As part of the Georgia Tech Scheller College of Business Countdown to Commencement series, we interviewed a few soon-to-be graduates from our Undergraduate program to learn about their backgrounds, why they chose Scheller, and what they plan to do after the Fall 2021 commencement.
Meet Inika Jain who is graduating with a concentration in operations and supply chain management and a minor in Industrial Design.
Where are you from?
Alpharetta, GA
Where did you attend high school?
Milton High School.
What is the biggest lesson you gained from studying business?
The biggest lesson I have gained is that investing in your community and yourself happens in tandem. Early on in my Scheller experience, I was lucky to find older peers who invested in me, guided me, and pushed me to seize opportunities that would shape my college experience. Through investing in my relationships and communities, I discovered parts of myself I hadn’t known before. As a mentee, it was empowering to connect with people who not only saw strengths in me, but also helped me develop them. As a mentor and active member of the Scheller community, it is heartening to offer the same to others, and I am continually inspired by the younger students and their ambitions. Because of my time at Tech, I carry this lesson and will actively do my best to enrich the communities around me.
What advice would you give to a student looking to major in a business-related field?
First, try not to put too much pressure on yourself when you are making this decision. The best thing you can do for yourself is to organize your thoughts, and there are three important things to consider: 1. What are your passions? This can be social causes you are committed to, personal hobbies/interests, or anything that lights your fire. 2. What are your strengths now, and what strengths do you want to develop? 3. What fields will enable you to combine your answers to the previous questions? Think critically about these and talk to people who you respect for advice. Be open to opportunity and seize it when you see it!
As a business student in the heart of Tech Square, how do you think Scheller College embodies the intersection of business and technology?
Scheller embodies the intersection of business and technology by offering courses that frame a business education in the context of our increasingly tech-enabled world. There are business decisions behind the digitized, automated, and connected economy we observe and live in, and Scheller is uniquely positioned to incorporate innovation into every course and concentration. One course in particular, Business Decisions for Sustainability and Shared Value, embodies this concept very well. Professor Ravi Subramanian shifted the way I think into a perspective that utilizing technology and prioritizing sustainability will drive business decisions in the future, and Scheller is on the cutting edge of this innovative thinking.
What was your favorite business course?
Sustainable Business Practicum has been one of the most uniquely engaging courses I have taken at Scheller. Being a consulting practicum course, it provides an opportunity to serve a real client in solving a need they have related to sustainability. I am taking the course this semester, and it has been a rewarding culmination of my discipline and my passion for sustainability. Additionally, the class is made up of undergrad and MBA students, and the increase in caliber of discussions and expectations has been a rewarding experience. It has been a perfect way to close out my time at Scheller.
Who is your favorite professor?
Manpreet Hora’s combination of professionalism and kindness makes him an excellent professor and mentor. I took Service Operations with him, and the course gave me a fresh perspective on my concentration from a more human-centered standpoint. I had not previously considered supply chain from a service-driven lens, and Professor Hora had a vibrant passion for the topic that inspired me to broaden my view of what I study and how I can apply it to life, professionally and otherwise. Finally, Professor Hora’s warmth easily makes him one of the most encouraging professors I have had at Georgia Tech. Highly recommend getting to know him!
What has surprised you most about majoring in business at Scheller?
The students and professors at Scheller opened my eyes to the scope of possibilities, from healthcare non-profits to public sector cybersecurity to environmental consulting and more. Scheller students have a diverse array of interests and passions, and it is this diversity that has enriched my academic experience by challenging me to consider business principles as they extend to all facets of life.
What are some of your extracurricular activities, community work and leadership roles during college:
Vice-president, education, Scheller Business Ambassadors, FASET orientation leader, vice-president, recruitment, Alpha Chi Omega, Ramblin’ Reck Club, 2020 Ms. Georgia Tech finalist.
Where have you interned during your college career?
Merchandising strategy intern, Wayfair, eCommerce strategy intern, The Home Depot, treasury analyst intern, Southern Company, business analyst intern, Sinch Communications.
Where will you be working after graduation?
Capital One.
Looking back over your experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently in business school and why?
I would have gotten more involved in the Ray C. Anderson Center for Sustainable Business. Sustainability is a huge driver for me personally, and the Center provides a chance to marry that personal passion with business. I have taken two courses through the Center, and I found them incredibly stimulating and fulfilling. Had I gotten more involved, I would have loved to have learned more about sustainable business and participate in the Carbon Reduction Challenge.
Which academic, extra-curricular or personal achievement are you most proud of?
The achievement I am most proud of is leading a successful recruitment process when I served as the vice president of Recruitment for my sorority, Alpha Chi Omega, during the COVID-19 pandemic. The recruitment process, historically anchored on in-person interactions, was turned upside down. I worked with my team to distill our goals to ensure the safety of members and attendees and improve equity in membership selection. We adjusted selection processes to address bias, transitioned activities to virtual platforms, and worked with our D&I committee to create programming on intersectionality and diversity. This experience gave me the opportunity to work on being a strong and empathetic leader during changing circumstances, and I am proud of the work that my team and I did to build and shape the future of a community we care for so deeply.
Which classmate do you most admire?
Matt Pacifico. I have known Matt since joining SBA our first year, and he has never failed to be a great peer and friend. You don’t need to know Matt well to see that he is warm, mature, and encouraging. Though we were never close, I have always admired his genuine willingness to help others and his ability to put anyone he talks to at ease. He will likely be surprised to see this, but that just reinforces his humility!
Who would you most want to thank for your success?
Finally, I want to thank me. I want to thank me for believing in me, I want to thank me for doing all this hard work, I want to thank me for having no days off.
JUST KIDDING!
I want to thank my brother, Vikrant. Thank you for being my sounding board, my cheerleader, my teammate, and my coach. You are so generous with your time and gracious with your attention to detail to every request I make of you. Thank you for being such a good role model and honest friend. Seeing your success and hard work never ceases to amaze and inspire me. Lastly, thank you for laughing at my jokes! I attribute a great deal of success to the confidence that came with your approval of my sense of humor. There, I said it.
What are the top two items on your professional bucket list?
Open a bakery/coffee shop with a community learning space where people can come share their skills with their neighbors and becoming an adjunct professor at an awesome school (cough cough Scheller).
Fun fact about yourself:
The Braves have won every game I have attended.