Paaras Saxena

UC Irvine Paul Merage School of Business

“Passionate business leader solving analytical and complex problems, to drive impactful outcomes for customers.”

Hometown: Agra, India

Fun fact about yourself: I’m an aviation geek and have “piloted” 1 hour Boeing 737 flights twice, thanks to a fixed-base flight cockpit simulator!

Undergraduate School and Degree: Indian Institute of Technology (BHU), Bachelor of Technology in Ceramic Engineering

Where was the last place you worked before enrolling in business school? I was working with IBM in Boise, Idaho as a Consultant, helping my client with problem-solving and process improvement initiatives in Sales & Marketing, and Supply Chain business operations.

Where did you intern during the summer of 2024? I interned with AI Accommodation, LLC. At Huntington Beach, CA as an MBA Intern, Corporate Strategy.

Where will you be working after graduation? I am still recruiting for post MBA job. My ideal role will be as a Strategy & Operations Manager in a medical device, or a retail and e-commerce company, where I can relate to the product and have a strong motivation of creating my impact.

Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School:

Honored with the Faculty Merit Scholarship from UCI Merage upon my admission, recognizing my academic achievements, professional experience, and leadership potential in the classroom.

Vice President of Technology at Merage Business and Technology Association

Vice President of Marketing at Merage Consulting Association

Pro-bono Consultant at Seed Consulting Group

Pro-bono Consultant at The Acceleration Project

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? I am most proud of winning first prize in the UCI Real Estate Case Competition alongside three fellow team members. It was my first case competition, and despite having no prior experience in real estate, we secured the top position. Not only we framed our presentation well, but we could present with confidence to the panel of judges and managed the extensive Q&A afterwards showcasing our depth of research, teamwork and collaboration, and thoughtful analysis. The biggest factor in my success was applying the concepts and learnings from my classes at Merage, along with the presentation skills workshops. I’m grateful I could leverage those resources in real time, to achieve this accomplishment.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? One of my proudest professional achievements link back to 2019-2020 when I was offered the opportunity to lead the Offshore Supply Chain Operations team of four, from onshore. At the time, the team was struggling with instability—low motivation, high attrition, and frequent client escalations. The client had even questioned IBM’s ability to manage the area effectively, putting the company’s reputation at stake. Despite my initial hesitation, as the role was outside my area of expertise and involved direct client interactions, I accepted the challenge to test and refine my leadership capabilities.

To ensure a smooth transition, I dedicated extra hours in the first two months to understanding new processes and developing an effective leadership approach. I prioritized building trust within my team, fostering an environment where they felt heard, valued, and motivated. By actively listening to their concerns, I helped alleviate their stress and instill a sense of ownership in their work. Additionally, I worked closely with the client to align expectations, successfully negotiating a prioritization framework to manage deliverables more efficiently.

Recognizing that my team lacked confidence due to limited business process expertise, I took a proactive approach to upskilling them. I led weekly training sessions, equipping them with the knowledge and confidence to take ownership of client discussions. Over the next year, our collaborative efforts led to a series of successful project deliveries, restoring client confidence in IBM and significantly improving team morale. Within just a month of taking on the role, the client began acknowledging our improvements, strengthening our relationship and creating a more balanced work environment for my team. This experience reinforced my ability to lead through uncertainty, build strong teams, and drive tangible business impact, an accomplishment that remains a defining milestone in my career.

Why did you choose this business school? I chose the Paul Merage School of Business because of its small class size, tight-knit community, and collaborative culture, which I personally experienced during Admit’s Weekend. Coming into the MBA with nearly a decade of professional experience, I was not just looking for a top-tier business education but also for an environment that fosters support, camaraderie, and personal growth rather than cutthroat competition.

Given my goal of pivoting into a new role and industry after so many years in my previous field, I knew the journey would be challenging, requiring tenacity, adaptability, and continuous motivation. I wanted to be surrounded by a diverse yet close community that values teamwork, encourages open discussions, and uplifts each other in times of uncertainty. Beyond academics, I sought a school that emphasizes leadership development, career transition support, and strong alumni engagement, all of which Merage embodies.

The combination of a strong curriculum, access to industry professionals, and a deeply connected student body made Merage the perfect fit for my aspirations. The school’s emphasis on innovation, technology, and strategic thinking aligns well with my career goals, and I knew that here, I would not only gain the skills needed for my next step but also be part of a network that truly cares about each other’s success.

Who was your favorite MBA professor? My favorite MBA professor was Prof. Connie Pechmann, whose class I took in Spring 2024. What stood out to me the most was her passion and enthusiasm for the subject matter. She had a unique way of making upstream marketing and micromarketing concepts incredibly engaging and thought-provoking. Despite being a night class, it never felt tiring—her energy and enthusiasm kept us fully engaged.

