My MAM Story
Preeti Adhikary, a student in Master of Advanced Management program, describes how Yale SOM has given her the opportunity to explore interests in social impact, entrepreneurship, strategy, and marketing.
My career has spanned Nepal, Singapore, Canada, and the U.S., as well as industries such as banking and technology. Most recently, I worked as the VP of marketing of an AI startup in NYC and then the director/AI lead of an emerging tech investment bank. After completing my MBA at UBC Sauder School of Business in Vancouver, Canada, I wanted to find a program that would let me explore my diverse interests, including social impact, entrepreneurship, strategy, and marketing. The MAM program at Yale has done just that and has been a dream come true, enabling me to explore these interconnected parts and curate my unique story.
One of the highlights of my MAM experience is working with the Yale Center for Customer Insights (YCCI). A few years ago, I attended the Yale Customer Insights Conference and was highly impressed with the caliber of speakers. I am honored that while at SOM, I have had the chance to be a part of the Discovery Projects, a student program hosted by YCCI. My team is currently working with the LPGA to design a real-time data-driven project.
Another opportunity I have had as a MAM student has been to be a part of the Tsai Center for Innovative Thinking (Tsai CITY) at Yale. Funded by Joe Tsai of Alibaba, Tsai CITY empowers students to solve real-world problems. As the external partnerships associate, I helped launch and run a six-week intensive titled “Innovation from the Inside” that 75 students from 16 global schools participated in, along with prominent guest speakers and alumni mentors.
My favorite thing about Yale SOM so far has been the company of my diverse MAM classmates and accomplished professors, both in person and on Zoom. While this year has been anything but ordinary, the learning has certainly been extraordinary. The rich professional and life experiences of my MAM classmates add a lot of value to class discussions and team projects. Even with challenges such as different time zones, Zoom fatigue, and an ongoing pandemic, I commend everyone for maintaining a high degree of excellence and “showing up” in full form.