up for Project BASTA’s Discovery and complete the survey and supplemental sessions

Upon completing the interest form, new members will receive an email welcoming them to the CUNY Honors Business Hub.

Honors business students who are low-income, first-generation to attend college, or from underrepresented communities are encouraged to apply. 

What is Project Basta’s Discovery?

Project Basta’s Discovery is a career readiness resource meant to help you prepare for all things career-related! After you sign up for Discovery, you should:

1. Complete the Seekr survey

2. Attend your personalized debrief appointment OR take one of their career readiness courses

By completing these steps, you will be able to strengthen your career readiness skills and better prepare for your career in business. All students who complete the Project Basta’s Discovery program will also be able to access Project Basta’s curated job board filled with internships, opportunities, and more!

The Case Competition is an optional component of the program that is only open to juniors (sophomores are encouraged to attend as spectators). The goal of the Case Competition is to allow you and your fellow peers to work together as a team to analyze and develop solutions to real-world, industry-related problems. Through this experiential learning opportunity, you will have access to mentorship and will receive a $500 stipend for your participation.

All students who choose to participate in the Case Competition must attend 3 meetings relating to the event. The meetings will be held on:

• February 15, 2024
• February 22, 2024
• February 29, 2024

Meet with Rajiv Basu, FCA, CPA

His office hours are by appointment in person or via Zoom. Office hours will resume in the Spring 2024 semester.

Board Service
Currently serves as an independent director of Assurant, Inc. (NYSE-“AIZ”), and on Assurant’s Audit Committee.

Summary

• Culturally fluent senior executive with over 39 years of experience in the Financial Services industry, with specialization in Insurance.
• Extensive international experience having lived and worked in London, Mumbai, New York, and Singapore. Skilled in SEC reporting, US GAAP and IFRS, M&A, IPO readiness (domestic and FPI listings in the US and foreign exchanges)
• Qualifies as an Audit Committee Financial Expert

Financial Services
Rajiv has served large financial institutions and SEC registrants in the US and abroad, with extensive buy side M&A transactions and cross border IPO experience.

Rajiv has gained depth in insurance through service as the global lead partner for MetLife (audit), and New York Life and Zurich North America/Farmers Group (non-attest consulting services). He also has served as the quality assurance or senior advisory partner for several other insurance clients, both life and general, public and private, domestic and foreign.

Rajiv served as the US national leader for insurance International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”). In this role he helped clients assess and respond to draft IFRS standards, and was a key member of the team that responded to regulators and standard setters. He has authored topical publications and presented at webcasts and live events at industry and client round tables, and was a panelist that authored a textbook on IFRS for Life Insurers published by the Society of Actuaries. Mergers and acquisitions Rajiv has extensive buy side M&A experience serving both strategic and private-equity investors and led Deloitte’s M&A FSI transaction support practice. He also advised MetLife’s management in the acquisitions of Travelers Life from Citigroup, ALICO from AIG, ProVida in Chile, and in the spinoff of Brighthouse. Asia experience Based in Singapore, Rajiv served as Professional Practice Leader responsible for covering 10 countries in SE Asia. Based in India, Rajiv led the national US GAAP and SEC practice. He directly assisted large Indian companies with IPO’s or listings in New York or London, including those of HDFC Bank, Tata Motors, Tata Telecom, Rediff.com and Vedanta Resources, as well as the spinoff and public listing of Tata Consultancy Services in Mumbai.

Governance
Rajiv serves on the Board of directors of Assurant, Inc., a NYSE listed insurance company, and its audit committee. Rajiv was a member of the core executive committee that managed Deloitte India and reported to its board. Rajiv has presented at board meetings and audit committees of public companies, and has extensive public speaking experience at industry and professional forums in the US and India. Rajiv has served on several internal firm governance committees in the US, including those focused on Board succession and compensation for senior partners.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Rajiv led Deloitte’s diversity initiative in the North East for several years. He also was a founding member of Ascend, a Pan-Asian leadership organization with over 18 professional chapters today
(www.ascendleadership.org), and served as an officer and on its board for 10 years. He has served as an active partner coach and sponsor for several diverse background candidates admitted into the partnership.

