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MBA Alumni Offer Guidance to New MBA Candidates

MBA Alumni Offer Guidance to New MBA Candidates

Full-Time MBA alumni return to campus to give advice and support during orientation.

by: Alexander Bernard
08.06.24
Parvathi Nair Bindhu, Parin Patel, and Danielle Miller

Parvathi Nair Bindhu and Parin Patel offer guidance to new FTMBA students.

[USC Photo/Grayson Adler]

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As part of the orientation for the new Full-Time MBA (FTMBA) Class of 2026, six of Marshall’s FTMBA alumni traveled back to campus on July 29 for a panel discussion. The new members packed into Town & Gown to hear guidance from Parvathi Nair Bindhu MBA ’23, Olivia Glick MBA ’23, Danielle Miller MBA ’24, Alex Mohr MBA ’22, Parin Patel MBA ’19, and Kabir Sarjan MBA ’24. The conversation was moderated by Kirk Kim Jr. MBA ’25, president of the Marshall Graduate Student Association (MGSA).

Two words reverberated throughout the conversation: Trojan Family. The alumni quickly reminded the new MBA candidates of the significance of the Trojan Network.

Glick, for one, noted how committed USC alumni were to her success. They were eager to join her for coffee chats, prepare her for interviews, and give her career feedback and guidance.

Fellow panelists echoed Glick’s sentiments, emphasizing the significance of Marshall alumni and the various ways Trojans have guided them to advance their careers. Those connections, according to Bindhu, started in the FTMBA program between classmates and the supportive environment she experienced at Marshall.

“Everybody is invested in each other’s development,” Bindhu said “I think that’s something I have not seen in other schools when I talk to people. It’s so unique to [this] program. I would really encourage you to leverage it.”

The other alumni couldn’t agree more. They referenced their core teams specifically, with whom they worked closely across their two years in the program. For a couple panelists, these classmates remain their best friends. Patel even first met his wedding MC in his core team.

No longer students, the six alumni now see opportunities to give back to the school and community that gave them so much.

“I got here because of all that came before me, and now my goal is to follow on,” Sarjan said. “That aspect of giving back to the community starts immediately when you graduate.”

There are numerous ways the FTMBA alumni are giving back — not just by returning for the panel, but opening themselves up mentoring new and graduating students and also providing critical connections and resources. As they reiterated: this is what being a part of the Trojan Family is all about.

I definitely see a lot of personal growth from where I was sitting a few years ago to being able to talk in front of a room with 200 people today.

— Danielle Miller

MBA ’24

The panel also stressed that the FTMBA program benefits extend even beyond the immense resources of the Trojan Network. In two short years, FTMBA candidates are presented with a wealth of opportunities, from on-campus professional organizations to real-world learning opportunities to personal clubs. The alumni advised the newest Trojans to be selective, emphasizing quality and passion over quantity.

“Ask yourself: what matters most to you and where you can create the most impact,” Bindhu told the students.

Aside from practical resume-building or networking, the panelists also highlighted the personal growth they experienced at Marshall. Several of them entered the school with Imposter’s Syndrome, doubting that they truly belonged at the institution. Over time, however, the faculty, staff, alumni, and their fellow students bolstered their confidence and affirmed that they were all Trojans.

“The biggest thing I got out of the program is I stand a little bit straighter,” Miller said. “I have a lot more confidence. I have a lot more knowledge, and I feel like my perspective has definitely changed … I definitely see a lot of personal growth from where I was sitting a few years ago to being able to talk in front of a room with 200 people today.”

The alumni panelists have continued the Trojan tradition of success, with positions at companies such as Cisco, EA Sports, and EY. Above all, they hope the Class of 2026 makes the most of their two years at Marshall to transform their career, build the Trojan Network, and continue to make the school of business a shining example of excellence.

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