As my interest in this field grew, I wanted to engage with larger, real-world business challenges and understand the overall operation of organizations. My work experience made me realize that possessing technical research aptitude may generate ideas, but it’s only proper managerial skills that can turn ideas into reality. While I had this new predilection towards management studies, I did not want my technical knowledge to go unused. Eventually, I decided to pursue formal education to gain exposure to diverse perspectives on global, social, and business issues while collaborating with students of various backgrounds, experiences, and career goals. As excited as I was to take this step, I was equally worried if I was making a big mistake by quitting my current job.

I came to know about the Engineering Management degree at Purdue University, which aligned with my interests. The academic curriculum has a perfect balance of engineering and management courses and almost every course had a pragmatic approach that involves working on real-world problems. Here, as I am developing skills to solve difficult, lengthy, and abstract problems in the College of Engineering, I am simultaneously building an understanding of how companies operate, what makes them successful, and how they are continually changing in the Krannert School of Management. With the goal of pursuing a career in technical sales and marketing, I even had the opportunity to work on a marketing project with a Purdue research technology startup company. Furthermore, the Purdue MEM program has many industry collaborations. As a result, within a few months of joining the program, I was able to secure a 1-year co-op as a Strategic Account Manager at Valvoline Inc.

Looking back, I have developed far more than what I expected. My decision of joining the Purdue MEM program led me to new experiences and networks, and cultivated skills that I lacked before.  The curriculum involved seminars that helped me shape my industry personality and adopt a professional attitude. I believe that these learnings will create value in whatever career path I choose, and I owe a significant amount of it to my choice of earning my MS in Engineering Management.