Who is Aahil Makhani from Jeopardy? An MBA Candidate and Supply Chain Strategist Turning Operations Insight into Big Ambitions

Aahil Makhani is a supply chain and operations professional currently based in the Atlanta area, where he is pursuing an MBA at Emory University’s Goizueta Business School as part of the Class of 2027. His path into business and operations began long before college, shaped by hands-on experience helping his father run the family’s gas station and convenience store.

Originally born in Karachi, Pakistan, Makhani moved to the United States as a young child and grew up in Birmingham, Alabama. Working in the family business exposed him early to the realities of customer service, inventory control, vendor coordination, and the day-to-day flow of operations. These experiences sparked a lasting interest in logistics and operational efficiency while also shaping his leadership values, including empathy, integrity, and a focus on improving systems for both employees and customers.

Those early responsibilities provided a practical foundation that would later influence both his academic choices and professional direction.

Academic Achievement and National Trivia Exposure

Makhani earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Supply Chain Management from Auburn University in May 2021, along with a minor in French. During his time at Auburn, he was active across campus, participating in organizations such as the Auburn University Organizations Board, Lobby Board, Emerge at Auburn, Camp War Eagle, and Auburn Quiz Bowl.

His academic success was supported by scholarships, including funding from the Material Handling Education Foundation Inc. (MHEFI), which helped reduce his educational costs during his senior year. Alongside his academic work, he gained national visibility through his participation in NBC’s College Bowl, representing Auburn in a high-level academic competition.

He attended the Jefferson County International Baccalaureate School for high school, where the rigorous academic environment further strengthened his analytical skills and global perspective.

Building a Career in Operations and Supply Chain

After graduating, Makhani began his professional career with Target, following a six-week internship at a 2.1 million-square-foot e-commerce fulfillment center in Savannah, Georgia. As an Operations Manager, he supervised outbound operations, managed staff scheduling, assigned roles, and analyzed performance data to improve efficiency.

He later expanded his experience through analytical roles in Atlanta, first as a Pricing and Inventory Analyst at Carter’s and then as a Logistics Analyst with The Home Depot’s Material Handling Equipment Strategy Team. Across these positions, he worked on process improvement, inventory optimization, operational planning, and large-scale logistics strategy.

This progression across frontline operations, pricing, inventory, and strategic logistics gave him a broad understanding of supply chain management from execution through long-term planning.

Advancing Leadership Through an MBA

Makhani is now focused on the next stage of his career through his MBA at Emory’s Goizueta Business School. As a Consortium Fellow, he is actively involved in the Goizueta Consulting Association and the General Management & Operations Club, while also participating in identity-focused communities such as the Goizueta Pride Association and The Consortium.

His post-MBA goal is to move into strategy and operations consulting, where he hopes to combine analytical skills with real-world operational insight. Long term, he aims to bring frontline experience into executive decision-making, helping organizations design strategies that work effectively in practice.

His technical skill set includes advanced Excel expertise, supported by a Microsoft Office Specialist Excel 2016 Expert certification.

A Passion for Trivia, Community, and Connection

Outside of academics and professional work, Makhani maintains an active interest in trivia and community engagement. He has hosted trivia events around the metro Atlanta area and has appeared on multiple television game shows, including NBC’s College Bowl and the Fox program The 1% Club.

His interests reflect a broader focus on learning and connection. He enjoys exploring Atlanta’s neighborhoods, visiting local coffee shops, and building strong personal and professional relationships. Fluent in English and Urdu and conversational in French, he brings a multilingual and multicultural perspective to both his personal and professional life.

Volunteer work has also been part of his background, including roles with Southeast Camp Mosaic as a camp counselor, content coordinator, and supply coordinator.

Aahil Makhani at a Glance

Name: Aahil Makhani
Location and Residence: Atlanta/Decatur, Georgia; originally from Karachi, Pakistan and raised in Birmingham, Alabama
Profession: MBA Candidate, Emory Goizueta Business School (Class of 2027)
Previous Roles: Logistics Analyst, The Home Depot (2022 to 2025); Pricing and Inventory Analyst, Carter’s (2022); Operations Manager, Target (2021); Distribution Operations Intern, Target (2020)
Age: 26 (born approximately 1998 to 1999)
Gender: Male
Nationality and Ethnicity: American; Pakistani origin / South Asian
Education: MBA in progress, Emory University; B.S. in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management (Minor in French), Auburn University; Jefferson County International Baccalaureate School
Notable Achievements: Consortium Fellow; MHEFI scholarship recipient; Microsoft Office Specialist Excel Expert
Media and Trivia: Competitor on NBC’s College Bowl and Fox’s The 1% Club; trivia host in metro Atlanta
Languages: English, Urdu, French
Career Goal: Strategy and operations consulting with long-term ambitions for executive leadership in operations and business strategy