As part of Scheller’s Countdown to Commencement series, we interviewed a few soon-to-be graduates from our undergraduate, MBA, and Ph.D. programs to learn about their backgrounds, why they chose Scheller College, and what they plan to do after Spring 2019 Commencement.
Meet Roopal Goel:
Roopal is completing her BSBA with a concentration in Information Technology Management and a Certificate in Marketing and was recently awarded the John R. Battle Award for Student Excellence at the 2019 Scheller College of Business Honor’s Day event. A native Atlantan, she describes herself as a vibrant, friendly person with a love of learning, people, growth, and life. Post-graduation, she will be returning to PwC as a Management Consulting Associate in New York City. Roopal comments, “After my incredible summer internship in 2018, I knew I had to go back. I’m super stoked for what the future holds. The opportunity to constantly learn and grow personally and professionally in the consulting realm is enticing and stimulating for me, and I cannot wait to start.”
Fun fact about yourself:
I started a podcast! It’s called “Listen! The Podcast” and it’s my favorite hobby. I get to interview lots of incredible people on campus and hear so many diverse stories. From interesting students to fascinating professors, the guests on my podcast always leave listeners with helpful and motivating thoughts to chew on. I’m really excited to work on this podcast as a stress relieving activity once I move to NYC after graduation!
Where did you intern?
I was able to intern at two of my top choices - The Coca-Cola Company and PwC. I’m extremely grateful and so, so lucky for the opportunities that helped turn my dreams into reality thanks to the Scheller College Career Services staff in the Undergraduate Program Office.
In the summer of 2017, I interned at The Coca-Cola Company. I worked in Ready to Drink Coffee (such as Dunkin’ Donuts RTD coffee) and collaborated with cross-functional teams to develop selling and support materials for a compelling retail space expansion story. I leveraged big data sources and gathered market insights, developed a growth strategy for the coffee category, and presented my findings to senior executives. I had a wonderful time that summer; full of fun and professional growth!
In the summer of 2018, I interned at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). I worked in Industrial Products and Services, specifically in Pricing Strategy. I collaborated with a leading manufacturer of construction materials in an $84 billion industry. I worked with pricing analytics software, built Tableau dashboards, crafted insightful KPIs and key pricing levers, and added technical value on multiple time-sensitive client deliverables. This experience was unlike any other.
Why did you choose Scheller College of Business?
The moment I stepped foot in Scheller as a very confused and slightly terrified high school senior, I knew I had to come here. I was initially an out of state student grappling with the idea of being so far from home in a foreign city, but I was drawn to the warm, vibrant community at Scheller and in Atlanta. Scheller’s Undergraduate Office is one of the best, and the faculty in Scheller is top-notch. The people at the College of Business are constantly uplifting and pushing you to succeed, whether it’s your fellow students or your professors. The support system that naturally exists in the school is clear and extremely helpful. In addition, the location is unbeatable! As a business school that operates at the intersection of business and technology, we get to reap the amazing benefits of Atlanta’s diverse community. From Fortune 500 companies to high-flying startups, there is no lack of incredible companies to work for. Scheller College truly cultivates an environment of success, happiness, and ambition. It’s evident in every student’s face when they’re walking the halls. I’m so lucky to be a student at Scheller, where people care about my growth and well-being, while encouraging my ambitions.
Who was your favorite professor (and why)?
I have to list two marketing professors: Dr. Michael Lowe and Professor Michael Buchanan. I took Marketing Management with Lowe, and Digital Marketing and Social Media Marketing with Buchanan. Their classes were some of the most challenging and rewarding courses I took. I always walked out of class having learned something through engaging lectures and discussions. They were also exceptionally nice and funny men, and I genuinely enjoyed getting to know them. Learning from Lowe and Buchanan helped me think critically and succeed in my internships, and I’m excited to apply my knowledge in my job after graduation!
What was your favorite course (and what was the biggest insight you gained about business from it?)
