Suneel Maheshwari
At an early age, Suneel Maheshwari knew his father was someone special. A leading academic in the accounting and finance field in India, S. N. Maheshwari passed along his expertise to his son, who is now sharing it with students in the Eberly College of Business. Learn more about him in this week’s installment of Meet Our Faculty.
What is it about the accounting field that initially drew you in—and ultimately keeps you interested?
I have always been surrounded by accounting textbooks. My father, Dr. S. N. Maheshwari, was a professor of accounting at one of the most prestigious colleges in India. He has authored dozens of books in accounting and finance and is a nationally known author in the field. I got involved in the textbooks from an early stage and unconsciously got into accounting and finance.
To see my students make progress in their career is the most gratifying feeling, and that keeps me going. Now, I see my students on both sides of the hiring table.
Why do you enjoy teaching in this discipline?
Accounting is a challenging subject. To be able to explain it to the students so that they carry that knowledge with them is even more daunting. Finding new ways and stories to get the concepts across to different generations of students is very enjoyable.
What advice would you give students about how to succeed in college?
Studying should not be for the purpose of earning a grade only, although grades are important. The purpose of getting an education should be to learn new concepts and then to be able to apply them creatively for the benefit of others. Grades and money will come to you as a byproduct of becoming the best in your field. Remain humble and thankful in life for what you have and stop worrying about what is missing.