Background
The Nicholas Center is honored to announce the establishment of the John R. Schweers Memorial Scholarship, made possible through a generous new donor partnership with the Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association. John and his wife Jackie had been passionate about supporting the University of Wisconsin – Madison and Jackie wanted to continue that tradition by establishing this scholarship in John’s name to support MBA students focused on corporate finance. This scholarship will be awarded to corporate finance MBA students annually and will help us continue to support growth in the Nicholas Center.
John received his MBA in Finance in 1969 from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and his career in finance included various positions with Texas Instruments, The Trane Company, American Standard, Inc., Donaldson Company, and DeMarche Associates Inc. John also taught various Finance courses at the University of St. Thomas and Saint Mary’s University in the Minneapolis/St. Paul Minnesota area. Additionally, John served on several non-profit foundation boards. After retiring, John continued to teach various finance courses at the University of St. Thomas.
We’re proud to announce that Ryan Naidu and Richa Shah have been selected as this year’s recipients of the John R. Schweers Memorial Scholarship. Their dedication to corporate finance and leadership excellence reflects the spirit and legacy of John’s contributions to the field.
Student Spotlight: Ryan Naidu
Ryan’s journey spans continents, industries, and disciplines. Originally from Wyckoff, NJ and Abu Dhabi, he discovered his passion for consumer behavior and entrepreneurship in high school, launching a streetwear brand that sparked his interest in economics and marketing. He earned his undergraduate degree in Marketing from Elon University, completing two consulting internships with Deloitte in Abu Dhabi. His curiosity about hotel ownership and valuation led him to transfer to The Culinary Institute of America, where he joined the inaugural cohort of the BS in Hospitality Management. There, he founded the Hospitality Management Club and became a lead tutor in finance courses, laying the groundwork for a career at the intersection of hospitality and finance.
Ryan’s professional experience includes a competitive rotational program at TIAA, where he worked across FP&A, investment reporting, and real estate accounting teams. He later joined Nuveen’s CASA Fund series as a Portfolio Management Analyst, overseeing investor reporting for a multi-billion-dollar real estate private equity platform focused on workforce housing.
Now an MBA student at Wisconsin, Ryan is focused on FP&A and long-term leadership in strategic finance, with a passion for integrating AI into enterprise solutions. Outside of work, he’s a lifelong soccer player, gym-goer, and world traveler who’s visited 21 countries. Read more about Ryan in our student spotlight article.
Student Spotlight: Richa Shah
Richa’s journey is one of resilience, curiosity, and global perspective. Born in Nepal and raised between Nepal and India, she grew up immersed in a rich tapestry of cultures and languages—an experience that shaped her adaptable mindset and deep appreciation for diversity. After moving to the U.S. in 2014, she earned a BBA in Accounting from UW–Whitewater, where she found purpose through Phi Theta Kappa, the Volunteer Center, and mentoring fellow international and first-gen students.
Professionally, Richa brings a unique blend of public accounting and corporate finance experience. After four years in tax and general accounting roles, she joined the global finance team at Spectrum Brands, where she played a key role in the global migration to SAP S4/HANA Group Reporting. That project deepened her understanding of cross-functional collaboration and the strategic power of finance in shaping business decisions.
Richa is an avid traveler, volunteer, and multilingual connector—fluent in five languages and passionate about cultural exchange. Her goal: to become a finance leader who bridges numbers and strategy to shape smarter decisions. Read more about Richa in our student spotlight article.
Categories: