Outstanding Graduating Senior: Manoj Panikkar

As a kid, Manoj Panikkar used to tinker with electronics. He’d take them apart and put them back together just to see how they worked. That curiosity turned into a passion for learning, so much so that he couldn’t settle on just one major.

As a kid, Manoj Panikkar used to tinker with electronics. He’d take them apart and put them back together just to see how they worked. That curiosity turned into a passion for learning, so much so that he couldn’t settle on just one major.

On May 12, Panikkar will deliver the convocation address as the W. P. Carey School of Business’s Outstanding Graduating Senior. His determination and hard work earned him a perfect 4.0 grade point average in three challenging majors: computer information systems, business data analytics and accountancy.

“There are some students whose successful trajectories can be seen years before they graduate from the W. P. Carey School of Business,” said Raghu Santanam, professor and chair of the Department of Information Systems, in his nomination letter. “Manoj Panikkar is one such student, who consistently displayed this level of promise throughout his undergraduate tenure.”

A love of learning

Panikkar didn’t set out to get three different degrees, he just began taking classes that interested him — a lot of classes. Soon he realized he had enough credits in those disciplines to join the degree programs.

“It was worth it because I enjoyed all three subjects,” he said.

Panikkar’s love for technology led him to computer information systems. He said he always had an interest in computers and software and the limitless options available in technology. The path that led to accounting came later: he took an accounting careers awareness program in high school that piqued his interest.

When Panikkar heard about the Business Data Analytics program, he thought it sounded applicable to his other disciplines and decided to add it to his roster.

“Out of all the degrees, this one interests me the most,” he said.

Panikkar was a little apprehensive because the program was so new. W. P. Carey began offering Business Data Analytics in 2014. “I was a little afraid of applying, that it would be completely new — kind of a wild card,” he said.

He decided to take the risk and apply to the program, a decision he was pleased with because he said the curriculum was amazing and gave him tools he will be able to use in any career.

“Business data analytics is the way of the future,” Panikkar said.

Most of the content in his classes came easy for Panikkar, but the new concepts in data analytics took a bit more effort. “CIS came easy to me, but BDA I had to work a little harder to understand the concepts,” he said.

Classes like data mining were heavy in math, requiring not just computation skills, but also application, Panikkar said.

As a student in Barrett, the Honors College, Panikkar also completed a thesis. He designed a web-based game identifying financial fraud scenarios taken from famous modern-day accounting scandals.

Getting and giving a helping hand

Panikkar credits his success in part to mentors who have helped and guided him throughout his college career. Two Camp Carey facilitators and another fellow student helped him get involved in the business school community and would meet with him regularly and encourage him. Panikkar also found a professional mentor while working at JPMorgan Chase Bank who got him thinking about his future career goals and gave him some pointers on navigating the office environment.

"I have had so many mentors who were willing to help me without getting anything in return,” he said.

Because of the help Panikkar received, he developed a strong spirit for mentoring and volunteering. Panikkar gives back to fellow students by working as a peer programmer with W. P. Carey, living in the residence hall and mentoring younger students. He plans events and opportunities to get students involved in the business community and to help them get the most out of their college experience.

“Mentorship has been a big part of my life,” he said. “Everybody needs to be given a fair chance.”

As a member of the Arizona Mentor Society, Panikkar volunteers with underprivileged elementary school students at Flora Thew Elementary School in Tempe. He helps them with their homework and teaches a budgeting class where kids learn how to manage money. Panikkar said the students are smart and eager to learn.

“I think mentorship is a huge component of future success and as individuals we should give back and share our knowledge with those who are looking to learn,” he said. “It's a big reason why I mentor and will continue to mentor business students at ASU and elementary students at Thew who are looking for help.”

Santanam, in his nomination letter, said Panikkar is enriching the lives of the kids he mentors and showing them a real future.

“Manoj is inspiring and instilling hope that attending and graduating from college is a real and achievable option for them,” Santanam said.

To say that Panikkar is a busy student is an understatement. To get some rest and unplug, he travels with his family back to the small town where he was born in India. There is no Internet available so Panikkar gets to slow down and enjoy time with family.

“It’s a completely different experience, I think I enjoy both,” he said.

Tempe to Silicon Valley

After graduation, Panikkar is joining the international audit, tax and advisory firm KPMG LLP. He will work under the deal advisory division at the Silicon Valley office.

When large tech companies want to buy smaller start-up companies, Panikkar’s role will be to conduct the proper due diligence to determine if the purchase is a good investment.

“I will be able to use a combination of all three of my degrees, which I’m very happy about,” he said of his new job.