Prof. Pechmann was also deeply committed to student success, ensuring that everyone kept pace with the material. No matter how many questions were asked—whether by an individual or the entire class—she took the time to address each one with patience and clarity. She fostered a non-judgmental and encouraging classroom environment, always recognizing even the smallest achievements and thoughtful contributions from students. Beyond that, she was incredibly supportive of her Teaching Assistant, frequently acknowledging and appreciating her efforts in front of the class.

Additionally, she was highly receptive to feedback and open to collaboration. I had the opportunity to work with her in designing a course exercise, and she actively listened to my suggestions and valued my input. That experience deepened my respect for her as both an educator and a mentor. I am truly grateful to have taken her class and for the strong connection I built with her during my MBA.

What was your favorite course as an MBA? My favorite MBA course was the Consulting Project, primarily because it provided an invaluable experiential learning opportunity. Instead of just theoretical case studies, this course allowed me to work on a real-world business problem for a company, applying my MBA-acquired skills, concepts, and strategic frameworks in a tangible way.

One of the most exciting aspects was that I had the opportunity to work with a medical device company, which aligned perfectly with my strong interest in pivoting into the industry. This experience not only gave me meaningful exposure to the medical device sector but also allowed me to contribute in a Strategy Consulting capacity, reinforcing my problem-solving and analytical abilities.

Additionally, the course provided a fantastic networking opportunity. By working closely with my chosen company, I was able to establish valuable connections with industry professionals while simultaneously showcasing my skills and work ethic through weekly client meetings, stakeholder discussions, mid-term presentations, and the final presentation.

Overall, the Consulting Project was a transformative experience that bridged the gap between classroom learning and real-world business challenges, giving me both the industry exposure and strategic consulting experience I was seeking.

What was your favorite MBA event or tradition at your business school? My favorite MBA event is the Bay Area Tech Trek, an incredible opportunity to network with industry professionals, gain direct insights into top tech companies, and engage with Merage alumni. The experience goes beyond just company visits. It provides a first-hand look into the workplace culture, day-to-day operations, and key challenges faced by these organizations, helping students better understand their target roles and industries.

One of the biggest highlights of the trek is the alumni mixer at the end, which feels like the perfect culmination of the event. These mixers provide an unparalleled opportunity for meaningful face time with alumni in a slightly informal setting, making it easier to build authentic and lasting connections. The conversations during these interactions often go beyond just career advice, they offer insights into industry trends, job search strategies, and personal career journeys that are invaluable for students looking to transition into tech.

Beyond networking, the trek also fosters a strong sense of camaraderie within the Merage community. Since students from various Masters’ programs travel together for a few days, it creates a unique environment to bond outside the classroom, share career aspirations, and develop relationships that extend beyond the MBA experience. The combination of professional exposure, alumni engagement, and community-building makes the Bay Area Tech Trek an event I looked forward to the most during my time at Merage.

Looking back over your MBA experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently and why? If I could do one thing differently during my MBA, I would have participated in the Stella Zhang New Venture Competition (SZNVC) in both my first and second years, along with more frequent participation in case competitions. While I took part in two case competitions and one SZNVC in my second year, I now realize the immense value these experiences provide, both in terms of skill development and industry exposure.

Competitions like these serve a dual purpose. First, they offer a hands-on opportunity to create and refine tangible solutions, which can be showcased to industry professionals, potential employers, and investors as a testament to one’s interest and expertise in a specific industry or functional area. Second, they push you beyond your comfort zone, allowing you to apply, test, and refine MBA-level skills in a real-world business setting. These experiences not only enhance problem-solving abilities and strategic thinking, but also build confidence in tackling ambiguous, high-impact challenges.

Had I engaged in more competitions earlier, I could have gained even deeper insights into different industries, expanded my professional network, and sharpened my ability to work under pressure. Looking back, I see these experiences as some of the most transformative aspects of the MBA journey, and I would have loved to make the most of them from day one.

What is the biggest myth about your school? One of the biggest myths about UCI Merage is that its strongest industry connections lie only within the healthcare, pharma, and tech sectors, primarily in Orange County, the LA metropolitan area, and the Bay Area. However, during my time at Merage, I realized that the school’s reach and influence extend far beyond these industries.

Merage has strong industry ties not only in healthcare and technology but also in real estate, media & entertainment, finance, asset management, and entrepreneurship. The real estate and entertainment sectors are thriving in Orange County and Los Angeles, making Merage an ideal place to build industry connections in these fields. UCI Merage’s Center for Real Estate provides great opportunities. Similarly, its finance and asset management network provide solid opportunities for those looking to enter investment-related roles.

