Brandeis International Business School

Why did you decide to stay at Brandeis and earn a master’s degree?

I decided to earn a master’s degree at the International Business School to deepen my professional expertise and expand my network. During my undergraduate studies at Brandeis University, I had the privilege of taking courses that were intellectually stimulating but also relevant to my career aspirations. These experiences encouraged me to further immerse myself in the International Business School’s rigorous curriculum and leverage its resources to sharpen my technical and leadership skills.

How would you describe the MA program?

The MA program is well designed for students with diverse backgrounds and interests to pursue a specialized master’s in economics and finance. It allows students to take classes in a wide variety of subjects, which helps them narrow down their interests and identify an optimal career path. Having the freedom to explore different concentrations is unique and impactful. It really helped me refine my job search.

How did your time at Brandeis prepare you for your career?

Networking and presentation skills are extremely valuable for finance professionals and I was really able to develop both into strengths during my time at the International Business School. These are the skills that helped me land two internships at Morgan Stanley, and this successful internship experience was instrumental in my ability to receive a full-time job offer from the company after graduation.

How would you describe the community at the business school?

The community at the International Business School is so supportive and welcoming. I had the opportunity to work in the Career Strategies and Engagement Center as a Career Captain and as a teaching assistant for the MA: Launching Your Global Career class. Through these experiences, along with my coursework, I was able to connect with a diverse network of peers and mentors from around the world.

What advice do you have for prospective students?

My biggest advice is to not be afraid of failure! Failure is an important part of learning and essential to developing your professional skills. During my internship and job search, I had to experience many “no’s” before I received my first “yes.” What’s more important is how you respond to the “no.” Those moments taught me adaptability and persistence, allowing me an opportunity to reflect on how I can do better the next time. The process isn’t always perfect but it’s important to keep pushing forward.