Sweta Mulji

University of California Riverside School of Business, A. Gary Anderson Graduate School of Management (AGSM)

“Naturally curious, love challenges, a go-getter, and first in my family to pursue a master’s!”

Hometown: Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, East Africa

Fun Fact About Yourself: I love trying new cuisines and exploring nature.

Undergraduate School and Major: California State University, San Marcos, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Synergy Zone, Marketing and Administrative Assistant

What word best describes the UC Riverside MBA students and alumni you’ve met so far? Driven. All the MBA students are professionally driven. They are all supportive, caring, and work toward the common goal of professional development. I was nervous when I arrived at UCR, and during orientation; I met a master’s student, and we shared our experiences and clicked right away. She has been very helpful to me—whether it’s grabbing coffee together or giving me directions to class. My leadership class team has also been supportive; we all formed a bond of friendship quickly, and we’re all working to succeed.

Aside from classmates, what was the key part of UC Riverside’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? I was most attracted to UCR’s MBA program because of its STEM-designation. The STEM MBA is designed to build both business skills and technical skills. Combining these two is important because knowledge is power, and the more I learn, the more I will be able to help a future employer. Learning technical skills boosts my self-confidence and competence.

What course, club or activity have you enjoyed the most so far at UC Riverside? UCR’s Management 200 leadership course is by far my favorite. The class has helped me understand the concept of nurturing myself as a leader. During a class exercise about job seeking, I realized how important it is to understand a job title, pay, relocation, expenses, PTO, benefits, and the power to walk away if the job is not the right fit for you. To me, an effective leader prioritizes self-care, which means a healthy and positive mental state, and I plan my days prioritizing what is most important to me.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: My greatest professional achievement was developing marketing training documents at my previous workplace. When I joined, there were no training documents I could reference. I created multiple onboarding training documents for the new hires, which were designed to make other team members become aware of the different marketing and work collaboration platforms. These documents increased efficiency and productivity for the entire team.

Describe your biggest accomplishment as an MBA student so far? As a first-year student, getting involved on campus is very important to me. This year, I am serving as a student advisor for the Career Development Center Board Advisory Council. Being able to help my peers provides a great sense of accomplishment.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point and what do you hope to do after graduation? An MBA can be an expensive choice, but UCR’s scholarship offerings make it easier for incoming students to pursue their dreams. Many recognized companies are connected to UCR. The professors and staff are invested in students’ professional and academic goals. So, as someone still in the early stages of my career, UCR was the best place to get a jumpstart. I would like to dive into the management and marketing area of the health-care industry as a full-time consultant upon graduation. I hope to become a hospital administrator and offer better services to the community.

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into UC Riverside’s MBA program? Never take the power of education for granted. Start your MBA application as early as possible so you have enough time to prepare throughout the entire application process. I started my application eight months prior to the deadline. A lot of research went into picking the right university, and it came down to finances, scholarships, available resources, and the best education. By starting early in the process, you will give yourself time to make the right decision.

DON’T MISS: MEET THE UC RIVERSIDE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS MBA CLASS OF 2023