It’s difficult to digest that I graduated from the MMS program in May 2023. In the hustle and bustle of the program, I lost track of time, and before I knew it, it was time to enter the real world. I was faced with my most difficult task — finding a job in a turbulent period.

Transitioning to the Workforce

Navigating the job market was a challenge. Though I had the choice to go back to India to work for my family business, I also explored roles in the U.S. I wanted to be sure joining my family’s textile conglomerate was the right choice for me professionally. Ultimately, it felt like the right decision.

I’m currently working in our export division, and I’m still learning but slowly getting there. One perk of working in exports is that I get to travel a lot, and who can say no to the free coffee? Handling your family business has its perks, but it also comes with a lot of responsibility. That includes not only cracking sales for the company but also reducing costs, increasing margins, boosting employee morale, and seeing how the company can diversify into new product offerings. Every day is a new opportunity to think about how to work toward progress.

Leaning on My Fuqua Roots

Looking back, I really am very grateful to Fuqua for giving me the skills to mold myself into a good business leader in the times to come. Now I realize why so much time was devoted to our negotiation and strategy classes because they have been really helpful in arranging deals. The ability to interact with a diverse set of people has made it easier to maintain good relations with our suppliers, buyers, and most importantly, our employees.

Fuqua exposed me to so many people from different walks of life that I now have the ability to understand and work with them. It has taught me to be practical and how to determine the correct decision. Analysis classes helped me create forecasting models of my own which I feel are a huge savior given the volatile industry I am in.

Last but not least, Fuqua has instilled in me the values and integrity, which I would like to carry forward. It’s important to be ethical, not only in taking care of our profits but also in seeing that both sides of the party benefit. I strive to instill team spirit in my team and see that they are being taken care of because they are our most valuable assets.

I’m so glad that all the resources I gained at Fuqua, from readings to class discussions and projects, actually translated to real life. Each day is made easier by applying what I learned at Fuqua to the actual business world. Indeed, Fuqua has made my transition from business school to business life very smooth.