Choosing the right graduate program means finding a community, academic environment and opportunities for professional growth that align with your goals. Daniels graduate ambassadors are current students who share their firsthand experiences with prospective and admitted students.
Ambassadors come from a range of graduate programs, offering a variety of perspectives on the Daniels graduate student experience.
Daniels graduate student ambassadors represent the Mitch Daniels School of Business at recruitment and engagement events, connect with prospective and admitted students, and participate in student panels and testimonials. They offer an authentic perspective on what it’s like to be a Daniels graduate student, from the classroom to campus life.
Ambassadors also gain leadership and professional development experience, build their networks and earn recognition for their contributions.
My career goal is to work as an analyst for multiple companies in my career that value both their employees and customers. I'm more than capable to take leadership roles and help manage and support my team. Ultimately, I hope to reach a point where my accomplishments reflect the sacrifices my parents have made to help me succeed.
My favorite part so far at the Daniels School of Business is the investment in your future not only through the opportunities given to you by the program and being at Purdue as well as from the faculty, professional staff, and the peers around you. I'm glad to know that every class I take, when I walk in, I know there will always be someone that I know I can rely on and confide in.
Always invite yourself into conversations and never be afraid to ask questions. Make sure to keep yourself of accountable in terms of managing your priorities, but balance it with enjoying life around you.
My goal is to combine a rigorous technical foundation with advanced business acumen to pursue opportunities in M&A advisory, strategic finance, corporate development and management consulting. I am leveraging my graduate program to master deal evaluation, operational integration and cross-functional leadership. Ultimately, I aim to drive high-impact corporate strategy and capital allocation as an executive leader in technology-driven industries.
My favorite part of my experience at the Daniels School of Business has been the people. The students here are incredibly welcoming and approachable — you can easily strike up a conversation with anyone in your cohort. Along with my peers, the professors stand out just as much. They actively engage us in discussions, genuinely are invested in how we do, and maintain an open-door presence that makes learning here truly collaborative.
The advice I would give to a prospective student is to meet everyone. Masters programs are about meeting people and networking. That might be one of the best skills you will learn here. Dont be shy on reaching out to fellow students. Another piece of advice is to appreciate your time here. This is a shorter program and it flies by quickly. Enjoy it and don't take it for granted.
Eventually, I would like to do something that makes an impact on people's lives, but in the near future, I would like to do something as an analyst for a company whose goals and personal values align with my own.
There's too many to count, but being a part of the Purdue Economics Association (PEA) has been a huge highlight of my undergrad years, and being a part of the Academic Leadership Committee (ALC). Being a part of the team that actually helps students with the difficulties they face in college, especially early, gave me a sense of belonging that is hard to find.
If I had to choose one piece of advice to give a prospective grad student, it would be to use all the resources that Daniels offers you. It is a very supportive community, and there are so many resources that it is easy to get overwhelmed, but just starting out and going to an event can lead to so much.
My goal is to build a career in consulting, where I can combine my curiosity for understanding why problems happen with my interest in finding practical solutions. After studying economics in undergrad, I chose to pursue supply chain management to broaden my understanding of how a business efficiently operates, from markets and consumer behavior to the management of resources. Ultimately, I hope to combine these two perspectives to provide valuable insights and drive improvements for organizations.
My favorite part of the Daniels School of Business has been how much it has pushed me out of my comfort zone. This includes tackling real-world projects, stepping into leadership positions and strengthening skills like public speaking that I often shied away from. Daniels has given me numerous opportunities to apply what I've learned beyond the classroom, while also helping me to grow personally and professionally. I can genuinely say I am a better version of myself because of the resources and experiences I have had here.
Take advantage of more than just the academics. Some of your most valuable experiences will come from saying yes to opportunities outside the classroom, like networking events, a leadership position or even a job. Oftentimes we are the first to question our readiness to tackle something new but sometimes putting yourself out there is the best way to discover what you are capable of. It is very easy to get caught up in attaining the degree, but the experience and relationships you build along the way are just as valuable.
My goal is to work in talent acquisition, where I can strategically find and develop candidates who are the right fit for the roles I'm hiring for. I'd love to do this at a company that's open to using AI, so I can use those tools to recruit more effectively. Long term, I'd like to grow into a hiring manager and eventually earn my PhD so I can teach and lead future leaders. No matter where I end up, I want my work to be about helping people grow.
My favorite part of my time at the Daniels School of Business was competing in the 2025 Purdue HR Case Competition, where my team won first place in the Graduate Gold Division. We had just one week to develop an HR strategy for a real-world company issue: AI tool adoption. That experience taught me how to think strategically under pressure, pushed me past limits I had set for myself and showed me how much I enjoy taking on new challenges. It shaped who I am as a professional, and I'd do it all over again in a heartbeat.
