Kyra Shah – The Best Reward

Publish on May 23, 2025 Categories -

Kyra Shah, a freshman studying finance at the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management, has been involved with BestPrep for the past three years. She’s volunteered twice as a student leader at Minnesota Business Venture (MBV), served as a panelist at the 2024 Educational Forum, and was most recently BestPrep’s Communications and Events Intern. 

 Reflecting on her time with BestPrep, Kyra shares, “BestPrep changed my life. That might sound dramatic, but it’s true. MBV opened my eyes to the business world and helped me figure out what I want to do for the rest of my life.”  

 Now pursuing a major in finance, Kyra is particularly drawn to wealth management and consulting—two career paths she hadn’t known existed until her first summer as a camper at MBV.  

 “Being a CEO for the last two summers has been priceless,” Kyra says. “MBV is an incubator for personal growth. I’ve grown as a leader, a public speaker, and a person. And getting to help others experience the magic of MBV has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.”  

[Kyra (far right) at MBV preparing her group for mock interviews.]

Kyra attributes her passion for volunteering to the personal growth she sees in her campers. “The best reward isn’t receiving the highest loan offer at the end of camp—it’s seeing campers grow, develop financial skills they’ll use for life, and genuinely enjoy the experience.”  

 One especially impactful moment for Kyra came during the Educational Forum where she met Deb Schoneman, President at Piper Sandler and BestPrep board member. Kyra shares, “She told me, ‘Growth happens outside of your comfort zone,’ and I carry that with me through whatever challenges I encounter. I try to pass that lesson on to the campers—by helping them push past their comfort zones and self-limiting beliefs and start imagining possibilities they never thought were within reach.”  

[Kyra Shah at the 2024 Educational Forum as a student panelist.]

Kyra expresses deep gratitude to BestPrep’s supporters, stating, “Minnesota Business Venture has changed my life and the lives of so many others. What you’re doing is powerful and inspiring. You’re helping to remove the financial barriers to education and making it possible for students to gain financial literacy skills. You’re not just funding a program—you’re changing futures.”