As a college freshman majoring in Human and Organizational Development, Ria Jagasia already knew she wanted a career in business and aspired to combine that degree with her long-standing interest in Asian cultures. Ria, whose parents moved to the U.S. from India, is pursuing a second major in Asian studies. During the summer after her high school graduation, she and several friends spent a week in Seoul, South Korea?a trip they planned themselves that included opportunities to directly experience the Korean music and culture of which Ria is a fan. With no previous consulting experience and such a general idea about her career interests, Ria believed that Accelerator made sense for her. She came away with her expectations far exceeded. ?My aspirations haven?t really changed,? says the Nashville native, ?but Accelerator exposed me to so many new fields, such as marketing and brand strategy, that have sparked my interest and that I may want to incorporate into my career.? Ria, says she learned a great deal about herself in the Accelerator program. She learned from classmates as well as from the program?s content. ?Being a soft-spoken person, I am not a fan of public speaking,? Ria says. ?But being able to stand up and present in front of the class and executives from famous companies and receive positive feedback is something that will stick with me.? Leaning on the confidence she gained from the program, Ria spent a portion of her sophomore year studying abroad in Tokyo. ?I have learned so much from my classmates, and we have created a network that will last far beyond this program. I have gotten so much more out of Accelerator than I expected.?

Fun Fact: Ria was highly involved in a technical theater group in high school and has trained in Indian classical dance since second grade.

I have learned so much from my classmates, and we have created a network that will last far beyond this program.