Early on, Anish Shah (BBA ’07) got labeled as a solutions expert. His willingness to pitch in and offer assistance or advice garnered him a helpful reputation—something that was critical as he tried out different jobs and careers, ultimately landing with Groupon in a sales operations position.
“I’m really proud that I found what I’m good at, and that I’ve turned that into a career,” he says.
After nearly five years with Groupon, Anish joined Sprout Social, Inc., where he built a strong sales infrastructure that resulted in swift growth for the company. Since being recognized as Sprout’s leader of the year in his first year with the firm, Anish has risen through the ranks and now serves as vice president for sales operations.
However, it’s arguably the work he does off the clock that brings him the most satisfaction. Once a week, Anish performs bedside magic for kids at the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital through his volunteer work with the nonprofit organization Open Heart Magic.
“If a 15-minute magic show is all they need to escape the reality of what they’re in, to bring a smile and some joy, there’s really value in that,” he says.