Alisha Agrawal

New York University, Stern School of Business

“Big heart, big goals, and always building community wherever I land.”

Hometown: Monroe, New York

Fun fact about yourself: While pursuing my MBA, I work front desk at Orangetheory to stay connected to my passion for health, wellness, and creating community beyond the classroom.

Undergraduate School and Degree:
School: Pennsylvania State University, Smeal College of Business
Degree: Bachelor of Science in Supply Chain and Information Systems

Where was the last place you worked before enrolling in business school? (
Company: HelloFresh
Role: Manager, Indirect Procurement, Marketing & Growth

Where did you intern during the summer of 2025?
Apple, Inc.
Cupertino, CA

Where will you be working after graduation?
Apple, Inc.
Product Manager, Global Supply & Sourcing Management

Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School:

Recipient of Samuel Revits Memorial Scholarship (merit-based)

Orientation Leader (LAUNCH), Office of Student Engagement

Graduate Marketing Association, Co-President

Stern Student Government, Vice President of Blocks

Stern Women in Business, Vice President of Admissions

Graduate Ambassador, Admissions Office

Teaching Fellow, Marketing (Core)

Teaching Fellow, Difficult Conversations

Teaching Fellow, Becoming You

Teaching Fellow, Pricing

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? Serving as Co-President of Stern’s Graduate Marketing Association (GMA) has been my most meaningful achievement at Stern. Not because of the title, but because of what it required. Leading peers who are as ambitious and capable as you forces you to listen more deeply, decide more thoughtfully, and lead with humility. I’m proud of building programming that reflected both creativity and career substance and of fostering a culture where first-year students felt welcomed and second-years felt valued.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? I’m most proud of successfully pivoting from consumer-packaged goods indirect procurement into product leadership during my internship at Apple. In just 12 weeks, I stepped into a highly technical environment, built tools that supported cross-functional decision-making, and contributed to work shaping future product planning.

What made the experience especially meaningful was hearing from my mentors and leaders how much I had absorbed in such a short time, and knowing the project I led would have lasting impact. That validation reaffirmed that I had made the right choices in both my internship and business school. It gave me confidence in my ability to learn quickly, lead thoughtfully, and build at the intersection of technology, operations, and people.

Why did you choose this business school? I chose Stern because it was the first place where I felt both intellectually stretched and genuinely supported, often within the same conversation.

I leaned heavily on current MBA students to understand the culture. I expected competition. Instead, I found generosity. Students offered to help me prepare for interviews, walked me through classes they loved, and spoke candidly about their experiences. I truly believe their mentorship played a role in my eventual acceptance.

What stood out to me, and ultimately made my decision, was Stern’s balance of IQ and EQ. The IQ is real. The talent here is undeniable. But what makes Stern special is the EQ. People genuinely care. They’ll check in on your mental health and save you a seat when you’re running five minutes late to class. It’s the kind of place where ambition and kindness actually hang out.

That culture shaped how I show up today, whether through student leadership or admissions work because I wanted to give future students the same generosity that changed my own path.

Who was your favorite MBA professor? Hands down, Adam Alter left the biggest impression on me. I took his Marketing class my first semester, and it completely changed how I see marketing. I can’t walk through a store or watch a commercial without analyzing the psychology behind it. What made his class special was how relatable and engaging it was. I still reference his insights in conversations and interviews, and that early exposure reshaped how I think about consumers, storytelling, and decision-making.

What was your favorite course as an MBA? My favorite course was NYU Stern’s Doing Business in… (DBi) South Africa. Spending two weeks in South Africa immersed in the culture, economy, and political landscape opened my eyes to what global business really looks like beyond textbooks and case studies. Being on the ground made me realize how culturally, politically, and economically naïve we can be without firsthand experience. Learning directly from local entrepreneurs, community organizations, and through township visits challenged my assumptions about growth, innovation, and impact. It pushed me to think more holistically about how business decisions ripple through societies and deepened my appreciation for context-driven leadership. The experience ultimately reinforced my desire to build responsibly on a global scale.

What was your favorite MBA event or tradition at your business school? Block Olympics, hands down. During our first semester as MBA1s, we compete with our block (cohort) in a field day organized by Stern Student Government, and it’s honestly the fastest way to feel part of the Stern community. You go from strangers to teammates in one afternoon. What made it even more special for me was getting to organize Block Olympics this year for the incoming class. Seeing how much energy everyone brought and how quickly bonds formed was incredibly rewarding and reminded me why I love Stern so much.

Another favorite tradition is Stern Sips, where our class gets together every Thursday after class to unwind at a local spot. It’s simple, but it says everything about Stern. People genuinely enjoy spending time together, celebrating small wins, and showing up for each other.

Both traditions reflect what makes Stern special: ambitious people who also know how to have fun and build real community.

Looking back over your MBA experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently and why?
I would have reminded myself earlier that this is a rare two-year window where you’re not locked into a long-term job and are surrounded by incredible people who quickly become your community. Like many MBAs, I came in focused on maximizing every opportunity. Over time, I learned that some of the most meaningful moments happen outside the classroom, in spontaneous dinners, late-night conversations, and shared laughs between busy weeks. If I could do it again, I’d slow down a little more and be even more present with my friends because those relationships are just as formative as anything on my resume.

