Pooja Ghadiali, Texas McCombs MBA Class of 2024
Age: 30
Hometown: Mumbai
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Dwarkadas J Sanghvi College of Engineering, Mumbai University, Information Technology Engineering, Masters: Kelley School of Business, Indiana University – Masters of Science in Information Systems
Pre-MBA Work Experience (years, industry): Consulting 1.5 years, Manufacturing: 4 years
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
Leading my own plastic product manufacturing business, I realized that I enjoyed the marketing and product management part of my role the most but missed working in technology. Since I did not have a formal background in this space, I decided to come back to school to pivot into this job function.
Why did you choose Texas McCombs? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
The major reason I chose to attend Texas McCombs is the people. I spoke to a lot of current students at McCombs before and after I submitted my application. I also participated in a series of Graduate Women in Business (GWiB) coffee chats. This only bolstered my decision to be a part of this fantastic community. In addition to being a vibrant, fantastic city – Austin has a growing tech industry, which made my decision very easy.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2024?
I think every person has multiple facets that differentiate them. Having said that, my global, cross-industry experience allows me to understand people and problems easily. I believe this is what differentiates me. I enjoy building relationships, meeting new people and exploring new ideas.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application:
I am a complete water baby. I grew up near the beach and enjoy swimming, flyboarding, sailing, anything that lets me be near or on the water!
Post-MBA career interests:
Post-MBA, I hope to work as a product manager for a firm with a mission to help improve people’s lives.
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
Remember that your application is your own. I brought out not just my professional experiences but my hobbies, passions, and told a story about what motivated me. So, my advice to all the prospective students is to think about your story and emphasize that in your application.
–What is one thing you would change or do differently?
The one thing I would like to change is the way I approached the application. I first wrote out my essays and then went back to fill out my application. In the process, I realized that there were some parts of my story that the application had already covered. This meant I could include more aspects of my experience and personality in my essay. I ended up re-writing my essay, so I would encourage everyone to have a list of things they want to tell the school, and that way, they can keep a track of it.
–What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
I wished I could have skipped the shortening of my essays to meet the word limits. I love telling and writing stories, so I do tend to get into details I would have liked to include. Filling out my application, I struggled with this the most. I would go through multiple revisions and read the essays out loud to myself to understand what it sounded like so I could figure where I needed to be brief. Brevity is something I learned in the process.
What is your initial impression of the Texas McCombs students/culture/community?
The Texas McCombs community was one of the major reasons I chose McCombs. My initial impression was that it was a warm, supportive, and collaborative environment that promotes growth, encourages ambition, and pushes its students to achieve their dreams
What is one thing you have learned about Texas McCombs that has surprised you?
I always knew that there were opportunities to be a part of a lot of activities. As first years, we were told multiple times to be intentional about our choices and manage our time well. But until you actually experience the large number of things you want to be a part of, you don’t understand why people are giving you this advice. I learned to prioritize and focus on the things that were important to me.
What is one thing you are most anxious about in your first year?
I know I came here to learn and always want to excel at each task I take on. I sometimes get anxious about not meeting my own goals and standards. Whether recruiting, academics, networking, or helping with an event, there is so much I hope to do and do it perfectly that I sometimes get anxious about whether I will be able to do my best every day.
What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
Oh, if only there was one thing! I am super excited about learning from this amazing group of people – my McCHomies, being a part of the Marketing Fellows program, and supporting my fellow classmates as a part of Graduate Women in Business.
