Tommies in Our Communities
Eshan Varma ’19
Location: Ithaca, NY
Tommies in Our Communities
Location: Ithaca, NY
Eshan Varma ’19, proud graduate of the University of St. Thomas and member of the Alumni Engagement Board, embodies resilience and a commitment to supporting the next generation. Born and raised in Eagan, Minn., Eshan’s journey is a testament to his adaptability, ambition and dedication to the values of community and education.
Initially attending the University of North Dakota to compete in Division I tennis, Eshan soon realized he craved a stronger connection to city life and academics. After careful research, he transferred to St. Thomas, drawn by its robust community and the opportunity to balance rigorous academics and athletics. “St. Thomas could fulfill my academic and athletic needs,” he explained.
As a senior, Eshan joined the Mayo Innovation Scholar Program, engaging in research and leadership roles. He also immersed himself in campus life, forming strong relationships and overcoming early feelings of isolation with the help of mentors like Linda Hartung, his transfer advisor. Eshan had additional mentors, including Dr. Heidi Giebel and Dr. Gloria Frost, both philosophy professors; Dr. Rick Kunkel, business law professor; and Dr. Alexander Martin, who provided support for Eshan’s graduate school journey. “As you can see, there was a whole network of excellent individuals who really helped me grow at St. Thomas,” Eshan said.
Eshan’s dedication extended to an internship at Thomson Reuters, where he explored product management and development. Networking played a pivotal role in his success, and the internship’s unstructured nature taught him the importance of self-direction and resilience. While balancing academics senior year, at work Eshan focused on product management and analysis, segmenting analysis for user data, competitive intelligence, writing user stories and getting engaged in the early intersections of business and technology.
After graduating with a General Business Management degree in 2019, Eshan continued with Thomson Reuters as a data analyst. In this role, he self-taught advanced methodologies, demonstrating the impact of learning programs on business outcomes and quickly earning a promotion to senior associate. Inspired by his experiences and the philosophy of St. Thomas’ mission, “all for the common good,” he received a Consortium Graduate Study of Management Fellowship to pursue an MBA at the Johnson Graduate School of Management at Cornell University. In the summer of 2025, Eshan will be a Senior Strategy Consultant at Accenture Strategy in New York City.
Eshan’s philosophy, “I am because we are,” drives his passion for the St. Thomas community and mentorship. As an alum, he has been part of the Opus Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Working Group, advised the student BIPOC group, was a volunteer coach for Club Tennis, and serves on the Alumni Engagement Board. “At the end of the day, this is how we forward the common good,” he says.
Eshan encourages current Tommies to embrace their St. Thomas experience fully, advising, “Value being connected here. Challenges will arise, but they’re part of your life’s collective whole. Our lives are more beautiful because of our experiences.”
Always eager to give back, Eshan invites students to reach out, continuing his legacy of resilience and connection: connect with Eshan on LinkedIn.
“I am drawn to the phrase ‘I am because we are.’ There are many strands of thread that make the tapestry of our lives, and I honor this concept by supporting the next generation coming after me. At the end of the day, this is how we forward the common good.”
“I was fortunate to receive a Student Leadership Scholarship Award in 2018 and the Twin Cities ACFE Scholarship in 2019. Both of these individual contributions helped me navigate financial considerations during my time at St. Thomas and provided me with opportunities to further network and be more involved within the university.”
“When applying to school, I received advice that it's not necessarily about the institution you go to but what you do with the opportunities that are given to you. In my case, I was fortunate to discover that the opportunities at St. Thomas were numerous. Despite being a collegiate athlete and dealing with the multiple responsibilities that it entails, St. Thomas allowed me to branch out and explore various activities and opportunities that contributed to my growth as an individual.”
“‘Minnesota Nice’ is very special. Take advantage of that – find clubs and form great relationships with professors. Opportunities can be overwhelming – find your space and branch out with it. Resilience is important. Be persistent to get to the places you feel you belong.”
“Be open to what will happen to you. Being at St. Thomas is a huge privilege. Value being connected here. There will be challenges, but see these as part of your life’s collective whole – our lives are more beautiful because of our experiences.”