Advancing with Intention: Sonali Sahani’s Purposeful Pursuit of a Dual Master’s Degree

The Humans of Mays Business School series highlights excerpts from conversations with exceptional individuals at Mays who make a lasting impact through their leadership, drive, and dedication. Each story brings to life the diverse journeys, challenges, and triumphs that shape the Mays community. By sharing these unique experiences, we aim to inspire personal and professional growth within our halls and share the origin stories of today’s and tomorrow’s business leaders.

Whether they’re in the classroom, around campus, on the field, or through extracurriculars, Mays students demonstrate a commitment to excellence and service. In this edition, we’re proud to feature Sonali Sahani, a first-generation student in Mays’ MBA + MS Analytics program. Sonali is a true embodiment of the Aggie Spirit and the leadership skills we cultivate at Mays.

A First-Generation Journey of Courage and Support

“I was born and raised in India. After completing my undergraduate degree in electronics and communication engineering, I began my career as a software developer in the financial industry. Over the course of five years, I gained a strong understanding of the implementation side of technology projects. However, I realized that I wanted to learn more about the business aspects, especially how projects are funded, how they get green-lighted, and the various business verticals involved. Once I decided I wanted to advance my career, I started looking at MBA programs. In my research, I discovered that the program at Mays Business School offered an MBA alongside an MS in Analytics degree. With my background in technology, the idea of adding an MBA and further enhancing it with the MS in Analytics, which involves more coding, really excited me. That is when I decided to come to the United States and began my program in the fall of 2023.”

“I take my parents and my family’s support as a motivation for myself. I come from a very conservative space where it’s not common for women to come out to the United States to pursue a master’s and receive support, so for my parents to not bother about the societal norm and support me through this journey as a first-generation college student means everything to me. Neither of my parents come from this background and they did not get the opportunity to complete high school, but they never questioned my dreams or my abilities. My mom is a homemaker and would literally teach herself math and other concepts then teach them to me all the way through high school. During my undergraduate degree, my college was 20 hours by train and my dad would travel to drop me off and pick me up to make sure that everything was done safely and all I would have to think about is my classes. In a physical capacity, putting in that physical effort to do train journeys with me or the emotional aspect of always encouraging me is huge, and I am so thankful for it.”

“What stood out to me about Texas A&M was its strong culture and massive, well-known network. While applying to different schools, I connected with several MBA-focused seniors on LinkedIn, and they had incredible things to say about Mays Business School, especially about the quality of its faculty. I chose the MBA + MS Analytics program specifically because of its unique value. When I looked at the curriculum, I was impressed by how advanced and thoughtfully designed it was. It progressed gradually and logically from semester to semester, so with my background in coding and data, that structure really resonated with me. I also, of course, could not pass up the opportunity to earn two degrees at the same time.”

The MBA + MS Analytics Difference

“One thing that really sets this program apart is that for almost every course, there is a curated capstone project attached to it created by the professors. It really helps me to apply the theory in real time. I’m working with the local authorities of Seville, Spain for my capstone project. They have provided us with parking lot data and I have to analyze how to ensure the parking lots are not congested and if it’s financially viable or not. I am hearing a lot of good feedback from all of my classmates on how exciting and interested they are in this capstone.”

“Specifically for the MBA program, we have an entire Career Management Center, with someone dedicated solely to supporting MBA students. They help us with resume reviews, career planning, and one-on-one discussions, which is an incredibly helpful resource. The same level of support applies when it comes to internships. Mays Business School has strong relationships with employers who actively recruit our students. I interned with Dell Technologies as a product manager, and I’d say that opportunity came largely through the school, because of Dell’s strong connection with Mays’ alumni network.”

From Classroom to Case Competitions

“I’ve been a part of a few different case competitions during my time here. I choose to participate in them because I feel they allow me to assimilate everything I’ve learned throughout my classes. The first competition I participated in was hosted by BYU, and the main theme was how companies can ensure that employees are able to bring their full selves to work. We were tasked with reviewing survey data that captured employee perspectives on the company’s culture, and then developing our own recommendations. The most recent competition I joined was hosted by Baylor University and focused on ethics and leadership. That case centered on improving company listening channels from the ground up and promoting empathetic leadership.”

“I love seeing how all the bits and pieces come together in a case competition. It feels like a crash course packed into just 8 to 10 hours. I also get to know my classmates really well, because when you’re in the same room for that long, working side by side to bring a full 360-degree perspective onto one whiteboard and create a solution, it’s a unique experience. It’s especially interesting to learn from everyone’s different backgrounds and understand how we work under stress and how we approach problems from different angles. Case competitions are definitely something I enjoy being a part of.”

“For students wanting to start competing, I’d say the first step is to put yourself out there and attend as many case competitions as you can. As soon as I participated in my first one, I realized how much learning and real-time exposure it offers. Plus, it’s a great networking opportunity since the judges are from the industry. You get valuable facetime with them, and after the event, there are usually dinners and chances to connect further, which really increases your visibility. The second piece of advice would be to prepare intentionally. Leading up to the competitions, I make it a point to practice and improve in areas where I feel less confident. Doing that pre-work makes the experience more enriching and more fun. It’s also important to go in with the mindset that the whole day will be focused, dedicated work on the competition, there’s really no other way. I think starting with the attitude that ‘I’ll get out of this what I put into it’ makes a big difference.”

The Path Forward

“As I prepare to graduate, Mays Business School has completely prepared me, in the sense that I wouldn’t have been ready for a full-time career if it wasn’t for this program. Thinking back to when I began, I did not know anything about business concepts and now, I have a fundamental grasp whether it’s operations, finance, or accounting. My goal is to move into product management, being closer to data, so I’ll need to take a 360-degree view, considering everything from data and user needs to feasibility and financial impact. They call it the ‘CEO of the product’ for a reason. It would not have been possible without this MBA layer of understanding and it’s only because of this program that I’m now ready for a product management career.”

“Personally, Texas A&M and Mays Business School have taught me values that are reinforced throughout the MBA + MS Analytics program. Whether we’re taking a test or delivering a project, we’re reminded to stick to the integrity piece. Excellence also comes into the picture, whether in studying or presenting our work. I’ve seen so much selfless service through Aggies who’ve sat with me for coffee chats to share their firms or journeys.”

“What I believe will set me apart in a competitive industry is mindset. There’s a strong focus here on shifting your mindset, embracing values, and developing holistically. That’s what I think really makes the difference. The values become more ingrained in me than ever before, and every day, the immense learning I’ve gained has enriched me on a personal level.”