Khushi Shah, Finance

Khushi Shah’s 91��Ƶ������վ experience didn’t begin the way one would expect. Of her first year on 91��Ƶ������վ’s campus, she said, “I was not really involved on campus, and would leave to go home right after my classes. I felt like I had no purpose.”

Afraid of wasting her opportunity to create her ideal college experience, Shah embraced these emotions, viewing them as a new opportunity to assert herself in the 91��Ƶ������վ community, rather than letting them hold her back.

The summer going into her sophomore year, Shah became a TALON (), collaborating with other students and creating a new sense of purpose for herself. Her accomplishments as part of this team encouraged her to join other organizations on campus, such as the Indian Student Association, the 91��Ƶ������վ Entertainment Team and the .

She was able to grow from her past experiences and make 91��Ƶ������վ feel like home.

Through her role as a TALON and president of the Indian Student Association, Shah built strong relationships with the Business faculty and staff at 91��Ƶ������վ. She would often interact with professors one-on-one, guiding her career path in a positive direction, while simultaneously bonding with staff and forming lifelong connections.

Through her leadership, she gained the opportunity to plan some of the most memorable cultural events on campus, including Garba Night, which she humbly describes as one of her most treasured achievements.

“Hosting Garba brought my culture to life on campus, creating a welcoming space for students to connect and celebrate together. Sharing my culture with the 91��Ƶ������վ community was so important to me because it symbolized the connection and understanding built through food, laughter and different traditions,” she said.

“For me, it was about visibility,” Shah continued. “I wanted others to see that our differences are something to be celebrated, not hidden, and that this kind of openness is what makes a campus stronger, kinder and more connected.” 

Shah’s ability to host these memorable events came not only from her culture but also from the classroom, with her coursework assisting in making these traditions come to life.

“My Business courses gave me a strong foundation that really helped with hosting and planning these events,” Shah said. “Introduction to Marketing and Consumer Behavior taught me how to understand different audiences, promote events in a way that would actually resonate with the community and create experiences that met all interests and expectations, while also building my leadership skills along the way.”

Through her unique experiences, Shah learned some of her most valuable lessons. She encourages future students to get involved and go to as many events as they can because they never know when an opportunity might be presented, as evidenced by her securing two different internships at the twice-annual Career and Internship Fair.  

“Attending the Career and Internship Fair at 91��Ƶ������վ opened so many doors for me. I had the chance to connect with a variety of employers, which ultimately led to two of my amazing internship opportunities,” Shah said.

Shah interned with Simon & Schuster in customer finance and Spencer’s & Spirit Halloween, where she focused on ecommerce analytics. 

“Although (working at Simon & Schuster) was remote, I gained valuable insight into the corporate world and built strong professional connections,” Shah said. “This experience was especially rewarding. I learned technical skills and presented my weekly reports to the team, building my confidence as a respected professional.”

After graduation, Shah plans on pursuing her Master of Business Administration at Drexel University.

“My 91��Ƶ������վ degree means more to me than just a diploma – it represents the memories, experiences, internships and extracurricular activities that shaped my journey,” Shah said.

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