Don't be afraid to say yes to the challenges that scare you, whether that's taking the lead on a group project, becoming a graduate ambassador or competing in a Purdue case competition. Those are the experiences that will shape you most. And you won't be facing them alone, Purdue has incredible resources, from the graduate and career offices to your professors, so lean on every one of them!
To do strategy and program management work where the people questions carry as much weight as the numbers, for a company whose mission and culture I'm passionate about.
The community, and how deliberately it's built. We move through the program as a cohort, taking the same courses in the same eight-week blocks, which means you're solving the same problems alongside the same people all year. Your cohort becomes a great group of co-workers, not just classmates. What surprised me was that it extends past the students. The staff and faculty who support our program are visibly excited about the work and about where each of us lands. In a program this compressed, that matters more than it sounds like it would.
Walk our campus. You'll find an unusual combination of academic seriousness, curiosity and Midwest hospitality. Then talk to as many current students as you can; ask what the workload actually demands and how they handle it. Besides a fierce desire to learn, the most useful thing you can arrive with is a system for managing your time.
My goal is to build a career in strategy consulting at a top firm, working toward eventually owning my own consulting firm. Alongside that, I am building CareerTree, a platform that replaces the traditional 2D resume with a dynamic 3D professional identity system that changes how people present themselves to employers.
The access. Before I even arrived, I was having conversations with a managing director at Accenture and a senior consultant at Kearney through the Purdue alumni network. In May, I attended Discover Daniels and connected with faculty and current students months before the program started. Daniels rewards that kind of initiative in a way I did not fully expect.
Do not wait for orientation to start. I reached out to professors about TA positions in May, connected with Purdue alumni in consulting before August, and submitted applications to campus organizations before my first week. By the time classes started I already had relationships and momentum. The program moves fast and the students who arrive ready are the ones who started early.
Seeking to transition into a strategic HR business partner position within a multinational organization.
All the resources and workshops available to us to prepare for our graduation and the really helpful and kind staff that are always there to support us.
Say yes to every opportunity, be curious to learn more and gain as much experience as you can.
My career goal is to build a career in marketing, with a focus on consumer insights. In this field, I aim to analyze consumer behavior and use these insights to drive business growth. I plan to work for a global company in the United States where I can combine my international business experience with marketing.
My favorite part of my experience at the Daniels School of Business has been the variety of academic, professional, and social opportunities available. I have enjoyed learning from supportive professors, receiving guidance from career advisors and student services, attending company and networking events, participating in campus activities, and connecting with students from around the world. These experiences have allowed me to build meaningful relationships, expand my network, and grow academically, professionally, and personally. They have also helped me feel more connected to the Daniels School of Business and the Purdue community.
My advice to a prospective graduate student would be to get involved and make the most of your experience at the Daniels School of Business. Connect with professors, students across the university, career advisors, student services and the broader Purdue community. Attend company and networking events, participate in campus activities and be open to meeting people from different backgrounds. Along with academic learning, graduate school is a valuable time to build meaningful relationships, develop professionally and become an active member of the community.
My goal is to build a career at the intersection of health, business and innovation to create meaningful impact for society.
My favorite part of Daniels School of Business has been its supportive and growth-oriented culture. Every interaction has opened a door to learn something or connect with someone. Being a Daniels School of Business graduate ambassador gives me the opportunity to give back to and contribute to the vibrant community that has made my graduate experience so meaningful.
Don't feel like you need to leave your previous experience behind to start something new. Your unique background can become your greatest advantage. I came to business school with a background in health and life-science and I have discovered that real value lies in connecting the experience you bring with the knowledge you gain. Being a Boilermaker is more than earning a degree, it's becoming part of a community that challenges you, supports you and helps you discover what you're capable of.
My goal is to use the skills I developed at Purdue to help solve meaningful, real-world problems. I’m particularly interested in work where I can help improve how businesses operate while also creating value for the communities they serve.
My favorite part of my experience at the Daniels School so far has to be the people I've met through my courses and orientation. I've been able to build meaningful relationships that will make my last year at Purdue extremely enjoyable and rewarding.
My advice would be to get involved and connect with people as early as you can. Getting to know your professors, classmates and other faculty makes the experience much more valuable. This is a great time to try something new and push yourself out of your comfort zone.
My career goal is to be at the intersection of technology and business strategy — specifically, to help organizations use AI and data not just as tools but as genuine competitive advantages that reshape how they operate and grow. In the short term, I am pursuing roles in technology sales, product management, and business analytics, where I can build deep expertise in how enterprise technology creates business value. Long term, I want to move into a leadership role where I am driving strategy at the business-technology interface — whether that is leading a product organization, building a go-to-market function or eventually founding something of my own.
