�鶹��

Nanik Tagore ’26 arrived at �鶹�� with a clear goal: to earn a business degree and make the most of his college experience. Now entering his senior year, he's done far more than just study business—he’s built a business.

Nanik, who was class valedictorian at San Juan High School in Citrus Heights, transferred to Dominican from another Bay Area university, drawn to Dominican's small class sizes and the opportunity to continue to play college basketball. The fact that Dominican’s San Rafael location is close – but not too close – to Nanik’s family home just north of Sacramento was another plus.

When Nanik arrived, he was a top student and athlete. Now he’s a confident leader, founder, and mentor to others. Dominican helped him transform ambition into real-world impact.

Dominican didn’t just teach business principles—they gave him a platform to launch a company while still a student. By his junior year, Nanik had already created and scaled a revenue-generating business.

In partnership with a fellow student, Nanik co-founded KaizenU, a tutoring and athletic coaching business that has already served over a dozen local students. The business combines academic support with mental performance coaching and personal training. Kaizen, says Nanik, is a Japanese term that means continuous improvement.

The idea started with word-of-mouth referrals and quickly turned into a real enterprise—with Nanik leading everything from creating a business plan to client onboarding, tax filings, registering with the Secretary of State, and marketing.

“I’ve learned to keep on top of finances and the books, and I know what you can and cannot write off. These are things you cannot learn in class,” he says. “I have also learned the importance of creating a quality service,” he adds. “You want people to come back to you and to recommend you to friends and neighbors.”

Several current and former Dominican student-athletes have joined as KaizenU tutors and sports coaches. When his original business partner moved away, Nanik took over full operations and continued growing the business solo, while juggling a full course load and commitments as a shooting guard for the Dominican’s men's basketball team.

What began as a side project is now integrated into his academic journey. Nanik has received guidance from business faculty, applied real-world insights to his coursework, and used KaizenU as a living case study in his entrepreneurship class. The hands-on work has helped him better understand the theories being studied in class.

That’s the beauty of Dominican, Nanik says. 

“At larger schools, you’re a number. At Dominican, you’re known. Nanik regularly met one-on-one with faculty to refine his business ideas, pitch strategies, and overcome startup hurdles.”
Beyond business, Nanik is active on campus. 

Elected President of the Student-Athlete Committee, Nanik is shaping campus life by building cross-team partnerships and expanding student-athlete influence in university decisions.
Earlier this month, Nanik was honored as Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year and delivered one of the keynote speeches.

Dominican’s career fair led to another unique opportunity: a connection with JoeyCo, a Bay Area housing startup that matches students with older homeowners who need a little help in exchange for reduced rent.

Nanik now lives with and assists a local couple—gaining both affordable housing and a deeper understanding of time management and empathy. “Living as a ‘Joey’ has made me more disciplined and thoughtful,” he says. 

Nanik’s summer plans include attending a course in Spain through the Barowsky School of Business, while also setting aside time for coaching and a family holiday. He’s already looking forward to next year. 

“I’m going to have a full plate.”