Real Humans of the Rady School of Management MBA Program
Thoshna Arasappa, Rady MBA Class of 2018
Hometown: Bangalore, India
Pre-MBA Work Experience: I started my career in investment banking at Goldman Sachs. I then transitioned into Management Consulting at Zinnov Management Consulting, working with them for three years prior to coming to Rady.
Why business school? Why now? By virtue of working in strategy consulting for a firm that specialized in engineering services, I was already learning and working on the business aspects of the technology industry. I however, did not have any formal education in business and could see the kind of value my colleagues who did have a master’s in business created at work. It was then that I realized that a MBA was the next eventual step for me to get ahead in my career.
Thoshna Arasappa, Rady MBA Class of 2018
Why Rady? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
I chose to do my MBA at Rady for a number of reasons:
Location Advantage
- Being on the West Coast and conveniently entrenched in the center of the world’s blue-green hub, every industry of interest to me is either a stone’s throw away or a quick drive.
Young, startup school
- With one of the smallest classes of 60 students, Rady has one of the most eclectic and tightly-knit student communities. Within 12 years, Rady has rolled out more than 150 active startups. This was a huge draw for me.
World class faculty with great research experience and industry connects
- Rady is home to Nobel Laureate Harry Markowitz among many other academic jewels.
Last but not the least, Rady is in the beautiful city of La Jolla, with a view of the ocean and the best
seafood delicacies. A complete package, it was too good a deal to turn down.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Rady MBA class? I think my experience working across three of the most distinct and dynamic industries, both in India and globally—investment banking, consulting, and real estate—adds a distinct flavor and value to most of our in-class and outdoor discussions.
Fun fact that didn’t get included on your application? I am a National-Level track athlete who has never run beyond two miles.
Post-MBA career interests? Judging from my experience working in the IoT Business team at Cisco, I would like to pivot from consulting and work in product management and strategy after my MBA.
Advice to Current Prospective Applicants
One thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process? I would definitely reach out to ambassadors and current students from the MBA program and learn as much as possible about the culture and value system of the business school. Eventually it is the people and their network that defines your B-school experience.
One thing you would change or do differently? I wish I had made time to do one of the international immersion trips that Rady offers.
Part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it? I think the most arduous part of the application process is, the “wait” to hear back from schools that you’ve applied to. It is a trying time when you can’t really do much from your end. The best thing to do is, prepare yourself for the next phase- interviews. Take time to narrate your story in the most simplistic and compelling fashion.
One thing about Rady that you didn’t expect? One of the greatest myths about Rady is that, by being in such a fantastic location, it is a party school.
Let me give you all a fair warning: this is not entirely true.
Yes, the school has a great social vibe to it, but people here don’t take their ‘business’ lightly. Academics has the same competitive streak as the best B-schools and a focus on accelerating your career through startup initiatives or corporate projects is the common ‘social scene.’
Thing you are most anxious about in your first year? In my first year, I was extremely anxious about getting an internship opportunity in the highly competitive and booming industry of Hi-Tech in California.
Thing you are most excited about in your second year? Now, almost at the end of my second year, I cannot wait to start working in the ever-evolving world of Hi-Tech and build on my industry experience.
About the Author
Matthew Korman
Matthew Korman is a writer on MetroMBA. Since graduating from Rowan University with a degree in journalism and political science, Matthew has worked as a music industry writer and promoter, a data analyst, and with numerous academic institutions. His works have appeared in publications such as NPR and Sports Illustrated.
