Nik Mittal is a 1993 graduate of UNC-CH w/honors and distinction in economics and a 1998 JD/MBA from New York University (NYU) School of Law and Stern School of Business. He started his career as an investment banking associate at Donaldson, Lufkin and Jenrette, leaving in 2000 to help run a start-up focused on technology stock investing. After the funding environment dried up, Nik led the reorganization and sale of the company and moved back to New York City in 2001. In 2002, he transitioned into the asset management / hedge fund industry, where he spent the last 15 years, the last 6 as a partner at JANA Partners LLC, a long/short equity hedge fund known for shareholder activism. Nik is a founding board member of a Success Academy Network elementary charter school, on the UNC Honors Board, and on the Board of Trustees at NYU School of Law. He lives in New York City in Greenwich Village with his wife and kids and his parents and extended family are in Raleigh.