Nada Daher

Indiana University, Kelley School of Business

“An observant person with a passion for improving processes, learning new things and petting animals.”

Hometown: Dearborn Heights, Michigan

Fun Fact About Yourself: In my short lifetime, I have immigrated twice and become a citizen of two different countries.

Undergraduate School and Major: Wayne State University, Biological Sciences

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Beaumont Health System, Intraoperative Neuromonitoring Technologist

In the second half of the year, you will be completing an Academy devoted to areas like Marketing, Finance, Operations, Digital Enterprises and more. Which Academy interests you the most and why? Like many people, I am concerned with our current climate crisis, and want to learn how companies can become more sustainable. One aspect I believe will be critical for addressing this issue is through supply chain. The Kelley Supple Chain and Digital Enterprise Academy is all about looking at technology to solve problems and remain competitive. I am interested in seeing how this is applied to the realm of sustainability.

Aside from your classmates, what was the key part of Indiana Kelley’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? As a career changer, I was looking for a program that would know how to guide and support me during my pivot. Kelley is known for having some of the best career services with their helpful coaches and insightful programs. I repeatedly saw evidence of that during my admissions process when meeting both alumni and current students that were successful career changers thanks to Graduate Career Services.

What course, club or activity excites you the most at Indiana Kelley? I love food. I have taught myself how to cook traditional Arabic food and love to explore different culinary traditions. I am also open to trying new food at both upscale and hole-in-the-wall places. So, I am really interested joining the Food Club and exploring the food culture of Bloomington.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: While I mostly worked in the operating room, my biggest accomplishment happened outside when I redeveloped our training program. By making changes to our training program, our department was able to improve our retention rates and eventually expand coverage of our department to other hospitals.

How did COVID-19 change your perspective on your career and your life in general? I left my position in healthcare a few months before the pandemic. I knew that I wanted to leave healthcare but was unsure where to go next. Normally I would have been in a rush to blindly find a new job and not consider if it was a good fit for my values and personality. However, this was the first time I had a chance to determine what are my values and personality and I realized that I should be working towards a career instead of just a paycheck. Armed with this realization, I began researching and reflecting on career paths which lead me to decide on obtaining an MBA degree.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point and what do you hope to do after graduation? I knew I wanted to switch careers when I realized the opportunity for growth was missing at my previous position. At first, I thought I could career pivot without additional education. During COVID-19, I had a lot of time to reflect and research, and found that if I wanted to be successful, I would need to obtain an MBA. My hope after graduating is to work in the automotive industry in strategy with a focus on sustainability.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? University of Michigan Ross School of Business, University of Virginia Darden School of Business, University of North Carolina Kenan-Flagler Business School

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into Indiana Kelley’s MBA program? Kelley’s MBA program is more than a business program. It’s a chance to learn about what drives you, how you work with others, and what you want out of a career. During the admissions process, show your passion for personal growth. Reflect on your past, consider times when you have been challenged and forced to grow. Demonstrate that you are willing to invest in yourself and that Kelley should do that same through its insightful and supportive MBA program.

DON’T MISS: MEET INDIANA KELLEY’S MBA CLASS OF 2023