Published on 03-20-2025
At Purdue University’s Daniels School of Business, education goes beyond textbooks and lectures—it’s an immersive experience that transforms aspiring HR professionals into strategic business leaders. In a Q&A, Malaika Ramachandran shares why she chose Purdue’s Daniels School and how the MSHRM program distinguished itself and formed her.
“I was drawn to the Daniels School of Business and Purdue University primarily because of their exceptional faculty, who bring real-world expertise into the classroom. What excited me was discovering that many professors have extensive experience working with Fortune 500 companies—this meant I'd be learning from people who understand both theory and practical application. I was particularly impressed by the faculty's research in healthcare, which aligns perfectly with my personal interests.—The opportunity to learn from professors who are actively contributing to this field through their published research would give me unique insights into the intersection of business and healthcare that I'm passionate about exploring.”
“I've been genuinely impressed with how up-to-date and relevant the curriculum is at the Daniels School of Business. What stands out to me is how the HR program keeps pace with the rapidly changing business world. We're not just learning from textbooks—we're diving into real-world scenarios and tackling the kinds of challenges that HR professionals are dealing with right now.
“The program does a fantastic job recognizing that the workplace is constantly evolving, and our coursework reflects that. We've explored everything from managing remote teams to using data analytics in HR decision-making. This focus on contemporary issues has made me feel confident that I'm developing skills that employers need, not just learning theory that might be outdated when I graduate.
“What I appreciate most is how practical and forward-thinking the curriculum is. It's preparing me for where HR is headed, not just where it's been. This approach has confirmed that I'm in the right place to build my career in HR.”
“Dr. Campion completely changed my perspective—not just about HR, but about how I view everyday decisions in life. While some professors stick purely to theory, he had this amazing way of blending academic concepts with real-world examples that made everything click. He introduced complex statistical ideas around reliability and validity but always connected them to practical situations we could all understand.
“What stood out was how he transformed my understanding of what 'fairness' truly means. Before his class, I had a pretty straightforward view of fair hiring practices. But Dr. Campion showed us how fairness in staffing is a fascinating mix of science, ethics and practical business needs. His lessons went way beyond just hiring—they changed how I approach problems and evaluate situations both at work and in my personal life.
“The best part was how he combined theory with qualitative reasoning. He didn't just tell us what to think—he challenged us to dig deep into why we make certain decisions and how we can make better ones. It's one thing to learn about staffing procedures, but Dr. Campion helped me develop a whole new framework for thinking about human resources and their role in shaping organizations.”
“My biggest takeaway from my experience at the Daniels School of Business has been understanding how human resources can serve as a strategic driver of business success while simultaneously discovering the transformative power of relationship-building across the entire business school community.
“My coursework taught me how HR initiatives directly impact organizational performance and competitive advantage—shifting my perspective from viewing HR as purely administrative to seeing it as a crucial strategic function.
“Additionally, I've come to deeply value the diverse networking opportunities that the business school provides, engaging meaningfully with fellow students, faculty, staff and guest speakers. These connections have enriched my learning experience and demonstrated how building a strong professional network can create lasting value throughout one's career.”
“The third module was, without a doubt, my favorite so far in the program. It marked the first time that all those seemingly theoretical and scattered concepts from the first two modules clicked together and made perfect sense.
“I experienced so many ‘aha!’ moments where things came together in my brain. Seeing Theory X—Douglas MacGregor’s theory that assumes employees are inherently lazy, dislike work, and prefer to avoid responsibility, requiring strict control and external motivation—applied in real contexts and understanding why it falls short in practice was illuminating. It was also cool to witness the staffing principles I learned with Dr. Campion materialize before my eyes—both in our case studies and in my own interview process. The concepts of validity that once seemed abstract suddenly had tangible, practical applications. These are only two examples of countless moments I had in this module where things just clicked.
“This module wasn't just educational—it was genuinely exciting to experience these connections forming. The curriculum design felt perfectly orchestrated to bring everything full circle, and I'm leaving this module with a much deeper understanding and appreciation for the field.”
Malaika Ramachandran feels incredibly grateful for the curriculum that brings together the theory to real-world application.
“I'm energized and looking forward to what comes next,” she shares.
As a professional of Indian descent who grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Malaika Ramachandran brings a diverse perspective to human resources. Over the past four years, she’s worked in sales within the startup ecosystem, specifically in employee mental health solutions. With a passion for employee benefits and the broader HR landscape, Ramachandran found her academic home at Purdue's Daniels School of Business earning a Master of Human Resources Management. She found the comprehensive curriculum and collaborative cohort a transformative experience. She is grateful for how the world-class faculty and staff at the Daniels School have distinguished the experience, equipping her to create more supportive, inclusive workplace environments.
If you would like to receive more information about pursuing a business master’s at the Mitch Daniels School of Business, please fill out the form and a program specialist will be in touch!