Professional
Rajiv is a Fellow member of the Institute of Chartered accountants in England & Wales and a New York Certified Public Accountant. He received his M.A. in Economics from BITS, Pilani, India.

We are delighted to announce that five $3,000 scholarships will be awarded this fall to high-achieving business students enrolled in CUNY’s Honors Programs. Honors business students who are low-income, first-generation to attend college, or from underrepresented communities are encouraged to apply. The selection committee will evaluate each applicant’s personal statement, letter of recommendation, and academic achievements.

Eligibility Criteria
To be considered for the CUNY Honors Business Hub Scholarship, candidates must meet the following requirements:

• Be an active member of the CUNY Honors Business Hub.
  Join the business hub here. 
• Be a business major pursuing a degree in Business, Accounting, Forensic Accounting, Management, Actuarial Science, Economics, Finance, Data Analytics, Data Science, Computer Science, Technology and/or Management Information Systems
• Be a current undergraduate student
• Have a minimum GPA of 3.3
• Completed Project BASTA’s Discovery Seekr survey and supplemental sessions
• TAP or Pell-eligible students are strongly encouraged to apply

Application Process
To apply for the CUNY Honors Business Hub Scholarship, please follow these steps:

1. Complete the CUNY Honors Business Hub Scholarship  Application
2. Prepare Your Essay: Craft a 500-word essay that delves into the following pivotal topic:
   • Share a personal experience that highlights the importance of diversity and equity in business. How did this experience shape your perspective on the topic?
3. Secure a Letter of Recommendation: Obtain a recommendation letter from a CUNY faculty or staff member who can speak to your academic and personal qualities.
4. Submit Your Application by TBA
5. Await Notification: Once the Scholarship Committee selects the recipients, successful applicants will be notified by TBA

*The scholarships are only awarded in the Fall semesters.

Thank you for your interest in the CUNY Honors Business Hub Scholarship. We look forward to reviewing your application and wish you the best of luck in your academic and professional endeavors. Together, we can shape a more diverse and vibrant business world for all.

We are delighted to announce that thirty of up to $600 travel stipends will be awarded this fall to high-achieving business students enrolled in CUNY’s Honors Programs. Honors business students who are low-income, first-generation to attend college, or from underrepresented communities are encouraged to apply. The selection committee will evaluate each applicant’s personal statement, letter of recommendation, and academic achievements.

Eligibility Criteria
To be considered for the CUNY Honors Business Hub Travel Stipend, candidates must meet the following requirements:

• Be an active member of the CUNY Honors Business Hub.
  Join the business hub here. 
• Be a business major pursuing a degree in Business, Accounting, Forensic Accounting, Management, Actuarial Science, Economics, Finance, Data Analytics, Data Science, Computer Science, Technology and/or Management Information Systems
• Be a current undergraduate student
• Have a minimum GPA of 3.3
• Completed Project BASTA’s Discovery Seekr survey and supplemental sessions
• TAP or Pell-eligible students are strongly encouraged to apply

Application Process
To apply for the CUNY Honors Business Hub Travel Stipend, please follow these steps:

1. Complete the CUNY Honors Business Hub Travel Stipend Application
2. Prepare Your Essay: Craft a 500-word essay that delves into the following pivotal topic:
   • Share a personal experience that highlights the importance of diversity and equity in business. How did this experience shape your perspective on the topic?
3. Submit Your Application by April 29th, 2024
4. Await Notification: Once the Scholarship Committee selects the recipients, successful applicants will be notified by May 29th, 2024

Thank you for your interest in the CUNY Honors Business Hub Travel Stipend. We look forward to reviewing your application and wish you the best of luck in your academic and professional endeavors. Together, we can shape a more diverse and vibrant business world for all.