ON DECIDING TO PURSUE AN MBA
My path to an MBA was deeply rooted in my personal experiences with health care systems across several countries. After witnessing my father battle cancer three times and working on the frontlines during the COVID-19 pandemic, I recognized that scientific expertise alone wasn’t enough to drive meaningful improvement in patient outcomes. While working in pharmaceutical R&D and quality assurance, I observed how business decisions significantly impacted health care. I realized that to truly bridge the gap between scientific innovation and effective health-care delivery, I needed to develop strategic business acumen alongside my technical knowledge. The MBA represented not just a degree, but a transformative experience that would allow me to operate at the intersection of health care, business, and technology—ultimately enabling me to fulfill my mission of dedicating my career to health care and positively impacting patient outcomes.

ON CHOOSING TUCK
From my first interaction with Tuck students, I felt an immediate sense of belonging that reminded me of the close bonds I had formed during my challenging teenage years. The school’s intimate setting and collaborative culture appealed to me as someone who had navigated multiple cultural transitions throughout my life. My conversations with T’23s and T’24s revealed a community where people genuinely cared about each other’s growth and success. Interestingly, I almost didn’t submit my application—believing my chances were slim, I envied those who would attend Tuck but doubted I could be among them. Just minutes before the deadline, I decided that even with limited chances, I needed to try. What truly set Tuck apart was the unique opportunity to pursue a joint MBA/MPH with the Geisel School of Medicine—a perfect alignment with my vision of integrating business strategy with health-care innovation. The school’s emphasis on personal growth resonated deeply with my journey of resilience and transformation across geographical and ideological borders.

HIGHLIGHTS OF MY TUCK MBA EXPERIENCE
The Global Insights Expedition (GIX) to India with Professor Ramon Torras stands as a defining highlight of my Tuck journey. Immersing myself in India’s remarkably innovative health care system opened my eyes to extraordinary resourcefulness under constraints. Being welcomed as a guest in households across Chennai—from urban slums to downtown neighborhoods—provided intimate insights into how families navigate their health needs with limited resources. These personal interactions revealed health care innovation at its most fundamental level, where necessity truly becomes the mother of invention. Equally transformative was our Alabama trip with the Initiative on Workplace Inclusion (IWI). Walking through the National Memorial for Peace and Justice with Professor Ella Bell created a profound emotional impact that textbooks could never replicate. Visiting museums and historic sites central to the civil rights movement helped me understand the complex struggle for racial justice in ways that transcended my previous international perspective. These immersive experiences expanded my understanding of health care beyond clinical settings to encompass the social determinants and historical contexts that shape health outcomes across communities. Both journeys—exploring health care innovation in Chennai and confronting the aching history in Alabama—embodied Tuck’s commitment to developing leaders with a global perspective and moral awareness.

ON TUCK’S LEARNING ENVIRONMENT
The academic experience at Tuck seamlessly blends rigorous theoretical frameworks with practical, real-world applications—creating a distinctive learning environment that prepares students for immediate impact. Taking Startup Strategizing with Professor Hart Posen exemplifies this approach and stands out as a transformative academic experience. The course provided invaluable insights into how founders should identify problems of value and address market gaps, which proved remarkably applicable during my summer internship with Molecular You, a precision medicine startup. The concepts we explored in class directly informed my strategic work, allowing me to contribute meaningfully from day one.

What makes Tuck’s learning environment truly special is how it creates full-circle moments that connect classroom learning with professional practice. In my second year, I had the privilege of serving as a Teaching Assistant for the same Startup Strategizing course. This opportunity allowed me to craft a case study about Molecular You, which was subsequently used to teach current students. The experience culminated in inviting Jim Kean T’91, CEO of Molecular You, as a guest speaker in the class. Witnessing students engage with the case I had written while learning directly from the company’s leader represented a perfect synthesis of Tuck’s academic rigor and real-world relevance. This full-circle journey—from student to practitioner to teacher—epitomizes the transformative learning environment that makes Tuck exceptional.

ADVICE FOR PROSPECTIVE MBA STUDENTS
Knowing yourself through deep reflection on who you are and what you need will guide you toward determining if Tuck would be a great fit for your journey. Be intentional about your choice—this decision deserves deliberate consideration beyond rankings or perceived prestige. For future students who will attend Tuck, I relay the advice that was given to me: these two years will fly by with remarkable speed, and you’ll need to intentionally choose your path at Tuck. It might be challenging to decline certain events or opportunities, but staying true to your goals and prioritizing your objectives will ultimately pay dividends.

Make friends and fully immerse yourself in the community—you will find your people here. Perhaps most importantly, be authentic and show vulnerability, as that openness creates space for others to be vulnerable as well, building the essential foundation of trust that defines the Tuck experience. The relationships you develop here can only reach their full depth and meaning when you bring your whole self to each interaction. In a place as intimate as Hanover, your willingness to be genuine will not only enhance your own experience but will contribute to the transformative journey of your classmates as well.

WHAT I’LL MISS MOST
After Tuck, I will deeply miss the unique community that fostered both professional growth and profound friendships. I’ll miss the faculty who transcended traditional professor roles to become trusted mentors and advisors. Perhaps most significantly, I’ll miss the profound sense of belonging that Tuck cultivated. As someone who has navigated multiple cultural transitions, finding a community that embraced my full journey was transformative. The close-knit nature of Tuck turned classmates into confidants who supported each other through professional challenges and personal milestones alike. While I know these connections will endure beyond Hanover, the daily presence of this extraordinary community is irreplaceable.