On March 27th, the Professional Science Master’s (PSM) program hosted an International Alumni Panel moderated by Abbe Rosenthal. The event brought together a diverse group of Master of Business and Science (MBS) degree alumni to share their personal experiences of navigating the workforce as international students.
Meet the panelists:
- Badal Shah, B.Pharm, MBS in Drug Discovery and Development (2014) - the founder and president at Neolytica
- Chidera Okafor, MBS in Data Analytics (2017) - Senior business intelligence engineer at Amazon
- Mary Otokwu-Isama, MBS in Personal Care Science (2023) - R&D Technical Manager at Bath & Body Works
- Nimish Mytle, MBS in User Experience Design (2021) - Design (UX/UI) manager at AKA Insight
- Suleiman Ali Shakir, MBS in User Experience Design (2019) - Senior product designer at Handshake
- Rajashekar Pantangi, MBS in Data Analytics (2018) - Big data and analytics cloud assistant at Google
- Bingbing Xue, MBS in Data Science (2018) - Vice President in Fixed Income Risk at Morgan Stanley
A common thread among all of our alumni is that they have all taken courses outside of their concentrations. As a result of this flexibility, they were able to pivot, discover new interests, and broaden their career paths.
Rosenthal agreed, adding that it’s not uncommon to see students working across sectors or pivoting. That’s the beauty of our program, she said: you’re not confined to your academic pathway. There are many different pathways to explore.
Balancing work and school
When asked how they balanced working while pursuing their degrees, alumni offered realistic yet encouraging advice.
Otokwu-Isama, who was on full-time Curriculum Practical Training (CPT) while working in a lab five days a week, highlighted the importance of time management and communication. The flexibility of having evening classes was helpful, but she noted that what made the biggest difference was the open communication with her professors and manager.
Shah echoed this, adding that communication with teammates during group projects helped him stay on track, even while traveling frequently for work.
Shakir shared his story of taking on too many courses while on CPT, encouraging students to reach out to their manager and the MBS team about their situation. People will be willing to help, but only if you ask.
Advocate for yourself
A hot topic among international students is how to secure H1B visa sponsorship. Students often find it challenging to bring the topic up with employers. The panel addressed this head-on.
Shah reminded students that sometimes, companies just lack the knowledge. He advised students not to be afraid to educate the employers about the sponsorship process. He also introduced the EB-2 NIW pathway as an alternative to the H1B visa.
Mytle, who missed his first H1B attempt, emphasized vocalizing sponsorship needs from the start. Xue added that sometimes a manager may not have the budget but could refer you to a team that does, so have that conversation!
Okafor encouraged proactive research. Research companies that hire international students, target those companies, and network intentionally on LinkedIn. The PSM program has recently compiled a list of H1B sponsors for our students.
Otokwu-Isama strongly suggested seeking recommendations on LinkedIn. Reach out to people you have worked with. Let people praise you. For more tips on how to get LinkedIn recommendations, check out our article on how to level up your LinkedIn profile.
Negotiation and knowing your worth
Negotiation was another key theme for discussion. This is a complicated concept, especially in the shoes of international students as they have to find a balance between taking advantage of all opportunities and standing their ground with their worth.
Shah reflected on starting a full-time role with a low salary. He saw it as a chance to learn, not to earn. At a younger age, you can take more risks, so be aggressive about learning opportunities, he advised.
Otokwu-Isama strongly encouraged students to know their worth and fight for it. She emphasized the importance of researching company culture and being clear-eyed about job descriptions, as sometimes job descriptions might not accurately reflect the role.
Okafor added a tactical tip: Don’t talk salary until they give you a number.
Rosenthal closed this section with an important reminder: You are a master’s student, so make sure not to undersell yourself.
The event wrapped up with a call to stay connected with all the panelists. At the PSM program, we continue to foster opportunities for knowledge-sharing and community building. The International Alumni Panel was more than just a panel event. It was a reminder that our journeys may be unique, but we grow stronger when we learn together.
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