Sajan Patel, MBA 2027
Sajan Patel, Andre Koo Tech MBA 2027
Hometown
South Brunswick, NJ
Undergraduate
University of Pittsburgh, Information Science
Previous Industry
Cybersecurity / U.S. Navy
Student Clubs
Stern Technology Association (VP)
Military Veterans Club (Member)
One sentence quote about your experience at NYU Stern so far:
It's been the most incredible and supportive environment I've ever been in!
Why did you decide to pursue the focused one-year MBA program?
I wanted to understand how technology drives key business decisions, and the 1-year program provided the perfect balance of learning new topics in both industries while also minimizing my time out of the workforce. I also really loved the Tech Solutions offerings, where Tech MBA students have the opportunity to work with established or start-up companies on real-world problems. It's a perfect balance of learning in the classroom and having hands-on experience, which is so important given how quickly the tech world is changing every day!
How did you find a sense of community and support within Stern?
I joined clubs focused on backgrounds I'm familiar and comfortable with (STA - tech, MVC - military), and then started finding clubs and events with different backgrounds so that I could feel comfortable exploring new topics and meeting different people. I also took a Career Coaching session with Nourine in the summer semester, and she could not have been more knowledgeable and supportive in helping me determine what my career options are. The staff and students (from all programs) really combine to make Stern the most welcoming community that pushes you to become a better student and person every day.
How would you describe the culture and community within your class?
Incredibly supportive and accepting, everyone finds ways to connect with people who they might not have realized share so many common interests with them! Students go out of their way to help each other and are truly selfless with sharing their knowledge and insights. It never feels like we're competing with each other for the highest grade or a future job role, it feels more like someone would go out of their way to help me get to where I want to be.
What has been your favorite class at Stern? Why?
Strategy, Professor Marciano brings incredible insights into how and why the most successful businesses thrive and truly changed the way I think about how companies make key decisions across all parts of their organization. We did multiple case studies on staple companies like Coca-Cola, Intel, and Dominos Pizza, and now I can't walk around without seeing their products and thinking of how corporate strategy got them to the place they currently are.
What has been a highlight of your Stern experience?
Watching the New York Knicks win the NBA finals with my classmates has to be a top 3 Stern (and NYC) moment! Another underrated highlight has been immersing our international classmates into NYC staple experiences, like picnicking in Central Park or trying famous food spots. Seeing my new-New Yorker classmates enjoy this city has reaffirmed how much I love living here!