Roya Parhizkarkalnadani

Texas A&M, Mays Business School

“A driven Iranian woman, cycling enthusiast with entrepreneurial spirit who loves to make a difference.”

Hometown: College Station, Texas

Fun fact about yourself: I was arrested at the age of 15 for riding my bicycle in my hometown in Iran, as it was against the government’s laws for women. My court appearance and facing judges at such a young age made me determined to take action for my community. After a year of negotiations with authorities and petitioning, I successfully organized an exclusive biking event for women in my hometown. Together, we cycled through the main street of the town.

Undergraduate School and Degree:

BSc: Radiation Therapy, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Iran

MSc: Medical Physics, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Iran

Where was the last place you worked before enrolling in business school?

Medical Physicist – External Radiation Therapy and Brachytherapy – Department of Cancer Treatment – Ghaem International Hospital, Rasht, Gilan, Iran.

Radiation Therapy – External Radiation Therapy – Department of Cancer Treatment – Razi Hospital, Rasht, Gilan, Iran.

Where did you intern during the summer of 2023?

Company: Johnson & Johnson

Role: Procurement Leadership Development Program Intern

Where will you be working after graduation? I recently founded the Spring Scent Cleaning Services Company.

Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School:

— Vice president of Aggie Women MBA (AWMBA) Club: My goal was to support women in our school to connect with women in high leadership positions, helping them to develop their leadership skills and find the right career paths. Together, we partnered with different organizations, mentors, and leaders. These meaningful connections created a mentorship system for our members to develop their entrepreneurship and leadership skills.

— Capstone Project Team Lead

— SEC Case Competition 2023 Participant

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? Being selected as a capstone lead by my classmates was truly one of my most humbling and honorable experiences. During the final semester of my program, I had the chance to put into practice everything I learned through a real-world business consulting project.

Leading a project like this comes with significant responsibility. It involves driving progress, creating value for the client, and ensuring all team members contribute efficiently. It was an excellent accomplishment because the project outcome was a great success, and the client was satisfied with the results.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? When reflecting on my career, there are several moments I take great pride in. One of the earliest highlights was the idea of giving back to the community by co-founding a charity to support children with cancer. This charity has a special place in my heart particularly due to the fact that there are not many charities/NGOs in Iran to support these children. As a result, they and their families go through a myriad of challenges. We collaborated with various hospitals to expand their services for children with cancer and organized numerous fundraising events to provide financial support for those families during the toughest time of their lives.

Why did you choose this business school? The small class size of our MBA program was a key advantage because it ensured that every student had plenty of opportunities to contribute ideas, receive recognition, and support from professors. Moreover, it fostered a sense of camaraderie among classmates, which allowed us to create meaningful connections within the cohort.

Who was your favorite MBA professor? Dr. Eli Jones for Sales Leadership. Dr. Jones, the former dean of Mays, is a highly accomplished professor of marketing and sales management. Despite holding numerous high-level positions in academia and industry, Dr. Jones is a remarkably humble individual with exceptional social and people skills. He designed the course in a way that we had the opportunity to meet so many successful leaders and entrepreneurs throughout the semester. He inspired me with this saying: “At the end of the day, it’s all about the people.”

What was your favorite course as an MBA? I greatly enjoyed the Leading People in Organizations class. It encouraged me to comprehend the true meaning of leadership. This course, and all the self-assessment assignments, helped me better understand the close relationship between leadership and human psychology, which requires significant self-discovery.

What was your favorite MBA event or tradition at your business school? Aggie Muster is a respected tradition at TAMU, which represents the deep-rooted spirit of fellowship within the Aggie community. Every year on April 21st, this tradition honors Aggies who passed away in the preceding year. Across the globe, Aggies gather in various locations, with the main ceremony drawing thousands to Reed Arena on the College Station campus.

Looking back over your MBA experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently and why? The MBA program at Mays is an intense 18-month experience which affects one’s life and social dynamics drastically. I started learning English five years ago, and I have to admit that the pressure of learning a second language can be overwhelming. My entire background was in healthcare; thus, I was not familiar with the business terminology. These factors, along with my personal trait of giving my best to achieve my goal, led to extreme burnout. If I could go back, I would take it a bit easier on me and try to enjoy the journey more. Time solves most problems. It is okay to give yourself a little time to get familiar with a new environment.

What is the biggest myth about your school? Before starting the program, I had heard that football is a big deal for Aggies. After starting the program, I realized that it is a HUGE deal here. I love this spirit because it has created a sense of sportsmanship and camaraderie. There are former students who hasn’t missed a game for decades and some travel long distances from other cities to watch the game at Kyle Field.

What did you love most about your business school’s town? My husband and I moved to College Station from Iran around five years ago. One of the aspects I love most about College Station is its people. Ever since we’ve been here, people have been incredibly kind and welcoming to us. Additionally, there are numerous communities that provide support to newcomers. They open their doors to those who may not be familiar with the city, which creates a sense of belonging.

Furthermore, the College Station’s closeness to three major cities in Texas—Houston, Austin, and Dallas—makes it incredibly convenient. College Station is a safe place and an ideal environment for raising a family.

What surprised you the most about business school? When I started the program, I expected to meet exceptional individuals, but I’ve been genuinely amazed by the number of profound connections I have made. These connections have evolved into lifelong friendships, and together, we’ve overcome the most challenging moments of our academic journey.

Which MBA classmate do you most admire? Amey Shroff was my teammate during the second semester of the program. He is one of the humblest people I have ever met, who can easily connect with those around him. One of his qualities that stood out to me was his dedication as a team member; he always took on more responsibilities and worked to achieve excellent results without seeking any credit. He is a positive person who actively listens to others’ ideas and creates a safe space for team members to express their concerns. I believe he has all the qualities that one would look for in a selfless leader.

What are the top two items on your professional bucket list? Expanding my own business: My MBA equipped me with the necessary skills, acumen, and network to take the first step in this journey and have the courage to decline a LDP job offer from a leading corporate to follow my dream.

Building an animal shelter: Seeing all the animal cruelty breaks my heart. I want to do all I can to help save animals, and educate people on this matter.

What made Raya such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2024?

“Roya was an incredible student in our MBA Program, and she set an example for her peers of exceptional performance, maturity, and living out the Aggie Values. Roya was confident yet approachable, direct yet caring, and opinionated yet open to new ideas. She worked incredibly well with her peers, faculty, and program staff, and adeptly navigated the differences between each group. Her personal brand was well-respected, and that brand, coupled with her level of professionalism, often meant we called on her to represent the program as a brand ambassador in various meetings or events.

During her time in the program, Roya was able to not only do well in an academically rigorous and fast-paced program, but she took on additional learning opportunities by participating on the SEC MBA Case Competition team and serving as the Vice President of the Aggie Women MBAs student organization. She successfully managed multiple high-stakes priorities with finesse and focus, which is extremely difficult given the demands of the program.

I am confident that Roya will be one of the top women CEOs in the future because of the qualities described above. She has both the business acumen and emotional intelligence to guide an organization and its people to achieve its goals. Roya has already made a substantial impact on her peers and those she interacted with during her time in the MBA program, and I am excited to see her continue that impact on a larger scale as she continues her career in business.”

Dr. Sarah Jaks
Director, Full-Time MBA Program

DON’T MISS: MBAS TO WATCH: CLASS OF 2024