Natasha Ghatak

Gaithersburg High School Academy of Finance ‘02
Gaithersburg, MD

Natasha Ghatak & NAF President, JD Hoye

Natasha Ghatak (’02) feels that her story with NAF is one that goes full circle. A graduate of Gaithersburg High School Academy of Finance, in Gaithersburg, MD, Natasha is currently the chairperson of the Montgomery County Academies of Finance Advisory Board.

She originally joined the academy to be with her friends who were also interested in learning more about finance and business. After taking her first academy course in Business Economics, she loved that what she was learning was applicable to the real world.

While in high school, Natasha took an intro to business course at her local community college. She also interned in the accounting department at Comcast Cable in the summer of 2001 and had exposure to finance executives. She thought, “This could be me in 10 years.”

Natasha’s experience in the AOF gave her an understanding of the careers she could have, helping solidify a five year goal for her. She went on to attend the University of Maryland in College Park, MD, graduating in 2006 with a degree in Finance and Economics. 

While in college, Natasha helped with academy recruitment by speaking to middle school students about her experience. After she graduated college, she circled back with her academy teacher who suggested she join the advisory board. She wanted to give back to a program that gave her so much so she joined the board that oversees seven AOFs, in 2008.

Natasha has been working at Marriott International in Bethesda, MD as an Assistant Controller since 2006 and is looking into applying to business school to get her MBA. Last year, Natasha donated one of her monthly paychecks to a scholarship for an AOF student. She named it the M J Ghatak scholarship, in honor of her parents.

While Natasha continues to support her local academies and current NAF students, she looks forward to connecting with other alums and getting them reengaged with.

Natasha is looking for alums in the D.C. Metro area/Maryland for networking, serving on advisory boards, speaking to students. If you are interested in getting connected, please contact Jessica Stepman, NAF’s Alumni & Corporate Relations Manager.