Gared Paul

With a newly minted undergraduate degree, Gared Paul was facing the prospect of entering the job market in a COVID economy. And he didn’t know what to expect.

“I was really beginning to wonder where I’d be in the next few years,” he says, “and what I should do to prepare.” The MS in Management Studies program had the answers.

Today, with the help of his professors and advisors, Gared is exploring digital marketing, with a focus on user experience and product management. “It’s still a little broad,” he says, “but much more focused than the ‘I’m not sure’ feeling I had earlier.”

So far, the highlight of the program for Gared has been then hands-on projects, especially the café business simulation. “I love being able to see how my decisions and ideas can impact a business with so many variables at play,” he says. “Since there’s simulated data to back up what happens, you’re really left with opportunities to be more analytical in your approaches to management decisions. On top of that, the simulation is a great way to reinforce some of the things we learn in class. That’s another strength of the program. Everything in the curriculum just loops together nicely.”

The friendly, welcoming Questrom environment is another aspect Gared loves. “It certainly feels like a fun, yet productive learning community. And that community aspect extends to faculty as well,” he says. “They’re all very accessible and willing to help in both academics and career building.”

Another plus of the MSMS program for Gared is meeting people from so many different educational backgrounds. “You get to see how people who think differently come together to solve the same issues,” he says. “You might even passively pick up bits of foreign language or two! But most importantly, if you’re looking to understand how to build more effective teams and qualify yourself for management level roles, then I’d certainly recommend the MSMS.”

“It certainly feels like a fun, yet productive learning community. And that community aspect extends to faculty as well.”

– Gared Paul