Vanessa Alamillo-Torres is continuing her education at UCR—she earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration with a minor in psychology—and is pursuing a Professional MBA with a concentration in information systems to further her knowledge of working with data and databases. She is planning a career in data analytics within the tech industry or government. As an AGSM student ambassador, she helps other students and is enhancing her professional experience and connections.

After completing her bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance, Pooja Bhatia started her own retail business in India. She has a passion for creativity and design, which she incorporates into her business ventures, adding an artistic touch to her professional path. After successfully nurturing her business for three years, she decided to further enhance her acumen and gain international business exposure by pursuing an MBA at UCR.

After finishing his undergraduate education at UC Santa Cruz with two bachelor’s degrees in political science and legal studies, Jack Clarke worked in operations management at the university. This experience piqued his interest in pursuing an MBA with a concentration in information systems, and he plans to work in project management within the tech industry.

Alan Cortez Gurrola is pursuing an MBA with a concentration in business analytics, and as an AGSM student ambassador, he looks forward to making connections across industries. He earned his bachelor’s degree in business management and marketing from La Sierra University, where he worked as assistant director of Career Services focusing on employer relations and internships. He currently serves on AGSM’s Student Association Marketing Committee and assists with marketing projects for a startup. Ultimately, he is interested in consultant roles in business analysis and development applying his skills in analyzing key metrics and strategic advising.

Having worked six years in hotel operations and sales management, MBA student Harman Dhillon realized she was most passionate about the project management aspects of her professional roles. She plans to pursue a career in project management and hopes to serve as a mentor to others in their professional development. Harman earned bachelor’s degree in business administration with an emphasis in international business at Cal State San Bernardino.

After completing a bachelor’s degree in finance at UCR, Connor Donald returned to his alma mater to pursue an MBA. He sees this course of study as a gateway to a career managing corporate finance decisions. As an AGSM student ambassador, Connor makes all students feel welcome and included and ensures everyone has the chance to hear about the varied opportunities at UCR.

PMBA student Tuyen Do earned her bachelor’s degree in supply chain management in Vietnam. She previously worked in supply chain consulting and will establish her career in that field after graduation. Tuyen readily shares and exchanges her knowledge and experience with other students interested in supply chain management and consulting.

Yingchao (Vero) Fu worked for more than 10 years in automotive research and development and vehicle program management in China followed by a position as senior manager of a 17-member team at NIO smart electric car company. During her career, she was drawn to the idea of creating an environmentally friendly and convenient product. She decided that an MBA degree was the best first step toward this goal—she also holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mechanical engineering from Tongji University in China. Yingchao is a member of the AGSM Student Association and serves as a graduate student ambassador, which allows her to help other students

Cesar Gonzalez-Madrigal is a first-generation college graduate, having earned his degree in psychology at UCR. During a two-year tenure in the nonprofit sector, he assisted in database management and donor research and developed a newfound interest in data-driven decision-making, which led him to pursue an MBA with a focus on business analytics. His diverse background and commitment to leveraging data for business success makes him a dedicated AGSM student ambassador eager to share his business experience while inspiring others to pursue their unique paths to success in higher education and beyond.

Ayush Holani is a Professional MBA student specializing in finance, and he earned an undergraduate degree in business administration. As an international student, Ayush shares both his background and experience from two internships in marketing and financial analysis at startup company. He makes it a point to build connections with other students and foster cross-cultural understanding as an AGSM student ambassador. Ayush is planning a career as a financial analyst, and he’s enthusiastic about the prospect of making finance relatable and impactful.

After completing a master’s degree in architecture, Mrinal Hulkoti, worked for her family’s construction firm as a project manager for design deliverables. With the desire get into the corporate arena and to enhance her skills, Mrinal decided to pursue an MBA with a concentration in management and marketing at UCR. As an international student, she appreciates the student diversity at AGSM and is connecting with potential master’s candidates from different fields and helping them pursue a graduate degree at UCR.

Coming soon

Having held positions in all aspects of business—including management, sales, and data analytics—Sohaib Khan looks toward a career as an analyst in the tech industry and is building upon his management and leadership skills. Currently a Professional MBA student, he also earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from UCR.

Prachuirtha Kishtagari was a client servicing executive in a digital marketing startup and transitioned into an operations role for a consumer goods company. She is pursuing an MBA to learn about myriad job functions, which will augment her skills as a business leader in the operations and supply chain field.

In addition to his role as a graduate student ambassador, MBA student Daniel Lan also serves on the AGSM Student Association Marketing Committee. He earned a B.S. in managerial economics at UC Davis with minors in Chinese and communications. Daniel also earned media marketing training with a nutritional technology startup company and was a project manager and committee coordinator in leadership training for a city development project launch. His experience includes knowledge and practice in developing solutions to promote sales and profit for an agribusiness company, as well as communication, data analysis, marketing promotion, and project coordination.

