Rohit Tappeta (MQF ’23)
Rohit Tappeta
How Rady’s MQF Helped This Alum Navigate a Career Pivot and Enter a New Industry Driving Healthcare Innovation
After completing his undergraduate degree in Actuarial Science at Iowa State University, Rohit Tappeta made an interesting discovery — he no longer wanted to become an actuary.
Instead, he had developed an interest in pursuing a career in corporate finance.
Like many who encounter a fork in the road of their career journey, this new interest required Tappeta to carve out his own path. And he quickly realized that he needed to develop more expertise at the intersection of finance, quantitative analytics, and business.
He Found an Ideal Fit at Rady
While researching finance programs across the U.S., Tappeta discovered the Rady School of Management’s unique Master of Quantitative Finance (MQF) program. “The strong emphasis on both technical and quantitative skills immediately resonated with me,” he said.
The program, which includes financial modeling and specialized software applications, aligned well with Tappeta’s analytical mindset and newfound career ambitions. Additionally, he knew that at Rady, he’d have the opportunity to learn from world-class faculty members.
Plus the opportunity to study in sunny San Diego, California? That was a pretty awesome bonus.
Building His Network was Daunting at First
Upon arriving as a newly-admitted student at Rady, Tappeta was immediately struck by the campus. “The school’s stunning location near the Pacific Ocean was pretty incredible,” says Tappeta. But it wasn’t the campus alone that surprised him. “I was impressed by the size and diversity of our cohort.”
After adjusting to meeting so many new people at once, he found a welcoming and supportive community, meeting faculty members and staff such as Manager of Advising & Programs Kevin Doyle, and Executive Director of the MQF program, Michael Melvin. “I was able to make lasting friendships starting at orientation, as well as through coursework and networking events,” he said.
The Unique MQF Curriculum
Among Tappeta’s favorite courses was Valuation in Corporate Finance, taught by Assistant Professor William Mullins. “This class stood out due to its hands-on approach, engaging with real-life business cases, including IPO valuations,” he said. “The use of actual, confidential financial data added a level of realism and depth rarely found in an academic setting.”
Another standout course was Real Estate and Finance with Assistant Professor Carlos Fernando Avenancio-León. “His dynamic teaching style and emphasis on collaboration left a lasting impression for me. He also provided valuable career advice and guidance during my job search, which helped tremendously,” said Tappeta.
Gaining Real-World Experience with the MQF Capstone Project
As part of the MQF program, students must complete a capstone project. Tappeta was matched with a team to work on an active financial case, applying the skills and knowledge gained throughout the program to solve real-world challenges.
“This hands-on experience reinforced my decision to pursue a career in corporate finance, and provided me with the practical insights that have been instrumental in my professional development,” said Tappeta. “I also formed particularly close bonds with my capstone project team — we talk almost every day!”
Life After Rady, and Discovering a New Industry
While pursuing his MQF, Tappeta completed a finance management internship with the City of San Diego, where he researched nationwide trends in government finance for cities of comparable sizes. Upon completing his degree, he accepted a financial analyst internship with The Retirement Group, where he worked on cash flow analysis for retirement plans, analyzed client acquisition costs, and assisted in rebalancing the portfolio.
Today, Tappeta works as a financial analyst at NeoGenomics Laboratories — a cancer genetics testing company — in Carlsbad, California.
“Now, with my MQF degree working as a financial analyst, I partner with lab operations and corporate financial planning and analysis to implement daily, weekly and monthly reporting tools that measure actual costs, versus standard or baseline costs,” he explained. “I track and analyze trends, variances, and identify concerns. I focus on capital spending, and provide proactive recommendations to optimize efficiency and productivity.”
Tappeat’s work is directly contributing to NeoGenomics’ ability to change the damaging impact of cancer. “I didn’t envision a career in corporate finance within the healthcare space, but I am so glad that this is where I have landed. I am proud to work for a company that is making such a difference through innovation and biomedical scientific advancements.”
Advice for Future MQF Students
To prospective and incoming MQF students, Tappeta encourages them to dive right in. “My initial anxiety about meeting so many people at once vanished as soon as I started to get to know people,” he said. “I want to encourage students to be proactive in networking and engaging with faculty and classmates, as these relationships can be crucial in shaping your career path.”
He also emphasized the importance of taking advantage of every resource available to them, “from career services to mentorship opportunities, commit to maximizing the benefits of the MQF experience to get the most of your time at Rady.”
