Ashna Gupta, ASU Carey MBA Class of 2026
Age: 26
Hometown: Delhi, India
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Punjab Engineering College, Chandigarh – Electronics and Communication Engineering
Pre-MBA Work Experience: Decision Analytics Associate at ZS Associates – 2 years; Inventory Management Analyst at United Airlines – 2 years
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
Through my previous roles, I realized I enjoyed playing with data and leveraging analytics to provide insights that influenced business strategies and decisions. However, I often found myself yearning to be part of the conversations that shape the broader direction of an organization. Coming from an engineering background, I felt a gap in my business understanding, especially when it came to strategic decision-making and I wanted to be able to contribute to the “how” and “what next” discussions along with the “why” which led me to pursue an MBA.
Having accumulated a few years of work experience, I had a clearer understanding of my career goals and the type of impact I wanted to make which made me feel that it’s time for me to start my B-school journey. I knew that to reach these goals, I needed to broaden my skill set in areas like leadership, strategy, and global business management etc. Business school offers the ideal environment to learn, experiment, and grow, in ways that are not always possible in a professional setting.
Why did you choose ASU Carey? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
I chose ASU Carey as a result of a thoughtful and deliberate decision-making process. One aspect that really attracted me to Carey was its strong emphasis on innovation and entrepreneurship. The community at ASU Carey also played a big role in my decision. During my interactions with current students and alumni, I was struck by the strong sense of camaraderie and support within the Carey community. I wanted to be part of an environment where students are not only ambitious and driven but also genuinely supportive of each other’s success. I was also drawn to ASU Carey’s small class size of ~60 students; I believe this intimate setting would allow me to form deeper connections and have meaningful interactions with all of my classmates. The opportunity to collaborate closely with my peers over the two-year program was incredibly appealing to me, as it fosters a strong sense of community that I value highly.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2026?
I believe my most valuable contribution to the Class of 2026 is my diverse cultural background. Growing up in Dubai, a city known for its multiculturalism, I was exposed to a variety of cultures and viewpoints from an early age. I consider myself a Third Culture Kid for this reason – a feeling of belonging everywhere and nowhere. This experience has made me more empathetic as a person and have deep appreciation for diversity of not just cultures but also perspectives. It has also helped me excel in adapting quickly to new environments and in navigating complex situations with sensitivity and tact. I believe these skills will be particularly valuable in a diverse MBA classroom setting, where we are often required to work in teams and tackle complex, global business problems.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application:
I’m the “we can totally walk there” friend — you know, the one who’s convinced that a 4-mile stroll is fun just because. I have a knack for turning short walks into epic journeys (my friends are still recovering). Whether it’s walking solo with my headphones or dragging friends along for “just a little further,” I’m always up for a stroll. Walking is my way of staying active, clearing my mind, and — let’s be honest — seeing how much patience my friends really have!
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
The conversations with alumni and current students from my target universities. These conversations were incredibly valuable, not only for gaining insights into the program but also, I ended up with some really good friends before even landing in this new country. These connections added significant value when it finally came to finalize my college of choice after receiving my admission offers.
–What is one thing you would change or do differently?
I would probably start preparing for the application process a bit sooner. I delayed giving my second attempt of GRE and that made the applications journey more stressful and hectic for me, in hindsight I would prefer giving GRE (could be any choice of exam of your choice) way ahead of time so you truly have all the time you need to focus on individual college applications.
–What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
I would skip the stress of it all. MBA applications can be as stressful as it gets, researching on various university programs to curate your target university list, tailoring your essays to different prompts for each university, managing standardized test preparations and not to forget – you’d most likely be doing all this alongside a full-time job. Go easy on yourself, you don’t want to burnout before the MBA journey even begins!
What helped me navigate this overwhelming period was setting realistic expectations and prioritizing self-care. I called these pockets of ‘me-time’. This included things like painting, spending time with family and friends, going for a spa – basically anything that relaxes and reenergizes you.
What is your initial impression of the ASU Carey students/culture/community?
‘Business is personal’ – a phrase that resonated deeply with me during my application process but it was just something I had heard and read over and over while reading on ASU Carey. However, I could never have imagined the extent to which this ethos is embedded in every aspect of the school’s culture. It’s evident in every event, session, conversation, and you can feel it in the relationships among students, faculty, and staff. There’s a genuine emotional attachment and a sense of community that permeates the entire program. It’s hard to fully convey the warmth and inclusivity that define ASU Carey; it’s one of those things you truly have to experience firsthand to appreciate.
What is one thing you have learned about ASU Carey that has surprised you?
I didn’t expect to feel like everyone at ASU Carey is personally invested in my MBA journey, but that’s exactly the atmosphere that I encountered from day 1. The professors, career services staff and to be honest everyone at ASU Carey are extremely accessible and approachable.
What is one thing you are most anxious about in your first year?
Learning the art of saying no – to events and/or engagements. There’s a ton of things going on simultaneously, from club chapter activities to coursework to recruiting, career prep and house chores. As someone who generally struggles to say no, this is going to be an exciting challenge for me!
What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
I’m really excited about the people, especially my cohort – I’ve already met and conversed with all of them during orientation but I’m excited to get to know these amazing individuals on a deeper level and make a ton of memories!