My favorite part of my experience at the Daniels School has genuinely been the community — and I mean that in the most specific way possible.
When we decided that we wanted to start the Business Technology Association, we had no roadmap, no budget and honestly no idea where to begin. What we did have was the Business Career Services office, and that made all the difference. The BCS team sat with us, helped us think through what we were building, pointed us toward the right resources and gave us the kind of support that made us feel like what we were trying to do actually mattered. Starting a student organization from scratch is intimidating, and BCS made it feel possible. I am genuinely grateful for that.
Beyond BTA, what has made my time at Daniels special is the life that exists around the academics. The Daniels Student Advisory Board puts on events and info sessions that consistently bring the student body together in ways that feel real — not like mandatory programming, but like things people actually want to be part of. The tailgates, the networking events, the casual gatherings where you end up having a real conversation with someone who becomes a collaborator or a friend — that fabric of community is something I did not expect when I chose Purdue, and it has been one of the best surprises of my graduate experience.
The Daniels School is not just where I went to class. It is where I built things, found people who believed in the same ideas I did and felt genuinely supported at every step. That is what I will carry with me long after graduation.
Start building something before you feel ready. The biggest mistake I see prospective graduate students make is waiting — waiting until they know enough, waiting until the right opportunity appears, waiting until the semester settles down. The MBT program moves fast, the career fair season arrives before you expect it, and the students who stand out are the ones who were already doing things when everyone else was still getting comfortable.
For me, that meant co-founding BTA in my second semester, taking on multiple industry roles simultaneously, and treating every class project as if a real company depended on its outcome. None of it felt like the right time when I started. All of it turned out to be exactly the right time.
I would also say: use Purdue's community aggressively and generously. The Daniels School, the Krenicki Center, the Data Mine, the Career Management Center — these resources are genuinely world-class and the people running them want to help you. But they help the students who show up, follow up and bring real questions. Go to office hours. Email the professor whose research interests you. Apply for the program with the short deadline. The students who treat Purdue as a community rather than a credential are the ones who leave with both — a degree and a network that actually means something.
And finally: Purdue is not just a school. It is a launchpad. Use every single day of it like you know that.
My career goal is to be a CPA who helps organizations strengthen financial integrity, manage risk, and achieve long-term success while building meaningful relationships, mentoring others, and fostering their professional growth.
My favorite part has been connecting with fellow peers and supporting their professional growth. Serving as Social Chair of Purdue Accounting Association, I organized events that brought students and industry professionals together and connected peers with opportunities that aligned with their career aspirations. It's also been very fulfilling to share my own experiences over the years to help others build confidence in networking; seeing the positive impact I've made is rewarding.
I would encourage prospective students to be intentional about their goals and be proactive in pursuing opportunities that challenge them to grow. This could mean taking the initiative to connect with peers, faculty, and industry professionals with a curious and open mind. Through these experiences, they can gain valuable perspectives and discover how a graduate program can support their personal and professional aspirations. I would also share that the Daniels School's graduate admissions team and student ambassadors are always happy to help answer any questions and provide guidance to help them explore their options!
My career goal is to become a data scientist or AI engineer, using data and machine learning to solve real business problems. I'm building toward this through my MSBAIM coursework at Purdue, an internship in financial and business analysis at EY and ongoing independent study in machine learning and AI systems. Long term, I want to be someone organizations trust to turn complex data into decisions that actually get made.
My favorite part has been how accessible the career services staff and networking opportunities are, events like the Industrial Roundtable and Daniels Career Fair put me in direct conversation with recruiters, and the staff have been consistently responsive when I've needed guidance on my job search.
Take advantage of your time here, it's much shorter than undergrad, so treat networking and professional development as priorities from day one, not something to get to later. And especially for international students, make an effort to build friendships and connections early.
FDE/TPM
My diverse MBT cohort who brought different parts of their home to always make me feel like home and the Burton Morgan Competition.
To find a balance between staying in and staying out. Stay in to study, finish your assignments, and responsibilities but make sure to stay out, dedicate yourself to a fond passion - whether it's building with AI or validating your startup ideas.
My career goal is to leave every person and community better than I found them. I believe relationships are at the heart of great leadership, and by connecting with and supporting others, we can create meaningful change. I am passionate about improving accessibility to resources such as healthcare, higher education and economic opportunities so that more people have the chance to reach their full potential.
What I've enjoyed most about the Daniels School of Business is the balance between academics and professional development. Daniels offers opportunities such as career fairs, networking events and guest speakers that allow students to connect with professionals in industries they're interested in. These experiences have helped me expand my network and grow professionally.
