Veer Nair lives in Newark, Delaware and is a full-time MBA candidate studying business analytics at the University of Delaware’s Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics. Nair, who plans to graduate in 2023, shared his experience choosing the Lerner MBA program and how it has impacted him both personally and professionally.
Lerner: Why did you go back to pursue your graduate degree? Why did you choose the Lerner College for your studies?
Nair: I chose to attend the Lerner College for my MBA in business analytics after I graduated with my master of public health (MPH) degree in May 2021. It was during my MPH that I realized organizations relied heavily on data and analytics to make decisions. This was the driving force for me to pursue a graduate degree in analytics as I knew this would enable me to improve administrative and managerial efficiency of any organization I joined after graduating. I chose the Lerner College of Business and Economics at UD for its solid and consistent rankings and strong connections to large and well-established multinational organizations. I knew coming here would be the right choice for my education and career prospects.
Lerner: What did you learn through this opportunity that you wouldn’t have learned anywhere else?
Nair: A few things would be strong teamwork skills, great contacts and networking experiences, an amazing internship placement.
Lerner: Please share an example of a course or concept that you were able to apply directly to your life and/or career.
Nair: My courses have provided me with transferable knowledge that has been useful in the world place and life. I took a course regarding data analytics in my first semester that taught me how to navigate Microsoft Excel. This has been very useful at my internship and for other work where Excel is needed. Another course would be the organizational leadership course I took. This course taught me how to work with people and lead them in the best interest of the organization and the people themselves. Decision making under various conditions was also strongly emphasized, better preparing me for a variety of conditions.
Lerner: Describe an important connection you have made through your graduate program.
Nair: It would be difficult to narrow this down to one. The Lerner College has introduced me to several great people and continues to do so! This program partnered me with a great mentor who has made me more professional and taught me so much. My internship, which I received through the program, has introduced me to several great people who I have learned a lot from and gained experience as well. I would also like to mention assistant director Sarah Baker Andrus, assistant director of Lerner Career Services.
Lerner: If you were to describe your classmates in one word, what would that be and why?
Nair: Friends. There are a list of words I can use to describe how skilled and intelligent they are, however, the first that comes to mind is “friends”. My classmates have taught me a great deal and pushed me to be better while allowing me to do the same to them. The Lerner College has given me great and memorable friends I now share many memories with.
Lerner: How do you balance your career with your studies?
Nair: Currently, I am interning at Barclays Bank Delaware through the Graduate Internship Program. The experience has been brilliant and has helped me understand how I can utilize my learnings from school in the workplace and be a more contributive individual.
Lerner: Fill in this sentence: “My graduate program helped me become…”
Nair: Resourceful, effective and a great team player.
Lerner: What was the most impactful hands-on project or case competition that you were able to participate in?
Nair: I am yet to participate in a case competition. However, the projects I have worked on via my classes have been very impactful towards my learning experience. They have provided me with a plethora of skills while bringing me close to a professional work scenario.
Lerner: What are your plans or next steps for the future?
Nair: My next step is likely to enter the field of business administration and management. I have always believed that an organization’s administration serves as its foundation and needs the most attention. The stronger and more optimized the administration, the better and more efficient the organization will function. This will also positively impact its ability to do good for its customers. My goal is to be the driving force that reinforces administrative and organizational structures and benefits the organization and other people it serves.