What was the most impactful case study you had in business school and what was the biggest lesson you learned from it? The most impactful case for me was the Mount Everest 1996 leadership case, which we discussed in my very first MBA class. While the events were tragic, what stayed with me was how leadership decisions, culture, and communication matter most under pressure. The biggest lesson I took away is that leadership isn’t about pushing toward a goal at all costs. It’s about emotional awareness, empowering others to speak up, and having the courage to make hard calls even when they’re unpopular. That case pushed me to think intentionally about the kind of leader I want to become — someone who builds trust, creates psychological safety, and prioritizes people alongside performance. Looking back, I didn’t realize at the time that my very first MBA case would quietly shape my leadership philosophy for the next two years.

What did you love most about your business school’s town? Being in New York City is unmatched. There’s something energizing about learning in the middle of the most dynamic city in the world. Stern sits in such a beautiful part of Manhattan, and within minutes you can be in the West Village, the East Village, Midtown, or the Financial District: each neighborhood with its own rhythm, food, and personality.

What I loved most is how seamlessly school and life blend together here. I could step out of class for a coffee chat with an alum, walk to a networking event downtown, or meet my husband for lunch near Bryant Park before heading back for my afternoon classes. The city makes opportunity feel accessible.

I also commute from Jersey City, where I’ve lived for nine years, and I love how connected everything feels. Whether friends live in Queens, Brooklyn, Long Island City, or across the river like me, Stern feels like a central hub. New York doesn’t just surround the MBA experience — it actively shapes it.

What business leader do you admire most? I admire Tim Cook for showing that operational rigor and human-centered leadership can coexist. During my internship at Apple, I had the opportunity to attend a talk he gave as part of our intern programming, where he shared his journey at Apple. Hearing how he built his career from the operations side was incredibly inspiring, especially as someone making a similar transition into product leadership. What resonated most with me was his calm, values-driven approach. He leads without ego, prioritizes collaboration, and emphasizes long-term thinking and doing the right thing – even when it’s hard. Seeing that leadership up close reinforced my belief that great products and great cultures are built through discipline, empathy, and thoughtful execution.

What is one way that your business school has integrated AI into your programming? What insights did you gain from using AI?

AI has been embedded directly into the classroom at NYU Stern School of Business. This ranges from courses like Leading in the Age of AI, which focuses on preparing future business leaders to navigate AI responsibly, to Foundations of AI, where we learn how large language models are actually built. Beyond formal coursework, we’re encouraged to use AI when working through business challenges, whether that’s framing strategy, pressure-testing assumptions, or accelerating analysis. The biggest insight I’ve gained is that AI doesn’t replace judgment, it amplifies it. The quality of output depends entirely on the quality of questions, context, and human decision-making behind it. Stern has also committed to making AI a formal specialization starting Fall 2026. As alumni we’ll have ongoing access to classes and resources, reinforcing that learning doesn’t stop at graduation.

Which MBA classmate do you most admire? I most admire Erin Siu, my co-president of GMA and one of my closest friends at Stern. Every day I’m amazed by her ability to lead with poise and calm, even while juggling an incredible number of responsibilities.

What makes Erin special is that she leads with both strength and kindness. She creates space for others, stays grounded under pressure, and somehow manages to be an exceptional teammate while also being a genuine friend. She’s incredibly smart, thoughtful in her decisions, and steady in moments that would overwhelm most people.

Co-leading with Erin has made me a better leader, and I’m so excited to watch her thrive in her full-time role in brand management. Any organization is lucky to have her.

What are the top two items on your professional bucket list? One of my long-term goals is to lead product and go-to-market strategy at scale, shaping products that meaningfully improve everyday life. At the same time, I’ve always aspired to step into a coaching role in the wellness space. I previously earned my personal training certification, and I’m passionate about community-driven fitness. Whether alongside my corporate career or later in life, I hope to build spaces that empower people physically, mentally, and professionally.

What made Alisha such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2026?

“Over the past two years, Alisha has been an invaluable part of the NYU Stern community. In the many roles that she held, she consistently centered NYU Stern’s community and culture. This past year, Alisha spent a significant amount of her time supporting first-year students. Whether through her role in the Graduate Marketing Association or as a Teaching Fellow she was a person first-year students turned to for honest advice and mentorship. She upheld NYU Stern’s core values of uncommon connection and radical responsibility.

I got to know Alisha well during our Doing Business In (DBi) trip to Milan. During the course, she was deeply committed to the material and clearly cared about understanding the business landscape of Milan, but she also knew how to step outside the classroom and actually enjoy the experience. She has a grounded way of moving through situations that serves as an example to her peers.

Alisha’s ability to balance a job at the front desk of Orangetheory (and to share this experience with her classmates) with a rigorous academic load and a successful pivot to Apple demonstrates her innate sense of discipline and achievement. Alisha proved that you can be ambitious and goal-oriented without losing your sense of self or your connection to others. Alisha is a true ambassador for NYU Stern because she showed up every day as a leader who genuinely cares about the people around her. I look forward to watching all the amazing things Alisha will achieve.”

Beth Briggs
Dean of Students, MBA + Graduate Programs
NYU Stern

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