BioBuzz’s Buzzin’ Brood Student Spotlight series celebrates the future generation of life sciences talent — and the programs, institutions, and organizations investing in them.
Name: Suhaani Singh
Hometown: Ashburn, Virginia
Institution: University of Virginia (Charlottesville, Virginia)
Role: Finance Intern, Afton Scientific
Suhaani Singh is a Commerce student at the University of Virginia who recently brought her problem-solving acumen to Afton Scientific as a Finance Intern, discovering a passion for the intersection of operations, technology, and strategy.
“A great system only works if people actually use it.” That realization has shifted how Suhaani Singh looks at corporate problem-solving. Currently pursuing her B.S. in Commerce at the University of Virginia’s McIntire School of Commerce, Suhaani balances a rigorous academic track with a highly active campus life. She serves as a Football Video Assistant for UVA Athletics, an Undergraduate Research Assistant, and the Events Operations Coordinator for the UVA Chak De Cville Dance Competition. She also applies her analytical skills as a Resource/Consulting Analyst at Appalachia Advisory and a Social Intern at Brighter Children.
It was her recent role as a Finance Intern at Afton Scientific that truly bridged the gap between classroom theory and real-world execution. Tasked with improving the company’s corporate credit card and expense management processes, Suhaani quickly discovered that finance is about much more than numbers. It’s about cross-departmental collaboration, vendor communication, and understanding the human element behind every operational system.
We sat down with Suhaani to talk about her path into corporate finance, what’s exciting her right now, and where she sees herself headed next.
How did you get here?
I am currently a student at the University of Virginia, where I have been able to explore a lot of different interests both inside and outside of the classroom. I have always enjoyed understanding how things work, solving problems, and being in environments where I can learn from the people around me.
That curiosity is part of what brought me to Afton Scientific. I wanted an internship where I could gain real experience in finance while also getting a better understanding of how a company operates day to day. At Afton, my main project focused on helping improve the corporate credit card and expense management process.
What I originally saw as a finance project ended up exposing me to so much more. I worked with people across different departments, learned more about financial systems and operations, communicated with vendors, and saw what it actually takes to move a project from an idea toward implementation. This summer helped me realize that I really enjoy work that allows me to solve problems while also working closely with people.
What is currently blowing your mind right now?
Right now, I think I am most fascinated by how much goes on behind the scenes of a company. Before this summer, I never would have thought twice about something as simple as using a corporate credit card or submitting an expense. Now I see all of the pieces that have to work together behind it, from accounting and approval processes to technology, security, training, and the actual experience of the person using the system.
“You can find a great system or come up with a great idea, but it still has to make sense for the people who are actually going to use it.”
I have also been surprised by how much of solving a problem comes down to understanding people. You can find a great system or come up with a great idea, but it still has to make sense for the people who are actually going to use it. Listening to different perspectives, getting feedback, and changing your approach along the way are just as important as finding the solution itself. That has probably been one of my favorite things to learn this summer. There is rarely one perfect answer. A lot of the fun is figuring out what works best for the people and organization in front of you.
If you could explain yourself right now in only emojis, what would those be?
✈ 🏈 💃🏽 🌱
✈ represents my love for traveling and experiencing new places, cultures, and perspectives.
🏈 represents a big part of my time at UVA and some of the people and memories that have shaped my college experience.
💃🏽 represents my love for dance and the creative, social side of who I am.
🌱 represents growth and where I am right now. I am constantly learning, trying new things, and figuring out where I want to go next.
If you could travel in to the future… what does your LinkedIn Headline say?
Business & Finance Leader | Turning Complex Problems into Better Processes | Connecting People, Technology & Strategy
Long term, I hope to build a career where I’m constantly learning, solving problems, and helping organizations work better. My experience at Afton has made me especially interested in the intersection of finance, operations, technology, and strategy.
What is your favorite quote and why?
My favorite quote is, “What if everything goes right?” I love it because it challenges the instinct to always think about what could go wrong. It reminds me to approach new opportunities with optimism and to leave room for the possibility that things might work out even better than I expected.
