Aniket Turaskar, a native of Newark, Del., is pursuing his MBA in business analytics and is expected to graduate in May 2024. Aniket shared why he chose Lerner for his grad work and his future plans.
Lerner: Why did you go back to pursue your graduate degree? Why did you choose the Lerner College for your studies?
Turaskar: I decided to pursue a graduate degree with the primary goal of advancing my career prospects. With over five years of experience in a business intelligence software company, I recognized that to progress into higher managerial roles, I needed to cultivate strong leadership skills. Pursuing an MBA degree was the ideal pathway to achieving this goal.
Given my background in technology, I was particularly interested in business colleges that offered a program blending both business and technical studies. The MBA program offered by the Lerner College proved to be a perfect fit for my aspirations. What sets it apart is the flexibility it affords students, allowing us to tailor our course selections from a diverse array of majors and concentrations. This unique feature aligns perfectly with my career objectives and solidified my choice of the Lerner College for my graduate studies.
Lerner: What did you learn through this opportunity that you wouldn’t have learned anywhere else?
Turaskar: Every day, I find myself continuously learning and growing in various ways. One of the most significant lessons I’ve acquired is the art of time management. In my current role at the Dean’s Office, I’ve had to become adept at juggling multiple responsibilities. Along with my academic course work, I also proudly serve as the President of the MBA Student Association (MBASA) and hold the position of Vice President of Career Skills Development within the Lerner International Students Association Committee. In addition, my role as a Graduate Assistant for Professor Sarah Williams has offered me the unique opportunity to contribute to the academic growth of fellow students. Assisting them in their learning journeys has been both rewarding and enlightening. Furthermore, I specifically want to mention the University of Delaware’s Horn Entrepreneurship program, which has captured my admiration for offering exceptional resources and support to aspiring entrepreneurs.
Lerner: Please share an example of a course or concept that you were able to apply directly to your life and/or career.
Turaskar: The hands-on simulations led by Professor Darwin Davis in the course “Operations Management and Management Science” greatly enriched my comprehension of inventory management concepts and their real-world applications. The simulations provided an understanding of the challenges faced by managers when tasked with overseeing substantial operations while maintaining strict cost control. I’ve since applied these lessons in various areas of my life, including diligently tracking my expenses and savings, optimizing resource allocation, effectively prioritizing tasks, and efficiently managing my household inventory.
Lerner: Describe an important connection you have made through your graduate program (personal, professional, peers, mentors, professors, etc.)
Turaskar: I established a significant connection through the Lerner Executive Mentoring Program. I had the privilege of being paired with a mentor who played a pivotal role in shaping my understanding of work ethics and provided invaluable guidance on how to enhance my professional profile in alignment with my targeted career opportunities.
Lerner: If you were to describe your classmates in one word, what would that be and why?
Turaskar: If I were to encapsulate my classmates in a single word, it would be “purposeful.” Each one of them exhibits a clear sense of purpose, driven by distinct goals and well-thought-out plans to achieve them. The diverse backgrounds and perspectives of my classmates contribute to a rich learning experience, where there is something valuable to glean from each individual.
Lerner: How do you balance your career with your studies?
Turaskar: I implemented various strategies to maintain a balance between my career and studies. These included proactively crafting schedules in advance, prioritizing tasks of high importance, harnessing digital task management tools, staying adaptable in the face of changing plans, and conscientiously tending to my physical and mental well-being. While the planning process didn’t necessarily make the experience effortless, it certainly rendered it manageable, allowing me to savor and engage in other facets of life.
Lerner: Fill in this sentence: “My graduate program helped me become…”
Turaskar: Confident, analytical and a leader!
Lerner: What was the most impactful hands-on project or case competition that you were able to participate in?
Turaskar: During the summer, I enrolled in a course titled ‘Business Analytics Capstone’ instructed by Professor Caroline Swift, which proved to be a tremendously valuable experience. Throughout the course, I successfully executed a project and presented my work using WordPress. In this project, I used Python and R programming for data cleansing, employed Tableau for conducting regression and cluster analysis, and making predictions about trends, and relied on WordPress as a platform to showcase my accomplishments. I can confidently affirm that it was an exceptionally productive summer for me!
Lerner: What are your plans or next steps for the future?
Turaskar: Since I will be graduating in May 2024, my primary goal is to explore and secure opportunities that allow me to harness the technical skills I’ve developed over the years, combined with the valuable business acumen I’ve gained through my MBA program. In particular, I am actively scouting for roles and positions that resonate with my career aspirations and offer an environment where I can make a meaningful impact.