By Sneha Gayatri & Deepali Ramaiah
In the second part of our look at where our December MA, MS, and MBA ’13 graduates are headed, we look at what life post Thunderbird holds for these soon-to-be alumni:
After graduation, I will put my entrepreneurial spirit to test and embark on a journey of professional development and personal growth in a field that I love. I have chosen to pursue my passions rather than a paycheck, my dreams rather than a desk, and will continue to devote my career to sustainable development around the world. I plan to move to Kenya to work on the ground with the communities I support through Rooted In Hope, a nonprofit I founded in 2010. What I will miss the most about the school is the blend of accents, culture, and creative drive that make up the Thunderbird mystique.
Katie Emick, MS ’13
I have developed a huge bank of knowledge over the past 2 years. I plan to take this knowledge back home & create value in the Indian society. I plan to work for a financial services firm in the next couple of years, with the hope of starting my own company soon. I will also be looking to join the political environment, and change the way India is run. What will I miss most? My friends. The most important asset I have built up at Thunderbird are the amazing relationships I have with people. The times we have spent will stay in our memories forever; and the bond that we have developed will stay strong for the rest of our lives. I am not ready to graduate, but I am ready to meet these wonderful friends around the world in the coming times.
Amar Haware, MBA ’13
I hope to land a job in the transportation industry in a planning role. Land, Sea, and Air – they all interest me. I interned with Toyota and we are in talks. I’ve been interviewing with WWL and want to keep talking to them. After graduation, I’ll head home to Salt Lake City for a couple months to catch up with family, ski, and spend time with 11 nieces and nephews whom I have not seen enough for the last 6 years. Three of them are taller than me now. I’ll continue my job search from there. If the current prospects don’t come through, I’ll move to a target location like DC, San Francisco, NYC, or Boston and carry on my search. While I’m anxious to get working again, I am not worried about finding a job. Like so many of us, ‘I am’ what it takes.
Adam Nilsen, MBA ’13
Thunderbird has provided me a platform, standing on which I see the world in new form. Learning, networking and overall experience have been phenomenal. I am very excited to get into the real world where challenges would be huge, but my Thunderbird experience has provided me with the tools to face these challenges and succeed. I thank everyone here at Thunderbird for their support.
Rahul Pandey, MBA ’13
What does life after Thunderbird hold for me? I’ll be working as Account Coordinator at an advertising agency here in Phoenix. As for what I’d like to achieve, my aim is to eventually end up as an Account Executive who gets to work on advertisements for internationally-known consumer products.
Lisa Umar, MS ’13