Monica Mehra ’26

Before coming to SOM, I worked in business development at Amazon. I knew I wanted to continue my career in big tech, but I was eager to pivot into product or business strategy and develop into a more well-rounded leader within the industry. As I explored different programs, Yale SOM’s data-driven curriculum stood out for its rigor and emphasis on analytical decision-making.

When I visited for interview weekend, I just clicked with the people, the energy, and the sense of community here. It felt right. I also loved the juxtaposition of the old and the new between SOM’s modern architecture and Yale’s historic campus.

A highlight of my MBA experience was helping plan last year’s Women’s Leadership Conference through Women in Management. One of our keynote speakers was María Teresa Arnal, the former CEO of Google Mexico and head of Latin America at Stripe. It was incredible to connect with such an accomplished tech leader who was also so willing to mentor the next generation of female leaders.

At SOM, I’ve been deeply involved with the Tech Club. As a first-year curriculum lead, I helped design and organize pre-work and lesson plans covering everything from role overviews and resume reviews to behavioral and case interview prep, as well as discussions on broader tech trends. This year, I have the privilege of serving as co-president of the club. It’s certainly time-intensive, but I find it incredibly rewarding to help others navigate and succeed in the tech space.

When I was deciding between two exciting internship offers in big tech, the Career Development Office was helpful in guiding me to a decision that was right for me. Over the summer, I interned at TikTok in Seattle, as a product solutions and operations MBA intern. I loved the people I worked with. When I wasn’t working, my husky and I enjoyed lots of lake activities and even a “Bark at the Park” baseball game.

I wasn’t sure that strong relationships, like the ones I made in college, were going to be on the table during graduate school. The strength of the SOM community really surprised me in a good way.

As cheesy as it sounds, I wish the program were longer. It feels like you’re a freshman, and then suddenly, you’re a senior. My MBA experience has been better than I ever could have expected. SOM is community-oriented and nestled in the perfect spot, between two big cities with some really good pizza.