Ayurvi Pensalwar ’27
MBA
Student Ambassador
Program
MBA
Hometown
Mumbai, India
Citizenship
India
Undergraduate Institution and Major
St. Xavier's College: BMS (Bachelor's of Management Studies)
Pre-MBA Industry
Unilever: Area Sales Manager
Internship Organization
Tiktok: PMM Intern (Brand Ads)
Clubs and Affiliations
Asian, Asian American and Pacific Islander Association;Women in Management, Co-President; South Asia Club; Forte; Impact Investing Club, Co-President
What is your advice for a prospective SOMer?
If I had to give one piece of advice to a prospective SOM student, it would be to approach this experience with intention and openness, because Yale SOM offers far more than what is immediately visible.
When I first came in, it was easy to get caught up in the amount of information and structure around classes, recruiting, and opportunities. But some of the most meaningful parts of my experience have come from going beyond that. Taking the time to walk around campus, understanding the history, and really appreciating the space you are in changes how you experience SOM. It stops feeling transactional and starts feeling like you are part of something much larger.
Equally important has been engaging with the community, both within SOM and in New Haven. Some of my most grounding experiences have come from simple interactions, talking to prospective students, being part of the Yield Team, or just spending time in the city and understanding the people around it. SOM's mission around business and society feels much more real when you step outside the classroom and see the context in which it exists.
Academically, I would say lean in fully. The faculty, programs, and conferences here are genuinely world-class, and this is probably the last time you will have the space to learn in such a structured but open way. What has been especially unique is how conversations are not just about solving for outcomes, but about understanding stakeholders, tradeoffs, and long-term impact. That shift in thinking is something I did not fully appreciate before coming here.
I would also encourage being intentional about how you shape your own journey. SOM gives you a lot of flexibility, which can feel overwhelming at times. There is no single way to do this experience right. For me, that has meant exploring different paths, from my background in CPG to tech and now thinking about consulting, while also engaging in spaces like Women in Management and impact investing. Over time, you start to build a version of SOM that feels like your own.
Finally, invest in people. The relationships you build here, with classmates, professors, alumni, are what make this place special. SOM is a community that is genuinely willing to support you, but you have to lean into it.
Overall, I think SOM is one of the few places where you are constantly pushed to think beyond yourself, to consider the broader impact of your decisions, and to grow not just professionally, but personally. If you embrace that fully, it becomes an incredibly meaningful experience.
Contact Information
ayurvi.pensalwar@yale.edu (she/her)
Personal Interests...
Odissi Dancer (Indian Classical Dance form)- Have taken many classes at Yale Schwarzman can talk about dancing as a community at Yale, Singing and Karaoke, Go-Karting, Acting and Theatre, Running/Fitness through PWG/Hikes/Pilates, Exploring Yale campus and overall university, Foodie and major coffee lover (tried almost all coffee spots of New Haven)