My advice would be to be resilient, find your purpose, and focus on making a positive impact. Graduate school will challenge you, but those challenges are often where the most growth happens. If you stay committed to your goals and take advantage of the opportunities around you, you'll leave with much more than a degree.
My goal is to build a career at the intersection of supply chain and data analytics, using data to help companies make smarter decisions about how products and materials move. I'm especially interested in roles where I can turn complex operational data into clear insights that teams actually use, whether that's in logistics, construction or product strategy.
My favorite part has been how hands-on the experience is. Between consulting projects, being a teaching assistant and applying what I learn in class to real work with industry partners, I've been able to see concepts come to life right away. I also love the community. Having done my undergrad at Purdue as well, I've found that the faculty and staff genuinely invest in helping students grow.
Get involved early and say yes to opportunities outside the classroom. Some of my most valuable learning has come from projects, research and conversations with professionals, not just coursework. Don't be afraid to reach out to alumni and current students, because people are always willing to help if you ask.
My career goal is to build and lead global supply chains at the intersection of strategic sourcing, technology and operations. Having intentionally transitioned from a background in law to supply chain, I am particularly interested in roles where I can combine commercial strategy, negotiation, supplier partnerships and data-driven decision-making to solve complex global supply chain challenges.
My favorite part of Daniels has been the opportunity to take what I learn in the classroom and apply it to real-world challenges. From working on an industry project with Caterpillar through the Data Mine to spending nearly a year with Tesla across its Energy and Optimus supply chain teams, I've seen classroom concepts come to life in very different environments. Just as importantly, learning alongside classmates from different industries, cultures and professional backgrounds has broadened the way I think about supply chain and leadership.
Come in with a plan, but stay open to where the experience may take you. Graduate school is as much about what you pursue outside the classroom as what you learn inside it. Talk to professors, build genuine relationships with your classmates, take on industry projects, attend events and start exploring early. Most importantly, don't feel your past experience has to perfectly match where you want to go next. I came from a legal background and intentionally built a career in supply chain. Your previous experiences can become strengths when you learn to connect them to where you want to go.
My career goal is to get my PhD in Robotics and become a research scientist, found a company, and return to academia to teach at university later in life.
I have had the privilege of getting to know so many different types of people here and learn more about who they are and what motivates them. Throughout my time in DSB, I have always felt supported and heard.
Talk to everyone! You never know what you might share in common with someone, what opportunities they might be aware of and so, so much more. A stranger is just a friend you haven't gotten to know yet.
My career goal is to become a Data Scientist at a leading technology company, where I can leverage my experience in machine learning, analytics, and AI to solve complex business problems and build data-driven solutions at scale.
My favorite part of my experience at the Daniels School of Business has been the opportunity to learn from a diverse and talented community of students and faculty. I especially enjoy the collaborative environment, where I can bring my professional experience in data science and technology into the classroom while learning new perspectives from my peers. The hands-on, business-focused approach to learning has made my experience both engaging and meaningful.
My advice would be to make the most of every opportunity to learn, connect and get involved. Graduate school is not just about academics—it is also about building relationships with professors and peers, exploring new areas of interest and gaining experiences beyond the classroom. Be open to stepping outside your comfort zone, ask questions and take advantage of the resources and opportunities available to you. Most importantly, enjoy the journey and make the experience your own.
My career goal is to build a career in finance, with a particular interest in corporate finance and equity research. I hope to apply my analytical and problem-solving skills to understand businesses, evaluate financial performance and support strategic financial and investment decisions. Long term, I hope to grow into a leadership position where I can contribute to meaningful financial decisions and create lasting impact.
My favorite part of my experience at the Daniels School of Business has definitely been the people. I’ve had the opportunity to meet and learn alongside people from so many different backgrounds, which has made my experience even more meaningful. I’ve also really enjoyed the events Daniels organizes, the sense of community within my program, and, of course, the food at the events is always a plus! Overall, I’ve loved being part of a program that challenges me academically while also giving me so many opportunities to connect with others and get involved.
My biggest advice would be to put yourself in spaces that make you uncomfortable and put yourself out there. Attend the events, introduce yourself to new people, ask questions and take advantage of opportunities even when you may feel nervous or unsure. Some of the best experiences and connections come from stepping outside of your comfort zone. Graduate school is what you make of it, so don’t be afraid to show up, get involved and make yourself known.
To use what I learn in marketing to solve a bigger problem in life.
Meeting so many different people from all over the world and getting inspired by their infectious passion.
The unique combination of your strengths and weaknesses is what will make you succeed.
