What I’m Thankful For
As the Thanksgiving holiday in the U.S. approaches, we asked some of our students what is making them feel grateful this year.
MiChaela Barker ’24
MBA/Master of Public Health
I am so thankful to be a part of a community that embraces me, uplifts me, and helps me to grow as a person. I remember feeling like I wouldn’t fit in at first—I didn’t have a business background, I sang and produced music, and I wear sparkles and studs almost every day. I didn’t “look” like a typical business student, or so I thought. My SOM community not only accepts me, but they love me, and I love them back. They have been there for me throughout the launch of my first album, navigating two degrees, kayaking for the first time, and my first time ever studying abroad! I would not be the woman that I am today without the amazing students here at SOM.
Not only am I thankful for the students here, but the faculty and staff are phenomenal! From the baristas in McNay Café to AJ and Enoc; Key; Brydell at Charley’s Place; Chris and Cookie working the security desk; Deans Charles, Jain, Scully, and Udler; Zoe Chance; the OID, AASL and CDO staff; and so many more, this school would not run without our faculty and staff!
Luis Chavez-Brumell ’25
MBA for Executives
I am thankful for the opportunity to learn and improve in the EMBA program. I appreciate my learning team, EMBA ’24-’25 classmates, SOM community (professors, staff, and students). It is great to be a part of a class that builds community and finds joy in navigating the stresses of school and life. I am most thankful for my loved ones and the supportive environments that inspire me to fulfill my potential.
Jenifer Chon ’24
Master’s in Public Education Management
My time in The Broad Master’s (TBM) has been nothing short of transformative. I’m deeply thankful for the opportunities that it has provided, and most importantly, the lifelong connections we’ve forged as a cohort. The inclusive and collaborative community here has made me feel like a valued part of a larger purpose. My colleagues are a source of inspiration and support—I’ve found mentors and friends who have enriched my life in immeasurable ways and who push me to be the best version of myself. I cannot wait to see where our shared journey takes us.
Jesline D’Souza ’24
Master’s Degree in Asset Management
I’m thankful for warm meals with even warmer friends (both old and new). I’m lucky to have met so many amazing people at and around SOM and fortunate to be able to call many of them my friends. They’ve made starting life in a new place thousands of miles away from home a lot less difficult and a lot more fun!
As we tick things off our endless to-do lists, here’s hoping for a restful and lovely Thanksgiving for everyone!
Oscar Franz ’24
Master’s Degree in Global Business & Society
I am thankful for all the great people I met through the variety of sports I’m doing at Yale. I’m playing soccer for SOM United, tried my best at squash, competed in pickleball, and even tried dancing salsa! I believe that there is no better way to connect to new people than through sports—and that’s why I am incredibly grateful that Yale SOM is doing so much to bring us together through sports!
Bhavishya Ghanta ’25
MBA
I’m grateful to be a part of a community that welcomes and celebrates one another. My SOM friends accompanied me to my first orchestra at Woolsey Hall, helped me find leadership roles within our diverse clubs, and signed up to be a part of my dance group for the South Asian festival Diwali, despite never having celebrated it themselves. It feels great to be championed and loved.
Abraham Gutsioglou ’24
MBA for Executives
Being part of the EMBA program is a source of profound gratitude for me, because it has offered me a transformative journey filled with invaluable experiences and amazing relationships. The program’s curriculum has enriched my strategic thinking and equipped me with practical tools for navigating complex challenges.
Amaan Hassanali ’24
Master’s in Asset Management
I’m thankful for the invention of the glorious caffeinated miracle known as coffee—the unsung hero that kept me going amid the weekly chaos of 20 hours of coding homework. Just kidding…or am I?
On a serious note though, I’m thankful for, in a word, experiences. I’m only two months into the Master’s in Asset Management program, but being here has already made for an incredible adventure. Whether it’s playing basketball at Payne Whitney on an early Saturday morning, grabbing nachos at Claire’s with my classmates (shout-out AM cohort!), or even attending one of SOM’s many campus-held events, there’s always something going on to keep me entertained. Even simply walking home from Evans every day has been special; listening to music while walking down Whitney and the Green, watching the cars go by, and seeing what the broader community of New Haveners are up to has made for a surreal end to each day.
All in all, I’ve had a great time here and can’t wait to see what the rest of the year holds!