For aspiring entrepreneurs, Merage offers tremendous access to a growing entrepreneurial ecosystem. Resources such as the Merage Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, UCI Beall Innovation Center, UCI ANTrepreneur Center, and Octane OC provide hands-on support for startups, connecting students to mentors, funding opportunities, and industry leaders. Through these platforms, Merage fosters a vibrant community of both budding and established entrepreneurs, making it an excellent launchpad for innovation.

 What did you love most about your business school’s town? It provides access to so many thriving industries, including but not limited to Healthcare, Tech, CPG, Distribution, Pharma, Media and Entertainment, Finance, Asset Management, and Real Estate. It also holds so many Corporate Headquarters, like Broadcom, Edwards Lifesciences, Masimo, Corelogic, Chipotle, and Alteryx. On the side note, access to California’s most beautiful Pacific Coast is another reason to love this town. We often gather at Corona Del Mar to enjoy sunsets and spend some relaxing time outside of the classroom.

What movie or television show best reflects the realities of business and what did you learn from it? While I don’t watch many fictional shows, I enjoy documentaries and films based on real-life business stories, as they offer authentic insights into strategy, leadership, and industry challenges. One such insightful film I found compelling was The Social Dilemma, which sheds light on the business models behind tech companies and the ethical dilemmas they face. It reinforced my understanding of how business decisions in technology are not just about innovation but also about responsibility, especially in industries that influence public behavior.

From that movie, I’ve learned that success in business is not just about financial gains but also about strategic decision-making, adaptability, and ethical leadership. These are the principles that I aim to incorporate into my own career.

What is one way that your business school has integrated AI into your programming? What insights did you gain from using AI? UCI Merage has embraced AI-driven learning by adopting UCI’s proprietary ZotGPT, a tool designed to enhance research, structure thoughts, and assist in creating skeletal frameworks for presentations and papers. By integrating AI into the academic experience, Merage ensures that students develop efficiency in problem-solving and adaptability to emerging technologies, aligning with the evolving business landscape.

Using “ZotGPT” has provided key insights into the transformative power of AI in business and education. It has demonstrated how AI can streamline ideation, accelerate research, and enhance the quality of strategic thinking while still requiring human judgment for refinement and critical analysis. More importantly, it has reinforced the importance of leveraging AI as a complement rather than a replacement for human decision-making, a lesson that will be invaluable as we enter a workforce where AI continues to shape industries.

By integrating AI into its curriculum, Merage is ensuring that its graduates are not only familiar with AI-driven tools but also capable of strategically incorporating them into business decision-making, a crucial skill for staying competitive in today’s rapidly evolving market.

Which MBA classmate do you most admire? I deeply admire Devlin Hamidjaja for the way he exemplifies the values of UCI Merage and its ambassadors in every aspect. His warmth, authenticity, and unwavering commitment to building meaningful relationships make him a standout member of the community.

What sets Devlin apart is his intellectual curiosity and engagement—he consistently asks thoughtful and insightful questions, whether in class or at corporate events, enhancing discussions and contributing to the collective learning experience. His active participation not only strengthens Merage’s reputation but also fosters a culture of curiosity and academic excellence.

Beyond academics, Devlin is genuinely supportive, always approachable, and eager to lend a helping hand to his peers. Whether mentoring fellow students, offering guidance, or simply being a friendly presence, he embodies the true spirit of collaboration and community. His charismatic personality, combined with his passion for learning and leadership, makes him an invaluable asset to Merage—a true gem within the UCI community.

What are the top two items on your professional bucket list?

1. Get into core strategy and operations role so that I learn to analyze business scenarios and make informed decisions to create strong and positive outcomes for my company.

2. Start my own social impact organization to bridge the gap caused by disparities in financial, and social status, and intellectual capabilities.

What made Paaras Saxena such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2025?

“Paaras took my micromarketing class in Spring 2024 and he made invaluable and extraordinary contributions to the class. While taking the class, he spoke up with insightful comments. However, his extraordinary contributions really started when I announced that Alteryx’s support for the class had been curtailed, and I would need to retool the class using a vastly different and more challenging big data tool: ArcGISPro.

Paaras immediately agreed to assist me with this undertaking. Thereafter, for two months in summer, he met with me weekly on zoom. He learned ArcGISPro on his own, and he helped me rework numerous class exercises. I am using his work product now as I prepare to teach the class again in spring and his work is outstanding: careful, accurate, well-documented, thorough, and fully usable. Basically, he helped me retool the class, on his own initiative.

Paaras is someone who seeks to make a positive impact on Merage and then takes concrete actions to get it done, no matter how much time it takes and how little recognition he is likely to get. He is truly a thought leader. He comes up with brilliant ideas to support Merage and then follows through with them to ensure his ideas become reality. I cannot recommend him enough for this award.”

Professor Connie Pechmann

DON’T MISS: MBAS TO WATCH: CLASS OF 2025

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