December 2017
Nikita Ajmera
BA International Studies (International Security, Norms and Cooperation); minor, Business Administration; Program in Entrepreneurship ‘18
Hometown: Toledo, OH
Affiliations: Marketing Chair- Dance Marathon at the University of Michigan, Senior Advisor- Apex Consulting Group, and Campus Tour Guide- Office of Undergraduate Admissions
“This past spring, I traveled to Costa Rica with the Ross School of Business to study sustainable business strategy. During my time in Costa Rica, I was able to blend two passions of mine: business and global thinking. The day we built a Biodigestor for a Costa Rican family sticks out to me in particular. On this day, I was able to utilize my International Studies education through speaking fluent Spanish with the locals, understanding the town's economic context, and building cultural links between the local government's policies on the environment to better see the purpose of our work. Vice versa, I was also able to use my business mindset through leading my group in our respective roles, communicating our goals, and coming to a common ground on why building a Biodigestor was a smart financial decision for this family. At the end of the day, we were able to build the Biodigestor through working as a team, all thanks to everyone's diverse perspectives. Looking back, it was my ability to think through multiple hats that motivated me to think with a vision within the vast jungles of Costa Rica.
The exposure to a variety of disciplines that International Studies provides students is not only relevant, but a game changer. I encourage every student to apply the concepts taught in class to any discipline that they are passionate about. I thank the major and the entire department for providing so many outlets to encourage thinking through multiple avenues which is something that enables better problem solving and forward thinking in today's ever changing world.”
Future plans: “After graduation I will be working full time at IBM within their Performance and Programmatic Marketing Division in New York City. Following, I hope to get a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree and continue my passion for business with global thinking through avenues within the field of marketing.”
