What inspired you to pick your current major?

I chose my major because I’ve always viewed marketing as one of the few forms of storytelling that can, if done well, transcend cultures, perspectives, ideologies, etc. For example, I always view the Share a Coke campaign as a representation of marketing done well. Whether you’re from India or New York, we all felt and experienced the same story and call-to-action.

How has being in the ARF WIDE Program affected your career path or university studies?

Being in the ARF WIDE program has affected my career path in the sense that I now have an immense respect for research and understanding consumer behavior. Through meetings with my mentors, the learning labs, etc., I know that I want to be data driven in whatever role I land in. If I have it my way, that would be a role that allows me to be at the center of strategy (research) and creative.

Tell us about your new position! What is your role and where is it? What will you be doing?

Yes, my latest internship was with BET as a Consumer Insights Intern. Some work I had the privilege of doing included a Creative Assessment deck of creative that aired during the ’23 BET Awards, conducting qual and quant research for BET’s “Financially Well Study,” and working with MTV to conduct and analyze the Paramount Summer Intern Focus Group. This fall, I’ll be an Entertainment Programming Research Intern at NBCU, where I’ll be assisting with multi-platform ratings research.

If money were no object, what would your dream job be?

I’ve always wanted to be a travel food blogger. I’m a big foodie, and I remember watching Anthony Bourdain and Guy Fieri and thinking they had the coolest job in the world (still do!). So, either that or I perhaps would open a restaurant.

Where do you see yourself in five to ten years?

In five to ten years, I hope to be in a position that, overall, allows me to be a continuous learner. Perhaps most importantly, I wish to be at a point where I can provide access and knowledge to students like this program has given me.

What is your favorite hobby? Why do you enjoy it?

I picked up Muay Thai & Jitsu a year and a half back. It challenges me, physically of course, but also mentally and that is what I enjoy the most about it. I’ve also played acoustic guitar for 10+ years now, and being an introvert, especially in my middle school years, I’ve always described it as allowing me to have conversations or a form of catharsis.

What is something you would tell your younger self?

I would tell my younger self to perhaps give yourself grace to make mistakes. I would ponder day and night on mistakes I made, no matter how minuscule, because I tended to attribute my self-worth to what I could produce. While there are still elements of that ideology that affect me now, I’m at a stage where I try to see the silver lining and see how I can be better moving forward.