Following her graduation from the University of Virginia’s McIntire School of Commerce in 2019, Jyotika Chandhoke moved to New York City where she started her career in investment banking. Despite the incredibly valuable experience that she was gaining in finance and investment banking, Jyotika felt that something in her professional life was missing. As a UVA undergraduate, service to and empathy for the Charlottesville community via a variety of Madison House programs had been essential to Jyotika’s learning and growth. “Madison House really helped me to develop a sense of empathy and an ability to understand the context in which our university is located,” she shared.

Jyotika began her volunteer work at Madison House as a first year with Cavs in the Classroom, CLASS (now known as YMCA After School), and The Big Event — a one-time, annual service event. While she enjoyed being in the classroom environment, Jyotika was especially drawn to The Big Event because of the way the program fostered connection and conversation between students and local community members. Jyotika shared that, after a day of volunteering at The Big Event, she got to “see what happens outside of UVA and its bubble.”

Following this first positive experience, Jyotika joined The Big Event’s fundraising team during her second year, eventually becoming the program’s assistant director her third year, and stepping into the role of Head Program Director her fourth year. Jyotika said that “working as The Big Event’s Head Program Director was especially rewarding because it happened in April of my fourth year, the whole component of giving back to Charlottesville made all of the work and preparation worth it.” As the Big Event’s Head Program Director, she worked alongside twelve program directors and a variety of community partners to coordinate and organize the 2019 Big Event.

Because of these formative experiences from her time at Madison House, Jyotika decided to make the shift from investment banking and now works in impact investing for a firm that specializes in venture philanthropy.

“When I was trying to make the switch from investment banking to a social impact space, I was able to share my story about the Big Event to my current employer and make my goal a reality,” says Jyotika.

Now, Jyotika and her peers work to invest philanthropic capital efficiently in social enterprises that are driving positive social, economic, and environmental change to tackle some of the most pervasive issues we face today.

For any students interested in reaching out to Jyotika to hear about her time at UVA or ask about her current career in banking, don’t hesitate to contact her by email at jyotika.chandhoke@gmail.com.

Author: Caroline Young; csy6wd@virginia.edu

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