The Broad College’s Full-Time MBA program hosted its 2022 tech trek on Feb. 9 and 10. This annual event provides MBA students with opportunities to meet leaders and alumni working at top tech companies and to learn about careers available to them.
The annual tech trek connects Full-Time MBA students with leaders and alumni at top tech companies.
This year’s trek, a two-day virtual event, featured presentations from Microsoft, Google, Meta and Gopuff.
“The tech trek is a fantastic opportunity to get exposure to the amazing internships and full-time roles in the technology industry,” Marla McGraw, director of the Russell Palmer Career Management Center, said. “MBAs attending the tech treks will also learn more about the culture of each organization, as well as hear about what it is like to work on the West Coast.”
McGraw’s team coordinated between the companies and the MBA program to ensure the event was a success. The sessions demonstrated to students what careers in the real tech world look like and how to thrive in corporate America. Inquiries from MBA students sparked conversations ranging from technological processes and supply chain challenges to sustainability opportunities and virtual culture in the workplace.
Pankaj Joshi, supply chain manager at Microsoft and Broad alumnus, discussed the importance of employee adaptability as the past couple of years have come with plenty of uncertainty. He highlighted the value of in-person and virtual work and the challenges the company overcame to increase overall productivity.
Other speakers, like those from the instant needs delivery company, Gopuff, provided personal insight on their experiences working at a transformative company that enables customers to buy food, drinks, alcohol, cleaning and home products and over-the-counter medications and having the products delivered in just minutes.
Like Joshi, many of the representatives from the companies were MSU alumni, which also allowed them to share their experiences utilizing their Spartan mindset.
“This is also a chance for current Broad MBAs to network and become connected to some of our incredible alumni working in the technology space,” McGraw said.
A.J. Shaw, program manager at Microsoft and MSU engineering alumnus, shared how important it is to stay connected with current students.
“I always enjoy getting the opportunity to talk with the students to help them navigate their job search to see what opportunities are available at Microsoft and provide general career advice,” he said. “The alumni network helped me tremendously while I was in school, and it is only fitting that I do my part to help the current students.”
Joshi added, “Mentorship and guidance I received . . . from alumni across different industries is one of the reasons I successfully navigated my journey during and beyond my MSU days. I believe being able to give back what I received from the university and its alumni is what being a Spartan is to me.”