Hau Luu earned his undergraduate degree at Cal State San Bernardino in business administration with a concentration in finance and international business, and he continues his studies at UCR in the Professional MBA program with a concentration in finance. Hau is most interested in financial banking, and he’s planning a career as a private banker or consultant. As an AGSM student ambassador, he is active in the campus community and helps others establish meaningful connections.

Justin McEwen served more than eight years in the U.S. Air Force before taking his talents to the civilian sector. He earned his bachelor’s degree in kinesiology at California State University, Fullerton and graduated at the top of his class. He now holds a position with the U.S. House of Representatives, serving as a Wounded Warrior Fellow managing the Military and Veteran Affairs portfolio for a local congressional representative. Justin plans to pursue a career in philanthropy serving the public good and addressing the root causes of the social issues in which he is interested.

Heli Mehta is an enthusiastic professional with a solid academic background in accounting and financial management. She is a Professional MBA student with a concentration in supply chain management, and she’s passionate about driving growth and innovation. As an AGSM student ambassador, she enthusiastically contributes to the campus business community.

Having worked for nine years developing consumer insights for the India market in the field of media and apparel e-commerce, Snigdha Ojha wanted to expand her career and ascend to the decision-making level for product development, where she can concentrate on products and services that serve the consumer better. This desire motivated her decision to earn an MBA degree. She appreciates the help of the admissions team and is pleased to be moving forward with her education and professional goals.

Passionate about financial literacy and business, Melanie Pineda is preparing for a career as a financial analyst. She is pursuing an MBA at UCR, where she earned a B.S. in business administration with a concentration in finance. As an AGSM student ambassador, Melanie is making genuine connections with others and “giving back.”

Second-year AGSM Student Ambassador Jinnatul is earning an MBA with a concentration in information systems. She specializes in data analytics and business intelligence and is particularly interested in data-driven insights in support of informed decision-making within organizations. She is also active in the organizations Women in Data Science Worldwide and AnitaB.org to promote inclusivity and advocate for women within the analytics space.

Shan Ramasubramanian boasts four years of professional experience in AI and ML. He began his career at Amazon and then was founding ML engineer at Zocket specializing in advertising technology. Currently pursuing his MBA, Shan is working toward a career as an AI product manager. He previously served as the city fundraising manager at Making A Difference Foundation. As an AGSM student ambassador, he’s looking forward to bridging the realms of academia and industry.

Grant Rueca is a second-year MBA student, and he works as a student marketing assistant for the Career Development Center. Grant specializes in marketing and is passionate about telling the emotional and motivating stories of businesses. He is dedicated to serving and representing AGSM as a graduate student ambassador and to maximize his goal of making a positive impact at the graduate school.

After earning his mathematics degree at the University of Stuttgart, Emil Shirokikh began his professional career as a project manager at a well-known life insurance company in Germany. Later, he made a strategic shift to Capgemini, where he thrived in roles as a business analyst and eventually as an IT consultant. He is earning an MBA to support his goal to establish his own company, Belto.

After establishing an academic foundation in branding and marketing with her bachelor’s in mass communication, Ishita Singhal acquired experience at organizations like Deloitte, the World Wildlife Fund, and Teach for India. She plans to make social responsibility a part of an organization’s DNA to drive societal and environmental change. Pursuing an MBA will accelerate her career and help her harness the trifecta of brand reach, marketing, and social responsibility to grow the good in businesses. As an AGSM student ambassador, she hopes to gain global perspectives while connecting with her diverse cohort at UCR.

Aleksandr Smolin graduated with a bachelor’s degree in computer science in 2022 and was a computer science instructor. He decided to pivot to business so that he can more effectively impact the outcomes of the projects he’s working on. As an AGSM student, he aims to learn more about the different aspects of business and management while concentrating in finance.

Frances Tang is a distinguished graduate from San Jose State University, where she earned her degree in global operations management. Transitioning into various marketing roles within the tech and startup landscapes, Frances cultivated enhanced brand visibility and fostered authentic, meaningful connections with key target audiences. Recognizing her talent and enthusiasm for marketing, she made a conscious decision to delve deeper into this field. As an international student from Taiwan, Frances is bridging cultural gaps, fostering networking opportunities, and leveraging AGSM student ambassador events to expand her professional connections and share her rich industry experience.

