Dipak Malla ’26 finds life lessons leading up to his Furman Engaged experience

Dipak Bahadur Malla ’26 brings more than a presentation to the stage of Furman Engaged. He brings a story shaped by curiosity, resilience and a willingness to step into the unknown.

A business administration major on the finance track, Malla will join a panel discussion highlighting last year’s MayX course in stock investing and trading. For him, the moment represents a culmination and a starting point.

“It’s kind of like one day where the spotlight is on you,” he said, “and then you really get to showcase your work.”

Malla’s journey to Furman began far from campus. A native of Nepal who attended high school in the Netherlands during the COVID-19 pandemic, he first encountered Furman by chance while browsing virtual college webinars. What followed was a series of conversations that left a lasting impression. “From day one, it felt like Furman was genuinely invested in me and wanted to do everything in their power to provide that good college experience,” he said.

That sense of investment has guided his time at Furman. Inside the classroom, he describes the academic environment as rigorous and demanding. But it’s the learning beyond it that has defined his experience. “I’m a firm believer that you learn a lot outside of class,” he explained, pointing to opportunities like MayX courses, undergraduate research and hands-on work through the Hill Institute.

His featured MayX course, “Stock Option Trading and Risk Management,” was an intensive, real-time stock trading and investment challenge. Under the guidance of Associate Professor of Finance Francis Kim, students actively traded stocks while applying financial analysis.

Malla said. “Risk management, market strategy –everything we learned in class, we applied in real time.”

Yet the lessons extended beyond finance. “How do you handle those emotions when you’re under that high pressure?” he asked. “How do you make rational decisions that aren’t driven by emotions?” For Malla, these are life skills as much as professional ones, and they are skills relevant to any student, regardless of major.

That perspective will shape his approach at Furman Engaged, where he hopes to connect with students across disciplines.

“It’s not only tailored to finance,” he said. “Anyone that is interested, this panel can provide a whole other perspective.”

As a first-time presenter, Malla admitted to feeling both “nervous” and “very excited.” But the experience reflects exactly what drew him to Furman in the first place: a community that encourages students to explore, connect and grow.

“You just push yourself out of your comfort zone,” he said. “I’m just going to do it.”