Reyhan Sadrudin Kusumaatmadja ’25
MBA
I am thankful for the small community I’m able to find at SOM, including my cohort, my small learning team, and the Indonesians who make me feel I’m home.
Lacey Neel ’25
MBA
I am immensely grateful for the close friendships and tight-knit community Yale SOM has brought into my life. My classmates are some of the most brilliant, engaging, and kind people you could hope to learn from and collaborate with, and the culture of camaraderie is contagious. It is a gift to know that anytime I enter Evans Hall, I’m in the company of people who care deeply about one another.
Fernando Morey Perez ’24
Master’s Degree in Global Business & Society
I am thankful for the opportunity of serving my cohort as Student Government class representative. It has been a privilege working closely with this extremely talented group of individuals and supporting their graduate journey at SOM. I am also thankful for AHLAS (Association of Hispanic and Latin American Students) for creating such a welcoming and warm community for all Latinos at SOM. As an international student from Venezuela and Brazil, AHLAS has been an important resource for navigating business school and making me feel at home in New Haven.
Ryan O’Connell ’24
MBA for Executives
Simply put, I’m thankful for relationships that I believe will last a lifetime. Every EMBA weekend, I’m surrounded by kind, caring, talented, bright people who always look out for one another. I value the conversations, the learning, and most of all the friendship.
Richard Ogu ’24
Master of Advanced Management
I am thankful for the opportunity to go through the MAM program at SOM. The community here is truly amazing and is one I am incredibly thankful to be part of. I have made amazing friends, and we support each other through the rigors of our program, while also making sure to enjoy the process and create lasting memories. The journey here is indeed easier because of the strong community and meaningful connections. I absolutely cherish my time here!
Nico Pedreira ’25
MBA
This year, I am feeling particularly grateful for the community I have found at SOM. I am surrounded by the most intelligent, generous, and intentional people I have ever known. My friends at Yale always show up for me, whether I need a laugh or some extra help with an assignment. They have a contagious zeal for life that always inspires me to look at the world with more optimism, compassion, and promise. At a time when there is so much hatred and division in the world, I am grateful for the haven that I have found in my SOM community.
Jackie Peszynski ’24
MBA
I’m incredibly thankful for the amazing friends I’ve met at SOM who support me in both big and small ways. Together, we’ve navigated classes, internships, international trips, and everything in between. I never imagined I would connect with people in this way when I was applying to business school!
Shwetha Ramanathan ’24
Master of Advanced Management
Some say happiness is what makes people beautiful, because happy people are like mirrors who reflect happiness, which is nothing but beautiful. To me dancing brings out both happiness and beauty within and around me, for which I’m forever grateful.
I’m also very grateful to Yale SOM for giving me wonderful opportunities, experiences, and people to cherish for my lifetime.
Adam Tang ’25
MBA
I am most thankful for the friendships I have cultivated since joining the SOM community. Business school can be an incredibly demanding and busy time, but the SOM community has developed a culture of support and collaboration that makes academics, recruiting, and extracurriculars more bearable and balanced. I am particularly thankful for my classmates, my consulting casing team, my housemate, and my cohort for being so supportive and fun to be around!
Aaron Turczynski ’24
MBA
This year I am grateful to be in an environment where I can truly be myself, surrounded by individuals destined to achieve great things in the business world and society. The people at SOM possess remarkable backgrounds and consistently inspire me to become a better version of myself. Following my MBA experience, I will feel truly honored and fortunate to have such an incredible network to leverage for long-term personal and professional development, while I get to witness all of the great things my peers will achieve.
Helen Tzow ’24
Master’s in Public Education Management
I am thankful for the opportunity to connect with other education leaders across the country and to learn from experts in their fields. I am relishing in the joy of learning again and excited to see the impact my cohort members are making in their school systems. Thank you, A-Team 3 and The Broad Center for making this an incredibly fulfilling, memorable, and fun learning experience!
Yesenia Ye ’24
MBA
I am thankful for this great community and my friends who have been with me through thick and thin. We stress together, travel together, and celebrate each others’ successes. Every year begins with Orientation. I had the opportunity to welcome this year’s class as an orientation leader; it was truly an unforgettable experience with the best team anyone could ask for. Another particularly fond memory I have is being able to bring a group of friends to my hometown, the Finger Lakes region, for a fun weekend of museums, hiking, wine tasting, and meeting other MBAs in a Cornell x Yale mixer!
