Neleena Paul

Kelley School of Business at Indiana University

“Tennis player and proud dog auntie who loves chasing balls on the court and at the park.”

Hometown: Missouri City, Texas

Fun Fact About Yourself: I’ve played tennis since I was eight and was lucky to watch Serena Williams’ final U.S. Open match live. It was an unforgettable experience.

Undergraduate School and Major: University of Texas at Arlington, Bach. of Science in Industrial Engineering

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: HelloFresh, Senior Manager, Operational Excellence

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? The Consumer Marketing Academy peaks my interest the most as it delves more in the psychological aspects of how consumers are influenced with a product or service, which is an area I have not had as much exposure to, having always been in the operations space with the focus on building a cost-efficient, scalable product. This would give me a broader lens to expand my scope into my brand management by combining operational knowledge with consumer insights.

At the beginning of the school year, you will be completing Me, Inc., where you will engage in reflections and exercises to build your personal brand? In one sentence, describe your personal brand and how will it add value to the classmates and future employers? I bring the mindset of a lifelong athlete, as someone who is driven, team-oriented, and always striving to improve. This helps me tackle challenges with grit while elevating those around me.

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? Hands-down, it is the academies the program offers to specialize in and the fact that Kelley is known for being a great marketing school. As someone who is seeking to expand their scope of knowledge in the marketing space from operations, this was a major plus point on Kelley’s program offering meeting my future career goals.

What course, club or activity excites you the most at Indiana Kelley? Tennis Club! I may be a little biased since it’s always been my sport, but I love the sense of community it creates among players from all walks of life. Even with pickleball on the rise, I stay true to my roots.

Looking at your recruitment, what was the moment when you realized Indiana Kelley was the right program for you? Why? In my early conversations with students and faculty, the culture and sense of community really stood out to me, with how much the school invests in its students and how supportive the entire team of faculty is of each and every student. Experience Weekend sealed the deal.

What has been your biggest achievement in your career? My proudest achievement is the legacy I’ve built through mentorship. I’ve had the privilege of guiding individuals who have advanced into leadership roles globally within organizations. Some have reached out years later to thank me for believing in them and helping them develop as problem solvers. These experiences have taught me that the most lasting impact we make often comes through the people we invest in. They have also reinforced my belief that leadership is about empowering others, building trust, and creating opportunities for growth. I’ve learned that every experience, whether positive or challenging, offers something valuable if you’re open to learning from it.

© Copyright 2026 Poets & Quants. All rights reserved. This article may not be republished, rewritten or otherwise distributed without written permission. To reprint or license this article or any content from Poets & Quants, please submit your request HERE.