My favorite course was Management 4193, “Servant Leadership Values and Systems” taught by Dr. Bob Thomas. I learned about the concept of servant leadership, servant leaders in business, and I also worked on refining my values and building meaningful relationships with my community. In terms of my role as a leader, this course dramatically altered my worldview, showed me different ways of viewing businesses in terms of systems, pushed me to reexamine my values and priorities, and helped me shape myself into a better leader.
The biggest insight I gained about business was the idea that if we want to create better businesses, we must create better leaders, better people. Leaders must learn to listen and understand their followers, encourage failure and foster trust, be authentic, and promote a growth culture. Dr. Robert Zuber, the Director of Global Action to Prevent War (a United Nations department) and a guest speaker in our class, succinctly put this idea in a few short words – “better policy requires better people.”
As a business student in the heart of Tech Square, how do you think Scheller College embodies the intersection of business and technology?
Scheller College does a great job integrating emerging and current technologies into our coursework and curriculum. Students at Scheller learn about technology trends and work on incorporating them into our projects and presentations. Scheller’s commitment to creating new knowledge and fostering entrepreneurship and innovation sets us apart. Scheller College realizes that technological growth affects the way business is conducted, and prepares students to understand business analytics, digital transformation, data visualization and analytics, and technological advancements.
What is your best piece of advice to an applicant hoping to get into Scheller College?
Be yourself! Authenticity is an attractive quality, and it is painfully evident when you are putting on a fake persona. Also, be passionate about your interests and goals. Passion and authenticity are a great combination. In addition, Scheller students are kind, hardworking, and collaborative. Show that you’re a team player and a friendly person, and you will thrive!
Who most influenced your decision to pursue business in college? (A parent? A teacher? A role model/mentor?)
My parents. They were excited to see me pursuing business and Information Technology Management, since they’re both IT professionals. Seeing their hard work and perseverance in their jobs inspired me to go down a similar path. They also encouraged me to follow my passions in business school, which is why I added my Marketing Certificate. I am so grateful for their endless love, support, and instillation of values. They are my role models.
How did the extracurricular offerings at Scheller College help you during your time here?
The extracurricular offerings at Scheller College helped me branch out and make lots of valuable friends and connections. I transformed as a student and a leader through my work with the Undergraduate Program Office and Scheller Business Ambassadors (SBA). My involvement in SBA has been near and dear to my heart. As Vice President of Community Development, I had the opportunity to create diverse, inclusive, and dynamic events for the students of Scheller, which was a wonderful and rewarding experience. The offerings at Scheller helped me build a strong professional and support network that will last a lifetime.
On campus, I was the Executive Director of Internal Affairs in the GT Honors Program leadership for two years. I was also the Operations Team Lead in the Yellow Jacket Space Program for two years, and a GT 1000 Team Leader for three years. Off campus, I was a board member in an organization called “Fearless Females” and provided guidance and advice to young girls to prepare them for higher education and business careers. My business education taught me about valuable leadership skills, change management, organizational behavior, and teamwork. These skills translated into my leadership roles, and helped me improve my communication and delegation skills while fostering growth cultures and building trust with my peers and colleagues. My background also helped me mentor other young women interested in business.
“If I hadn’t gone to business school, I would be…
Definitely studying Psychology. Since one of my main focuses at Scheller is marketing, my love of people and personality bleeds into everything I do. I love understanding consumer behavior, social psychology, and personality theory. The reasons behind decision-making and behavior are things I’ve explored in my degree as well. The psychology courses I’ve taken have been so thought-provoking. I had even briefly considered pursuing a career in clinical psychology. My interest in mental health and wellness has been a huge part of my college career and podcast as well.
What are the top two items on your bucket list?
I want to go skydiving one day. I also want to experience living or working abroad, since I haven’t really traveled outside of visiting India or going on a cruise.
In one sentence, how would you like your peers to remember you?
I want to be remembered as someone who was compassionate, fun, empathetic, knowledgeable, and impactful.
Hobbies
I love reading, watching Netflix, trying new foods, hosting a podcast, hanging out with friends, blogging, and playing the piano. I am also a nap enthusiast.