Kevin J. Thiphavong earned his bachelor’s in interdisciplinary studies focusing on public policy, sociology, psychology, and education at from UC Berkeley, where he also served as the president of the student-veterans club creating networking events and building a community for his peers. After completing his degree, Kevin worked for a Washington, D.C.-based communications as a senior research associate focused on qualitative research and consulting federal government agencies. Kevin is pursuing an MBA to learn technical skills required for management roles to complement the leadership skills he gained serving in the U.S. Navy. During his time in military service, he was deployed to Afghanistan and Bahrain in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and was honored with multiple personal and unit awards.

Raina Williams is a recent graduate from UC Riverside in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance.  She is furthering her education at UCR as a first-year graduate student, pursuing a Professional MBA. Her intended concentration is Marketing; with that, she is aiming for a career that will optimize her financial skills learned in her undergrad experience with a market-focus. As a Graduate Student Ambassador, her goals are to engage and make connections with her fellow cohorts, while utilizing Ambassador exclusive events to enhance her professional experience.

Angel Chen previously worked as an auditor at PricewaterhouseCoopers Taiwan. Finding a calling as a consultant focusing on mergers and acquisitions, business investment tactics, and strategic program leadership, she decided to pursue her Master of Finance at UCR because the course of study aligned with her professional and personal goals. As an AGSM student ambassador, she is pleased to share her concentrated background in accounting and hopes to inspire others to blaze their own paths in higher education and beyond

Vinayak Goel, a finance professional with more than three years of experience, demonstrates mastery in over-the-counter derivatives, reconciliations, and strategic customer acquisition. Committed to pioneering responsible finance, he’s currently pursuing a master’s degree, driven to innovate financial products and forge high-impact collaborations for a thriving and equitable financial future.

Shivani Narayanan is a finance professional with five years of experience in the fields of finance, accounting, auditing, and tax across India and Australia. Having honed her skills in two diverse markets, she is now planning to broaden her horizons in the U.S. financial market by pursuing her master’s in finance. As an AGSM student ambassador, she is dedicated to sharing her wealth of experience with incoming students to help them make a smooth transition into the university.

First-generation student Cierra Daniels earned a bachelor’s degree in management and business economics at UC Merced, and continues her education at UCR in the Master of Professional Accountancy program with plans for a career as an auditor. As an undergraduate, she served in the first California College Corps cohort, which sparked her interest in working with nonprofit organizations and underserved individuals. Once completing her master’s, she’ll sit for the CPA exam and will be the first in her family to earn a CPA license.

A.J. Espinosa previously worked as the sales and marketing assistant for the CEO at California Apparel News in Downtown Los Angeles. He earned his undergraduate degree in global studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and he is now earning a Master of Professional Accountancy at UCR. A.J. makes it a point to travel to new places, both globally and domestically, and he is planning a trip to Oslo, Norway. He’s also planning a career in accounting as a CPA at an entertainment, nonprofit, or international accounting firm.

Thorsten Lin earned a dual bachelor’s degree in economics and real estate and is now earning a master’s degree in professional accountancy. With a diverse professional background in taxation, consulting, and real estate analysis, he is driven by a strong interest in finance and consulting as he works toward a rewarding career in these fields.

After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in sports science, Shujuan (Isabella) Zhang worked as a physical education teacher and swimming instructor at several international schools in China. She came to UCR to pursue her CPA credentials and opportunities in auditing and taxation. Shujuan enjoys helping people and sharing information with others.

Yu-Kai Chen is earning a master’s in business Analytics, his second master’s degree, as he eyes a career in supply chain management. He interned in Vietnam during his undergraduate studies and plays basketball.

Zih Yu Chen has a deep interest in the renewable energy industry and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in business analytics at UCR after valuable experience at Deloitte. By integrating her data analytics and business acumen, she plans to drive innovation and efficiency in renewable energy supply chain management.

Shashank Gorti is earning a Master of Science in business analytics at UCR. He previously earned degrees in logistics/supply chain management and mechanical engineering, and his

interest in data studies and finance led him to choose a career in business analytics; he plans to work in the technology, finance, or entertainment industries.

Vaishnavi Gummidelli is a former Amazon data engineer with one year of hands-on experience in the world of data-driven solutions. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in business analytics; this career focus is driven by her passion for data and analytics: She thrives on unraveling insights from complex data sets and crafting strategies to drive business growth. Outside of the data realm, she’s an avid explorer and travel enthusiast constantly seeking new adventures and cultures.

After earning his bachelor’s degree in electronics, Ankit Malhotra discovered his interest in data science and analytics while working as a data analyst for Uber and Financepeer and decided to expand his career with a Master of Science in business analytics. Ankit is fond of teaching and is a consultant mentor with Newton School. He aims to be a pioneer in the analytics industry making use of math and technology to grow businesses.