My Journey of Self-Discovery at Yale SOM
Rahul Sharma ’25, a student in the MAM program, developed unexpected skills by taking classes and becoming involved in organizations across the university.
When I arrived at Yale SOM, I didn’t fully know what I was signing up for. I expected rigorous academics, global perspectives, and leadership lessons. What I didn’t expect was how profoundly the experience would reshape my thinking, pushing me beyond my comfort zone in ways I never saw coming.
With students from close to 50 countries across different programs, Yale SOM offers an incredibly diverse environment that has challenged my worldview in the best possible way. Conversations with classmates have deepened my appreciation for different cultures, broadened my problem-solving approach, and sometimes even made me rethink long-held beliefs. But the most surprising part of this journey has been the freedom to explore beyond business school.
Auditing a drama course under the Theater, Dance, and Performance Studies (TDPS) program in Yale College felt like a wild experiment at first—something I did out of sheer curiosity. But that single step led me to take an intermediate acting course, unlocking skills I hadn’t fully explored before. Storytelling, adaptability, and stage presence—these weren’t just skills for theater; they became tools for leadership, persuasion, and self-expression. My involvement with the student-led theater company Yale Cabaret took this creative pursuit even further, leading me to perform in a Mexican play that was originally written in Spanish and translated into English. Stepping onto the stage, delivering lines in a play that had already crossed linguistic and cultural boundaries—all while coming from a Hindi-speaking background—was an experience that encapsulated the true multicultural spirit of Yale. It was a reminder that expression transcends language, and that the beauty of storytelling lies in its ability to connect people across borders.
Back at Evans Hall, courses like Leading Small and Medium Enterprises gave me a CEO’s perspective on scaling businesses, fuelling my vision for a startup that connects rural artisans to global markets. Alongside my co-founder Pranjal Agrawal ’26, I am working on building a fair trade, sustainable platform that preserves craftsmanship while creating economic opportunities. This journey has been strengthened by the invaluable mentorship of Jennifer McFadden and Robert Bettigole, whose insights and guidance have been instrumental in shaping our approach. Meanwhile, my coursework in AI has deepened my understanding of the technology’s ethical, strategic, and operational implications—critical as I explore AI-driven solutions in other areas of my work.
Beyond academics, one of my most fulfilling initiatives was something as simple as a Chai Group. It started as a casual way to introduce friends to authentic Indian tea, but it quickly became a space for spontaneous conversations, cultural exchanges, and deep connections. In a school as diverse as SOM, something as unassuming as chai became a bridge—proof that the smallest gestures can create the strongest bonds.
Looking back, my time at Yale SOM has been about more than just acquiring knowledge; it has been about embracing the unexpected, finding new passions, and evolving in ways I never anticipated. I came here to sharpen my business acumen, but I’m leaving with something far greater: a deeper understanding of myself and the kind of leader, creator, and thinker I aspire to be. And, perhaps most importantly, the realization that the best journeys are the ones that surprise you.
