Kavi Saxena ’26

I started my career in the classroom, teaching seventh-grade math through Teach for America. It was one of the most rewarding jobs I’ve ever had. Afterwards, I worked on growth strategy for D.C. public schools and impact investing for an education-focused venture capital fund. Over time, I realized I wanted to explore other career paths that blend education and business—and build the strategy and analytical skills I hadn’t been able to in my previous roles.

There are a few reasons why I chose Yale SOM. First, the school attracts people from all over the world. I wanted to be surrounded by people who challenge me to think differently and push me to grow. I also appreciated that the program produces leaders who go into many different spaces. On a more personal level, being able to tell my grandparents, who are immigrants, that their grandkid was going to Yale was so special. It was probably one of the best FaceTimes I’ve ever had.

The MBA program’s integrated core curriculum helped me realize that no problem can be solved in isolation. Everything requires context, and when you collaborate with people who have diverse perspectives, skill sets, and areas of expertise, your solutions will be stronger.

At SOM, consulting recruiting is very structured. The Career Development Office and the Consulting Club lay out a step-by-step playbook and provide resources to help you prepare. The second-years in the club really take first-years under their wing. It’s hard to understand what it’s like to be in the interview room; that’s expertise students have. Most of us volunteer because we want to give back. There were second-years who came before us and helped us succeed.

After graduation, I’m joining Deloitte as a senior consultant. My time here made me realize that I want to continue building my business skills in the private sector, where I can get exposure to many types of problems. Then, I plan to bring what I’ve learned back to the education space.

New Haven isn’t a particularly big city, which I like. Whether you’re walking to campus, on your way home, or going to lunch, you’re bound to run into people. I’ll miss that sense of community.

One of my favorite moments at SOM was just after spring break in my first year. Everyone was talking about their International Experiences. People had just returned from Bhutan, Brazil, and so many other places around the world. It was so cool to hear what everyone had been up to, especially knowing that these trips had been facilitated by the school. In that moment, I realized that I was accomplishing what I had set out to do and that this MBA experience is something I’ll have for the rest of my life.